Match Report - By Steve Mitchell

BRECHIN City produced a very professional performance, becoming only the third side to win a league game at Balmoor Stadium this season.

Jim Duffy shuffled his pack once again, with Ian Nimmo returning to the midfield in place of Steven Canning who was on the bench. City lined up 4-4-2 and the home side in a 3-4-3 fprmation.

Brechin enjoyed a positive start to the game and had the upper hand possession wise for most of thefirst half. However, a strong wind and a bumpy pitch made conditions difficult for both sets of players.

Goal scoring opportunties were few and far between in th first half, as both sides toiled in search of a vital three points, which could play a big part in cementing a play-off place.

Gary Fusco was prominent in many of Brechin's early moves. He found time and space in the middle of midfield to win a tackle, beat a man and play a superb pass to find Willie Dyer.

City's first half opportunities mainly came from good play through midfield or down the left hand side. The home side were dealt a real blow when, following a clash of heads with Neil Janczyk, Daniel Moore had to go off with a head knock and Polish midfield man, Konrad Kozminski replaced him.

Darren Smith brought the good-sized travelling support to their feet wioth a crisply struck low drive from the edge of the box and Rory McAllister did very well to hold off and turn McDonald, but shot over the bar.

At the other end Bobby Mann could make nothing of a couple of free-kicks and Martin Bavidge, who was kept remarkably quiet by Jon Seeley and Barry Smith for most of the game, escaped up the righ flank, only to fire the ball wide.

City's fans must have wondered what the secondhalf would bring. There side had enjoyed the upper hand playing with the wind, but were playing into it in the second period. However, Brechin produced a very competent second half performance and created more playing against the wind.

Rory McAllister proved a handful for the home defence all afternoon against a club where he previously had a spell on loan and he was denied a certain goal after he eluded McDonald once again and smashed a tremendous drive to the far post, which Kula brilliantly saved by sticking out a hand.

McAllister turned provider in the 66th minute. Ian Nimmo gained possession in the centre of the field and fed the big City striker on the right flank. His effort on goal from an acute angle wasn't dealt with by the Peterhead goalkeeper who parried the ball out, only for City skipper Darren Smith to head home from close range.

Craig Nelson had his only real save of the game when he comfortably dealt with Kozminski's 20 yard drive. Andthe closest the Blue Toon went all afternoon was an effort from Davie Ross, which rebounded off the post.

City hit back and McAllister should have squared the ball with King and Janczyk, but shot wide of the target. City were denied a second when King weaved past a couple of challenges and struck a cracking drive which Kula acrobatically pushed away.

Peterhead forced a number of corners late in the game. However, the City back four had a very solid afternoon an were in no mood for conceding anything.

All in all, a very satisfying victory and a vital three points in the play-off stakes, which became all the more relevant after news filtered through that Stirling Albion had lost in the 90th minute against bottom side Stranraer.

Janczyk and Fusco were the pick ofthe City side, McAllister battled for everything in the forward line and the back four all had steady games.