Brechin travelled to Forfar for the semi-final of the Forfarshire Cup. Dundee United were awaiting the winners in the final. Both the clubs rested several key players, but there were still enough first-team players involved to make for a decent game.

The game started slowly with both sides enjoying a fair bit of possession, but unable to convert it into meaningful chances. City had the first chance of the game in the 10th minute when Stuart Callaghan floated in a free-kick but it was headed wide by Paul Ritchie.
Mid-way through the first half, there was a scare for David Hay when he rushed out to head a ball over the top clear ahead of the chasing Paul Shields. Hay’s header had neither height nor distance and dropped for Mathu King, but he battered the shot wide with City’s goalkeeper out of the picture.
Forfar did manage to take the lead on the half-hour mark. Shields was played clean through with the Brechin players appealing for offside. He took the ball past Hay and slotted it into the net, showing why he is one of Division 2’s top players at present. City’s players remonstrated with local Assistant Referee Jimmy Lyon who quite frankly should have gone to Specsavers.
Forfar were probably the better team in the first half and looked to extend their lead with a shot from Hugh Davidson that went wide.
City replied with a Scott Walker effort from the edge of the box that was straight at Ferrie.
Moments later, City almost conceded a second goal when Davidson played Shields clean through, but Hay was out smartly to deny him.

Fairly soon after the break, City equalised. A long throw by ex Forfar man Steve Hamilton was flicked on by Graham Gibson to Paul Ritchie. His shot struck the post, but Gibson was on hand to put the rebound away.
Just past the hour mark, Forfar looked as though they were going to take the lead again when King cut the ball back for substitute McKenzie, but Hay made an excellent save to keep him out.
Hay was called into action again in the 65th minute when Davidson and Waddell played a one-two resulting in the former being through one-on-one. City’s goalkeeper was equal to his effort with another decent save. If only he could cut out the moments of madness he would be a fine keeper, demonstrated again moments later when he tried to control a pass-back that he should have booted clear, almost conceding a calamitous second.
Brechin then introduced Ally Mitchell into the fray and he almost made an immediate impact, crossing for Paul Ritchie. He had a free-header, but may have been unsighted by the defender and knocked it wide.
In an attempt to win the game and to prevent the crowd the further boredom of extra time, City threw on Steve Hampshire and Charlie King. Within a minute, their team were behind. City were again caught out trying to step up for offside. This time, there was no doubt and Mathu King raced through to score.
Brechin made a noble attempt top rescue the tie, with the likes of Kevin Byers going close but it was not to be.

Overall, nothing much to get too excited about if you are a Brechin fan. The performance could have been better against a reasonably mediocre Forfar line-up, but at the end of the day it is a pretty meaningless competition. And there’s always next year.

Brechin: Hay, Hamilton (Mitchell 71), Byers, White, Smith, Panther, Johnson, Ritchie (Hampshire 75), Gibson (King 75), Callaghan.
Unused Subs: Deas, Nelson.

Forfar: Ferrie, Lunan, Lowing, Forrest (Dunn 46), Florence, McAlpine, Maher, Davidson, King, Shields (Waddell 46), Stein (McKenzie 60).
Unused Subs: Scrimgeour, Martin.