Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City went down to a 3-2 defeat against fellow title challengers Buckie Thistle following a hotly-contested and evenly-matched encounter at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park.

Although City will be hugely disappointed to have lost the match there is still a long way to go before the season reaches it’s conclusion. Although yesterday’s result was undoubtedly a set-back, City will take the defeat on the chin and concentrate all their efforts on getting back to winning ways against Wick Academy who are the visitors to the Glebe next Saturday.

City manager Gavin Price made just one change to the team which defeated Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park last Saturday with Luke Strachan dropping to the bench and Hamish Thomson taking his place in the starting eleven.

City started on the front-foot and they grabbed the lead after just ten minutes. Marc Scott did well to break down the right flank and exchange passes with Ewan Loudon with Scott firing in a fierce right-foot drive which was a blocked by visitors keeper Tom Ritchie, only as far as DANNY HANDLING who was following up and the ex-Edinburgh City man made no mistake from a couple of yards out.

It was the perfect start for City but their joy was short lived with the Jags drawing level just four minutes later. A Joe McCabe pass found Jack MacIver wide on the right who had time and space to deliver a delightful cross into the box for MAX BARRY who dived low to send a looping header into the top corner of the net.

The play then ebbed and flowed from end to end with City very unfortunate not to take the lead again in the 34th minute when a Euan Spark header from a Handling free-kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Ritchie.

With the sides level at one goal apiece there was all to play for after the break but it was the visitors who robbed the lead for the first time ten minutes in. City keeper Jamie McCabe failed to gather a long high ball into the box with Jack Murray quickest to react by sending a pass to Barry and although his shot was blocked the ball broke to ex-Forfar striker JOSH PETERS who blasted the ball home.

The goal was a real sickener for the hosts to lose but they rolled up their sleeves and pushed forward to try and grab the equaliser and their pressure paid off nine minutes from time when a long throw-in from Scott found substitute MATTHEW WRIGHT who slotted the ball to make it 2-2.

Neither side appeared to wish to settle for a point as the play swung again from end to end as the minutes ticked away but there was heartache for City with just a minute remaining. the ball was played forward to the impressive MAX BARRY who weaved his way past a couple of defenders before dispatching a low drive beyond the despairing arms of McCabe.

there was further drama just before the final whistle when Buckie substitute Lewis MacKinnon was sent packing by referee Greg Soutar after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on City sub Murray MacKintosh.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Fraserburgh 6 Huntly 0

Nairn County 4 Deveronvale 2

Rothes 0 Keith 0

Strathspey Thistle 0 Inverurie Locos 2

Turriff United 2 Brora Rangers 2

Wick Academy 3 Lossiemouth 0