Match Report - By John Hoey

ARBROATH 2 BRECHIN CITY 3

Brechin City gave their play-off hopes a massive boost with a stunning 3-2 victory over Angus neighbours Arbroath at Gayfield with goals from Rory McKenzie and top scorer Paul McManus who scored a double.

The result means that City now sit just two points off a top-four place and with five games remaining there is everything to play for as the season draws towards its close.

Manager Jim Weir kept faith with the side which started last week’s game against East Fife and there was a place on the bench for club captain Charlie King who had been rated as extremely doubtful prior to the game.

City started the game in a positive fashion and grabbed the lead after just six minutes.

The ball was played wide to McKenzie wide on the right and he pushed forward a couple of paces before sending over a cross/cum shot into the box which completely eluded Darren Hill in the Arbroath goal with the ball ending up in the top corner of the net.

City kept up the momentum and to their supporters’ delight they doubled their lead fourteen minutes later.

McManus chased a long ball into the Arbroath penalty-box and won a tussle with Hill to gain contact of the ball and managed to steer it into the net.

Arbroath were stunned with the opening Brechin had made and they hit back to narrow the deficit from the penalty-spot just seven minutes later.

Lichties striker Colin Samuel collected the ball at the edge of the City box and appeared to be impeded by defender Scot Buist as he tried to turn and referee David Somers immediately awarded a penalty to the home side which was expertly dispatched by Steven Doris with Craig Nelson having no chance.

Both sides kept up the pace as they attempted to grab further goals but the half finished with City deservedly in front.

Arbroath had the first chance of the second-half when Gavin Swankie sent a 30 yard drive just past the post in the 55th minute and at the other end a minute later, Hill parried a fierce McManus drive.

However, it was the Lichties who got on the score-sheet in the 58th minute with a further goal from Doris, again from the penalty-spot after Buist had appeared to handle the ball in the box.

The remainder of the half saw both side pushing forward in an attempt to get the decisive winning goal and it was City who made the vital breakthrough in the 65th minute.

McManus powered forward into the Arbroath box and although he appeared to be impeded by an Arbroath defender, he kept going to fire home a close-range shot into the roof of the net.

Once again, the play swung from end to end as City tried to increase their lead with Arbroath trying to salvage a point but their hopes were dealt a body-blow five minutes from the end when Keith Gibson was dismissed for a bad tackle on Craig Molloy.

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Albion Shock Leaders

Dumbarton 1 Forfar Athletic 0

Sons Narrowly Defeat Loons

East Fife 1 Stenhousemuir 1

Points Shared at Bayview

Stirling Albion 0 Airdrie United 2

Diamonds Increase Binos Relegation Fears