BRECHIN CITY V GREENOCK MORTON

Tennent's Scottish Cup Round 3 Replay

8 February 2000

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Brechin can count themselves desperately unlucky not to be in that glamour tie with Rangers in Round 4. They have matched Morton all the way over 210 minutes and only penalties could seperate the two sides. Brechin began the game with an anchanged team, with the exception of Greig Smith coming in at the back for the suspended Graeme Christie.

In the first half Brechin played well and started the brighter. Lee Bailey looked dangerous up front all night and he tested Morton keeper Ally Maxwell on three occassions in the first half. City set their stall out well from the start with the back three not giving the Morton forwards a sniff of goal, the wing backs getting forward well and the midfield trio working tirelessly.

Brechin's domination continued into the second period, although Bobby Geddes had to be at his best to keep out Stephen Aitken late on. In the final minute, Brechin could have secured victory but Stuart Sorbie's powerful header was superbly tipped over the bar by the impressive Maxwell. The match went into extra time but neither team managed to really get going over the 30 minutes and penalties were required.

Brechin began the shoot-out well. They took first and Stuart Sorbie cooly placed his penalty just off the centre of the goal as Maxwell dove the other way. Paul McDonald then managed to just beat the dive of Geddes as the ball went in the corner, just above the keeper's outstretched hand. Kevin Bain then stepped up and sent Maxwell the wrong way before Graeme Morrison responded in a faultless manner. Harry Cairney was next up for City and he also made no mistake. Harry Curran was next to take with the score 3-2 to Brechin. He saw his penalty saved by Bobby Geddes down low to his left. The Brechin fans could now sniff the deserved victory and the Trinity Road Stand was full of emotion as both sets of fans intermingled there.

With the score at 3-2 to Brechin in the shoot-out Roddy Black stepped up with the opportunity to put City two up with only two Morton penalties to come. However, to the dispair and disbelief of the Brechin fans he proceeded to chip his penalty over, clipping the bar on the way through. Gary Tweedie was next to take for Morton and he made no mistake in squaring matters again. The tide of the penalties was turning and Steven Raynes stepped up knowing that it was imperative he scored. However, Ally Maxwell produced a fine stop to silence the Brechin fans. Stephen Aitken then had the elementary task of scoring the final penalty of the shoot-out and he made no mistake.

At the end of the day, Brechin have been left extremely disappointed on an epic night of cup football. The deserved better - in both ties - but once more when a big cup tie loomed they have succumed. The positive aspect to come out of it is that City more than matched a full-time First Division side over two matches but that will be no consolation. The evening also leaves the question as to how City could possibly be in 9th position in Division 3 when every single player was superb.

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Other Results (Tennent's Scottish Cup Round 3 Replay)

Aberdeen 2 St Mirren 0

Other Results (Tennent's Scottish Cup Round 3)

Celtic 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3

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