Brechin City Football Club

Glebe Park, Brechin, Angus DD9 6BJ

Tel : 01356 623344
Email : secretary@brechincityfc.com
www.brechincity.com

Brechin City 2 Forfar Athletic 0

Match Report - By Keith Johnston

Supporters of both clubs had been looking forward to this game all week. City fans have witnessed their team’s devastating form lately, while the Loons support were keen to inflict another defeat on their Angus neighbours after their victory on the opening day of the season.
Brechin went into the game without Scott McCulloch who has joined Ayr United. The popular defender was finding it increasingly difficult to come up from Ayrshire to play for City and it seems a sensible move for all parties. Also missing was Steve Hamilton whose injury denied him the chance to put one over his former club, as well as Scott MacNicol and Ally Mitchell who have been injured for a while now.

The game got off to a busy start with Paul Tosh having a one on one chance against Craig Nelson as early as the third minute. The keeper was off his line quickly to deny the striker, to the relief of Craig Winter whose initial mistake had presented the chance.
Brechin responded almost immediately with Paul Ritchie laying off the ball to Chris Templeman whose shot was well tipped wide of the post by Allan Creer.
City continued to create chances in the early stages and nearly scored an absolutely magnificent goal in the 8th minute. Paul Deas played a beautiful cross field ball to Graham Gibson, he spotted the run of Craig Winter and headed it first-time into the ex Cowdenbeath man’s path. His first time shot went inches wide of the far post.
Brechin went even closer in the 11th minute. Paul Ritchie made space for a shot at the edge of the box only to see his effort strike the base of the post and come back out.
Three minutes later, the woodwork was struck at the other end. David McClune’s cross eluded Nelson and struck the crossbar. This effort was unintentional, but nevertheless almost caused City to go behind.
Dick Campbell’s men were relieved not to be down to 10 men in the 17th minute when Paul Tosh was brought down by Scott Walker at the edge of the box. It was more a clumsy challenge than a blatant hack, but Forfar’s support were calling for the red card to be produced. The sight of drama queen referee Stuart Duff reaching for his pocket did not bode well, but fortunately he produced yellow and not red.
Paul Ritchie had another chance to open the scoring with 22 minutes gone. A poor kick-out by Creer from a passback went straight to Steve Hampshire who slipped the ball through for Ritchie. He took a touch then fired a left footed shot over the bar.
With 15 minutes remaining in the half, Brechin had the ball in the net. Kevin Byers’ free-kick was headed goalward by Ritchie and chested over the line by Chris Templeman. The celebrations were cut short though, with the assistant referee’s flag up for offside.
But Brechin weren’t to be denied and took the lead 5 minutes later. Steve Hampshire played a delightful cross to the far post for the unmarked Craig Winter. He took his time before coolly side footing the ball into the far corner. A superb finish by the Fifer to silence the Forfar supporters who had been giving him some stick for having the audacity to tackle some of their players.
Brechin deserved their lead, but were given a golden opportunity to extend it three minutes before the break. Craig Winter was again in the thick of the action, his shot struck the arm of David King, and Stuart Duff pointed to the spot. My personal opinion is that it was not a penalty because King was on the ground and the ball appeared to hit his leg before bouncing up and hitting his arm. It was to prove a moot point though as Graham Gibson’s poor penalty was saved by Allan Creer. A good save, but it was at too convenient a height for the keeper.
Nevertheless, City went into half time a goal up.

The second half was as entertaining as the first, with Forfar coming into the game a lot more than they had been before the break. City had the first chance of the half though as Ritchie found Chris Templeman at the edge of the box. His curling effort was bound for the top corner but was well saved by Creer.
Brechin were then given a warning at the other end as Paul Shields eluded David White in the box and shot wide of goal, in the 56th minute.
Moments later, City fans in certain areas of the ground thought their team had doubled their advantage. Kevin Byers free-kick was met by the head of Steve Hampshire , the ball looked to be in from the hedge-side, but actually it had dropped narrowly wide.
At the other end, a quick break cumulated in Brechin failure Jay Stein firing a low shot across goal that just ran away from the outstretched boot of Paul Tosh at the far post.
City were given yet another warning in the 66th minute. Craig Nelson did brilliantly to tip the initial shot onto the bar, but it looked as though Tosh was going to follow up with a simple tap-in. However the bounce of the ball caused him to jump and head fresh air, to Brechin’s relief.
City managed to get the crucial second goal in the 72nd minute. A free-kick was given for a foul on Paul Ritchie at the edge of the box. Jamie Smith took it, the ball taking a bad deflection, beating Creer’s desperate five. A tough break for Forfar, but overall no more than Brechin deserved.
In the late stages of the game, Brechin looked more likely to extend their advantage than the Loons did to reduce it. Paul Ritchie and Chris Templeman had a couple of chances, but for once this season it was to be non-strikers who would do all the damage for City.
The closest Forfar came to reducing the deficit came in the 82nd minute when Paul Tosh picked out David McClune unmarked at the far post. A golden opportunity, but he headed wide, which somewhat summed up Forfar’s day.
The visitors knew the game was lost by this point, you could tell they were going through the motions as the game drew to a close.
In the final minute, a neat move involving two of Brechin’s substitutes almost got City a third goal as Charlie King’s flick found Grant Johnson in the box, but Allan Creer again pulled off a great save to deny him.

Overall a great result and performance from Brechin to see off their local rivals. Forfar had a few chances in the second half, but in truth Allan Creer had more saves to make in the game than his opposite number Craig Nelson, so you have to say City were worthy of all three points. The sponsors’ man-of-the-match was Scott Walker, but there were many contenders. Craig Winter in particular must have been in the thoughts of the selectors.
Results elsewhere saw Stranraer win to stay top, but some of the chasing teams dropped points and there is now a small gap between the top two and the chasing pack.
Next week City travel to Alloa, before they face Stranraer at Glebe Park the following week in what promises to be a mouth-watering encounter.

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2


Alloa Athletic 1 Stranraer 2

Stranraer stay top with a victory at Recreation Park.

Arbroath 2 Stirling Albion 1

Stirling, unbeaten till last week, lose two in a row.

Ayr United 0 Dumbarton 1

Dumbarton recover from some poor recent form to win at Ayr.

Morton 2 Berwick Rangers 0

Morton triumph in the battle of the new managers.

Result

23 October 2004
Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park
Attendance: 869
Craig Winter 36
Jamie Smith 72

Brechin City

1 Craig Nelson
2 Jamie Smith
3 Paul Deas
4 Craig Winter
5 David White
6 Scott Walker
7 Graham Gibson
8 Kevin Byers
9 Paul Ritchie
10 Chris Templeman
11 Steve Hampshire
     
12 Grant Johnson
14 Roddy Black
15 Chris Jackson
16 Charlie King
17 David Hay

Substitutions:

  • On: Grant Johnson
    Off: Kevin Byers ( 65 )
     
  • On: Charlie King
    Off: Steve Hampshire ( 69 )
     
  • On: Chris Jackson
    Off: Graham Gibson ( 81 )
     

Forfar Athletic

1 Allan Creer
2 Alan Rattray
3 David Lowing
4 Eddie Forrest
5 David King
6 David McClune
7 Paul Lunan
8 Hugh Davidson
9 Paul Tosh
10 Paul Shields
11 Jay Stein
     
12 Steve Florence
14 Mark Booth
15 Martin Maher
16 Mathu King
17 Neal Ferrie

Substitutions:

  • On: Martin Maher
    Off: Hugh Davidson ( 75 )