Match Report - By Secretary

Brechin are still unbeaten after four league games, but need to get their shooting boots on in the coming weeks to maintain their good start to the season.

City completely dominated possession in the first half, yet created three or four chances of note. Whilst their youthful opponents came into the game midway through the second half had one corner kick and one free-kick in 90 minutes and both were worthy of mention. From the first they missed a sitter from point blank range and from the second, Barry Douglas produced a stunning free-kick which fairly screamed into the top corner of Craig Nelson’s net.

City had four free-kicks, all in decent positions and all lacking the same direction and creativity as the Spiders’ counter. Brechin had brought in John Seeley for a competitive debut and the former Spartans man made a decent debut, winning practically every aerial duel that came his way.

The positives for Brechin were that they never really looked like losing a goal - one or two ‘hairy’ moments apart. They also had the game by the scruff off the neck going into the closing stages and had Charlie King, who had raced half the length of the park in the second period, stuck away a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, another three points would have returned north.

Brechin never got the same fluency into their game through the 90 minutes however as they had displayed seven days previously. But they still had the better chances in the first half. Ian Diack and then Kevin Byers creating openings for Gary Twigg, with City’s leading marksman just a toe away on both occasions. The second opportunity the most gauling of all, with Twigg a few yards out only just failing to connect with Byers’ cross.

Into the second period, City made the breakthrough after 58 minutes when Richard Walker, who had come on for Byers, got a deflection on an Ian Diack cross and Gary Twigg applied the finishing touches.

Then a game clincher that Charlie King missed. The City front man looked composed after robbing Agostini on the halfway line. But having raced through and lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, it bounced the wrong side of the upright from a City perspective.

The home side forced their way back into the game and they were rewarded with just seven minutes on the clock. Barry Douglas, who had performed well all afternoon at left-back for the amateurs, struck a superb free-kick which was worthy of gaining any side a point.

Queens Park: Crawford, Ure, Agostini, Brough, Douglas, Harkins, (Murray 72), Cairney, Neill, Dunlop, Quinn, Coakley (Dunn 72). Unused subs: Boslem, Holmes and Terry.

Brechin City: C. Nelson, Murie, (C.Smith 87), Seeley, White, Dyer, Byers (Walker 56), Nimmo, Janczyk, D. Smith, Twigg (King 74), Diack. Subs not used: A. Nelson, McCluskey.

Refereee Steve O’Reilly.