Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City got their Second Division campaign off to the perfect start with a terrific 2-0 victory away to Ayr United.

Gerry McGlaughlan and Craig Molloy were on the mark for City who battled hard to come away with a victory from a ground where they haven’t had a great deal of success in the past.

Brechin manager Jim Weir made just one change from the side that won at Stenhousemuir last weekend.

Calum Booth had failed to recover from an injury sustained in training and he was replaced by Andrew Cook.
16 year old Connor Gray from the under 19 side found a place on the bench.

City started the game well and grabbed the lead after only seven minutes.

Paul McLean made a great run down the right wing but was fouled at the edge of the Ayr penalty-box by Chris Smith.

Neil Janczyk then delivered a perfect free-kick into the box for McGlaughlan who powered an easy header past David Crawford.

City won a corner after 23 minutes and Janczyk sent his kick straight to Craig Molloy at the edge of the box but Tiger’s low drive was blocked by the Ayr defence.

Brechin though had a massive let-off a couple of minutes later when Ross Robertson played a delightful pass through to ex Queen of the South striker Gary Arbuckle, being fielded by Ayr as a trialist and he looked set to score until David Scott brought off a last-gasp save to deny what looked like a certain goal.

Stephen Reynolds tried a shot from the edge of the box for the hosts after 31 minutes but it was well wide of the target.

A good pass from Molloy after 33 minutes gave David McKenna a half-chance but the striker steered the ball just wide of the far post.

A great move from City five minutes later almost brought a further goal.
McKenna did superbly well to beat a defender just inside the box and square the ball across the penalty-area for Mark Docherty whose first-time volley was well held by Crawford.

The Ayr supporters were incensed five minutes into the second-half when Alan Trouten went down in the box after a challenge by Docherty, but the Honest Men’s penalty claims were waved away by referee Steven McLean.

City replaced McKenna with Charlie King on the hour mark and within seconds, Chucky was thick in the action when he sent a good forward pass to Molloy whose low drive was well saved by Crawford, and at the other end just a couple of minutes later, Robertson just failed to connect with a Dean Keenan corner.

In the 69th minute another Keenan corner from the left fell kindly for Martyn Campbell but he blasted wide from good position.

However, City wrapped up the points in style with five minutes remaining with a cracker of a goal.

Neil Janczyk started off the move just within the Ayr half when he cutely back-heeled the ball to King who passed it forward to McAllister just within the Ayr box. Rory shielded the ball just long enough before passing wide to Molloy who slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

East Fife 3 Airdrie United 3

Fifers and Diamonds Share Six Goals

Forfar Athletic 4 Dumbarton 1

Emphatic Home Victory For Loons

Livingston 3 Alloa Athletic 3

Six Goals Shared At Almondvale

Stenhousemuir 3 Peterhead 1

Warriers Overcome Blue Toon