Match Report - By Keith Johnston

Brechin welcomed Morton to a sunny Glebe Park for a first against third Division 2 clash. City knew that victory would guarantee promotion, while the visitors knew their season could be over unless they got all three points. It was also the first time Chris Templeman played against City at the Glebe since his move to the Inverclyde club. In January, when City got all three points at Cappielow he was pretty much anonymous and perhaps wanted to prove a point to his former team-mates.

Morton – the only full-time team in the division – spent the previous night in a Tayside hotel, hoping to get the best possible preparation for today’s game. They started brightly and looked the hungrier of the two sides in the early stages. But Brechin had the first good chance of the game when Craig Winter’s cross for Manny Panther wasn’t properly cleared. The ball fell to Charlie King and his shot was well tipped over by McGurn.
Shortly after, King was again in the action, getting on the end of a Panther cross. He cut the ball back for Graham Gibson but a timely intervention from Greacen saved the visitors.
Morton responded with a Shaun Dillon cross for Chris Templeman at the far post, however his header fell tamely wide.
Three minutes later, Morton were again scrambling to keep City out. Steve Hampshire got to the by-line and cut-back for King, but a defender blocked his effort.
With 31 minutes on the clock, Morton should have taken the lead. Chris Templeman cut the ball back for Scott McLaughlin. He was denied by a superb challenge by Scott Walker, but the ball broke loose and James McAllister really should have found the net, instead blazing the ball wide of the target.
Charlie King was proving to be City’s best hope of a first half goal and he was denied twice in quick succession by McGurn ten minutes from the interval. First the keeper did well to save at King’s feet, before King left Chris Millar for dead, cut inside and hit a shot straight at the stopper.
Five minutes before half time, Peter Weatherson was booked for a bad challenge on Charlie King right in front of the Brechin dug-out.

A stalemate at half-time was probably a fair reflection on the first half play, but Morton came out all guns blazing at the start of the second and went ahead. A minute after the restart, the ball came over from the right, Chris Templeman flicked it up at the far post and James McAllister was on hand to head the ball in.
Brechin tried to get back into the game quickly and were almost presented a goal by the visitors’ keeper. McGurn failed to handle a cross ball and Graham Gibson tried to hook the ball into the net, but Greacen got back to boot the ball clear.
Ten minutes later, Steve Hampshire went on a superb run, but his final shot went well over the bar.
Disaster struck for Brechin in the 66th minute when they conceded a second goal. Andy McLaren was the man who got on the end of another cross from the right, firing an unstoppable shot past Craig Nelson.
Brechin were handed a lifeline moments later as the visitors were reduced to ten men. Peter Weatherson was sent off for his second booking.
Brechin huffed and puffed, while the visitors defending got deeper and deeper, but it took City until the 80th minute to get a goal back. Steven Ferguson played the ball in behind for Craig Winter who cut it back to Paul Ritchie and he made no mistake from close range.
That left City with just over ten minutes to try and get an unlikely equaliser. To be fair, the visitors defended resolutely and Andy McLaren in particular was able to use all his experience to run the clock down when in possession.
Not content to let the game pass quietly, referee Steven Duff had to grab some attention for himself and did so by sending Stuart Callaghan off with three minutes remaining. Callaghan had been booked in the warm-up and Duff thought he’d hammer the point home with a second yellow for what was nothing more than obstruction. It would be nice if the SFA had managed to send someone competent for such an important game, but sadly there aren’t many competent referees in Scotland in 2005.
City kept going, but failed to get any real penetration in their play. That said, Ian Campbell’s men could have rescued an unlikely point - deep in stoppage time - when Ally Mitchell crossed for Craig Winter. Toorie had a free-header six yards out, but he headed straight at the keeper.

Overall a disappointing afternoon for City, but Morton simply had to win today and their players did well, despite going down to 10. Whether it will be enough remains to be seen, but with Stranraer stuttering along they will not give up. If they fail to go up, it will not be a rather paltry three points out of twelve against Brechin that is to blame, but their inconsistency against the division’s poorer sides. For City, the champagne will need to stay on ice for a couple more weeks at least.

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2

Ayr United 2 Arbroath 2

A point not really enough for Arbroath who have a mountain to climb in order to stay up.

Berwick Rangers 1 Forfar Athletic 1

Berwick also needed more against the Loons.

Dumbarton 3 Alloa Athletic 2

Dumbarton do their chances the world of good with victory over Alloa. City travel to Dumbarton next week.

Stirling Albion 1 Stranraer 1

Stranraer fail to take all three points and must be looking nervously over their shoulders at Morton.