Match Report - By Match Secretary

BRECHIN City continued their unbeaten start to the season by gaining a point at Ayr on Saturday - but with a wee rub of the green it could have been all three.

City welcomed back Johnathon Seeley to central defence, while on-loan Michael Paton joined Gary Twigg in the forward line. Skipper Darren Smith was ruled out with injury and his place went to Charlie King.

David Murie and Ian Diack dropped out to the bench alongside Adam Nelson, Calum Smith and Chris McCluskey.

City started brightly, but nelson was forced to make a comfortable save from Scott Agnew’s free-kick and then Willie Dyer headed past his own post under pressure from Bryan Prunty.

City went agonisingly close to taking the lead after some neat footwork on the right from Kevin Byers saw him find Gary Twigg inside the box. Twigg held off the attention of former City defender, Scott Walker, and swivelled to curl a magnificent effort towards Stephen Grindlay’s far post. However, the City man was denied with the ball striking the inside of the upright.

Scott Walker was very fortunate when Referee David Somers decided not to take any action against him after Paton had left him for dead on the right touchline. City pressed again and Twigg was fouled. From the resultant free-kick, Grindlay turned Janczyk’s free-kick for a corner. The goalkeeper then held Byers’ inswinging flag kick.

City should have gone in front again in the 22nd minute. Paton showed great close control and picked out Charlie King at the near post with a great cross, the City player made a good contact with his header, but couldn’t get above the ball to head it downwards. City went close again when Richard Walker burst through from nowwhere and fired narrowly past Grindlay’s near post.

Charlie King went close again for Brechin as they turned the screw more and more on the home defence. The winger just failed to connect with Neil Janczy’s free-kick, after hesitation in the home rearguard.

The breakthrough eventually came for City after half-an-hour. Janczyk fired in a great corner from the right and Twigg got in front of Scott Walker and headed City in front off the underside of the crossbar.

Janczyk once again caused costernation in the home ranks with another sweetly struck free-kick, which Campbell managed to deflect for yet another City corner.

Amazingly, having rarely been in the first half at all, the home side levelled from Ryan Stevenson’s 30 yard striker. It was the only time in the entire game where his marker, Ian Nimmo allowed the Ayr midfield man any room and he took full advantage.

The game had been a great spectacle so far and City could consider themselves very unlucky not to be going in at half-time two to three goals in front.

Ten minutes into the second half, City went oh so close once again. Good work from Kevin Byers on the right flank saw him cross to the far post, where only a touch would have given Brechin back the lead, but neither Nimmo or Twigg could get a foot or head on the ball.

City went even closer after Janczyk showed great awareness to dart past Allan Dempsie and cut the ball back to Ian Nimmo 12 yards out. Nimmo, to his credit, tried to place the ball post the goalkeeper with the side of his foot, but only succeeded in shooting straight at him and another great chances was lost.

Richard Walker made progress down the right flank and created an opening for Michael Paton, the young Don found the angle too acute however and shot into the side netting.

Willie Dyer became the first Brechin City player to be booked in the 73rd minute when he was adjudged, somewhat harshly to have brought down Ryan Stevenson. City then went for broke with Calum Smith replacing Charlie King for the last 15 minutes and Brechin going to a 4-3-3 formation.

Kevin Byers showed occasional glimpses of his sublime best on Sunday and a great run from the City midfield player, which took him past three defenders, he went through on the goalkeeper, but was denied by Grindlay’s outstretched leg, which diverted his drive for a corner.

Brechin were on top in the last quarter and Janczyk’s corner from the left was eventually met by Davie White who headed narrowly past at the far post.

Right at the death, City were denied once again and fur the umpteenth time, Byers was the creator of a great goal-scoring opportunity. He cut inside his man on the right flank and picked out goalscorer Gary Twigg six yards from goal, but the City striker was denied by Grindlay’s umpteenth magnificent save of the game.

All in all, a very professional performance from City, which on another day, would have yielded three points. However, Brechin fans won’t be too aggrieved at taking a point at one of the top of the league rivals. Brechin had no failures. the central defensive partnership were solid and in midfield Janczyk and Nimmo had excellent games.

Twigg and Paton also looked like forming a formidable partnership in the forward line, ably backed up by “super sub” Calum Smith.

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