Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City have reached the First Division play-offs after a fully deserved 1-0 victory over fellow play-off contenders Ayr United at Glebe Park.

Top scorer Rory McAllister scored the vital goal nineteen minutes into the first-half when he headed home a Neil Janczyk free-kick.

City totally dominated the opening 45 minutes and although the Honest Men made more of an impression after the break, City created further goal-scoring opportunities while keeper Craig Nelson had only one save to make in the entire game.

City will now face Cowdenbeath in a two-legged semi-final tie with the first game at Glebe Park this coming Wednesday night followed by a trip to Central Park three days later.

Manager Jim Weir made only one change to the side that had beaten Stenhousemuir the previous Saturday.

Goalkeeper Craig Nelson replaced David Scott in goal after recovering from injury and Gerry McGlauchlan who had been doubtful before the match was in his normal place at the centre of the defence.

City scorned a golden opportunity to open the scoring after just nine minutes and it was uncharacteristically top scorer McAllister who failed to find the target.

Bobby Donnelly made a total hash of a defensive clearance and the ball fell kindly for McAllister who blasted it well over the top of the bar from good position.

Rory though, more than made up for that miss ten minutes later when he grabbed the lead for City with a wonderful goal.

Skipper Neil Janczyk flighted a superb free-kick into the Ayr penalty-box and although McAllister had his back to goal he managed to glance a header well past Martin Alan into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Ewan Moyes and Mitch Megginson had further opportunities for City as the half progressed heading Janczyk corners just wide of the target and on the stroke of half-time Jamie Redman fired in a shot from 20 yards which Alan saved easily.

City picked up from where they left off after the break and Alan was called into action ten minutes into the half when he did well to parry a fierce Janczyk drive.

In the 72nd minute a wonderful long-range pass from Craig Molloy sent substitute David McKenna clear.

The striker bore his way into the box and fired in a shot which was deflected. Janczyk sent over a good corner kick and the ball was half-cleared to McAllister whose shot was well parried by Alan and sub David White fired the rebound just past the post.

With four minutes remaining, another Janczyk corner was headed into the path of Jamie Redman by McKenna but the midfielder shot past the post with the goal at his mercy.

In the final minute, City keeper Craig Nelson brought off his only save of the match when he dived to his left to save a shot from Ayr’s fifteen year-old substitute Mark Shankland.

Postmatch interview with Jim Weir is up on YouTube at:
http://youtu.be/6JeuzmShr3M
You will have to copy and paste as usual.

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