Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City got their Highland League campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory over Keith at Kynoch Park.

The Maroons grabbed the lead after 21 minutes with a brilliant solo effort from midfielder Michael Ironside but City fought back after the break with goals from Ewan Loudon (2) and Anthony McDonald to seal all three points.

City started off with Lenny Wilson in goal and a back four of Lewis Martin, Euan Spark, Brad McKay and Kevin McHattie with Seth Patrick, Fraser MacLeod and Anthony McDonald in the central midfield positions  and Marc Scott and Ewan Loudon on the wings with Dayle Robertson spearheading the attack.

The first opportunity of the game fell to Keith after 12 minutes when a cross from the right was collected by Liam Duncan who fired in a shot which was held by City keeper Lenny Wilson.

The visitors hit back immediately with Ewan Loudon heading a Mark Scott cross just past the post and shortly afterwards Dayle Robertson just failed to connect with a good pass from Euan Spark.

However, it was the home side who made the breakthrough after 21 minutes with a brilliant goal from MICHAEL IRONSIDE with the midfielder collecting a pass at the edge of the box then beating three City players before drilling a low right-foot drive into the bottom corner of the net.

City were pushing forward in search of the equaliser and Anthony McDonald was desperately unlucky to see a close-range effort go narrowly past after 29 minutes.  Loudon then looked set to score when he was straight through with only the keeper to beat but he elected instead to pass to Robertson who fired the ball past the post with the goal at his mercy.

City had the first chance of the second-half when Loudon collected the ball wide on the left and cut inside before firing in a right-foot drive which was deflected for a corner. 

City kept pressing in search of the equaliser and it arrived in the 52nd minute when Robertson played a quick one-two with McDonald who played in EWAN LOUDON who blasted the ball home from five yards.

City grabbed the lead just a minute later when ANTHONY MCDONALD was on the spot to lash the ball home from close-range as City kept up the pressure. 

The midfielder came close again in the 61st minute when he fired in a free-kick from 25 yards which was tipped round the post by Keith keeper Craig Reid. Robertson then came close to increasing City’s lead three minutes later when he neatly turned his man in the box before drilling in a drive which was held by Reid. 

The hosts then mounted a quick counter-attack when a long ball from defence found Jake Phillip-Stewart but Wilson was quickly off his line to avert the danger.

City then had an opportunity to increase their advantage in the 79th minute when Reid brought down Fraser MacLeod in the box but the keeper made amends by saving Loudon’s spot kick.

City were still enjoying the majority of possession and pressure but with only one goal separating the sides it was very close for comfort and the hosts nearly pulled a goal in stoppage time when substitute Matty Tough tried a shot from the edge of the box which Wilson did well to save.

However, the points were wrapped up for the visitors with seconds minutes remaining when Marc Scott was brought down in the box by Nathan McKeown and this time EWAN LOUDON made amends for his earlier miss by firing a low drive beyond the reach of Reid to clinch victory for his side.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Brora Rangers 5 Turriff United 0

Deveronvale 0 Inverurie Locos 2

Formartine United 0 Banks O' Dee 2

Forres Mechanics 0 Rothes 3

Huntly 5 Strathspey Thistle 0

Lossiemouth 0 Clachnacuddin 2

Wick Academy 2 Fraserburgh 0