Match Report - By Steven Mew

Ian Campbell had stated every week so far this season that once City got the monkey off their back, it would make a hell of a difference and they would start picking up points. City got that elusive first win against Clyde on Boxing Day with a fantastic performance and while they didn’t pick up any points in this clash at Love Street, City performed admirably against the league leaders who had to work very hard for all three points in the end.

City played St Mirren at Love Street earlier in the season, with the Buddies running out 1-0 winners thanks to a Stewart Kean penalty. Grant Johnson found himself sent off on the stroke of half time before Craig McEwan skied a second half penalty into the stand. Saints travelled to Glebe Park in a rescheduled league match in November and despite City putting in a decent performance, St Mirren won by the odd goal in five in a thrilling encounter.

City haven’t had the best of records against St Mirren in the past, in fact City have only ever beaten St Mirren once! That victory came recently in 2004 when City ran out 2-0 winners at Glebe Park thanks to goals from defensive duo Jamie Smith and Scott McCulloch. Season 03/04 turned out to be a good season for Brechin against the Buddies, who failed to record a victory against us in what was otherwise a very disappointing season for the reds.

City started with an attacking lineup which including both Charlie King and Darren Smith on the wings, and to the supporters surprise striker Alex Burns was played as a sweeper, but this proved to be an excellent decision by ‘Pink’. St Mirren fielded a strong side which included John Sutton, despite his red card last week against QoS.

Both sides started strongly to the match but St Mirren had the first real chance of the game as John Sutton skied the ball over the bar from long range. However, Darren Smith indicated that City were going for it from the start when his mazy run saw him get past several defenders but finally stumbling on the ball just as he was getting into a shooting position.

Charlie King was next up to have a go for City when he struck for goal but the ball appeared to strike off the arm of Ian Maxwell and out for a corner, but even if the ball did come into contact when Maxwell’s arm then it would have been more of a case of ‘ball to hand’ rather than ‘hand to ball’. Shortly after the resulting corner Kevin Byers forced Chris Smith into a good save.

City deservedly went ahead in the 25th minute after they had put the St Mirren rearguard under some intense pressure. Stuart Callaghan’s excellent delivery from a corner saw Davie White rise to powerfully head the ball into the corner to give Chris Smith no chance. City were now dreaming of ruining St Mirren’s unbeaten home record in 2005 in the last match of the year!

However, City came close to undoing all their good work just minutes later. Ally Mitchell was forced into a pass-back which was too short and Stewart Kean intercepted before rolling the ball across the face of the goal with no takers from an acute angle.

St Mirren got an equaliser ten minutes from the break when the ball sat nicely for Charlie Adam outside the box and his sweet left foot strike struck the inside of the post and into the net, giving Craig Nelson no chance.

Ian Campbell was forced to make his first sub of the match a few minutes before half time when Kevin Byers picked up an ankle injury and was unable to continue, he was replaced by Gerry Britton.

City went in at the break level with the league leaders, but undoubtedly wanted to go and win the match as they looked capable of doing so for long periods of the first half.

St Mirren were awarded a very soft penalty just before the hour mark when John Sutton was adjudged to have been pushed by Scott Walker in the penalty area. City players protested to the referee but it only ended in a couple of yellow cards dished out for dissent. However, Stewart Kean confidently stepped up and dispatched the ball into the net, just as he did at Love Street against Brechin earlier in the season.

City didn’t give up however, and surprised the home side with an equaliser just four minutes later. The Buddies defence failed to clear their lines in the box and Darren Smith was on hand to volley the ball into the far corner of the net to silence the home crowd yet again.

Pink was once again forced to make another change when once again one of City’s best performers was unable to continue. Darren Smith was involved in a nasty collision and was therefore stretchered off. He was replaced by young striker Chris Geddes who was looking to make his mark again like he did against Clyde on Boxing Day.

New recruit Scott Devlin was also given a chance to make his mark ten minutes from the end when he replaced a hard-working Charlie King.

Sadly St Mirren got a winner nine minutes from time after some slack defending from Brechin. Substitute Marc Corcoran had barely been on the field two minutes before controlling a pass and striking a volley on the turn and despite Craig Nelson getting a hand to it, couldn’t prevent the ball from going into the net.

To complete City’s misery, Grant Johnson was sent off in the last minute for a rash challenge. This is remarkably the second time Johnson has been sent off this season, both of which have been at Love Street.

City battled hard against the league leaders and were desperately unlucky not to have taken a point after a good performance. It’s amazing what a win can do and no doubt City will be looking to maintain the momentum against Ross County at Victoria Park tomorrow (Monday 2nd January).

Other Results - Bell's League Division 1

Airdrie United 2 St Johnstone 1

St Johnstone slump yet again to another dissapointing result.

Clyde 3 Queen of the South 0

Clyde do us a favour by hammering Queens.

Hamilton Academical 0 Dundee 0

Honours even at New Douglas Park.