Match Report - By John Hoey

STENHOUSEMUIR 2 BRECHIN CITY 1


Brechin City remain on the verge of the Third Division Play-Offs after a 2-1 defeat against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.

Goals from Iain Thompson and Grant Anderson in each half were enought to ensure a win for the Warriors and although substitute Jim Lister scored a late goal for City, it was too little too late.

City now need one point from their remaining two games against either league champions Cowdenbeath at Glebe Park this coming Saturday or against Dumbarton at Strathclyde Homes Stadium the following week to make sure of their place in next season's Second Division, although a win for Albion Rovers against Forfar at Station Park this Saturday would see the Loons having to fight for their Second Division survival via the Third Division play-offs.

Stenny threatened in the 3rd minute when Stewart Kean picked up the ball on the right and swung in a cross for Andy Rodgers whose header was easily saved by Craig Nelson.

City responded immediately when Craig Molloy burst through into the Stenny Box but Iain Thompson cleared his shot away for a corner.

Rodgers had another go for the hosts in the 7th minute when his 25 yard was wide of the target but the home side gained an early advantage when they scored the opening goal ten minutes later.

When the ball was played into the City box, Gary Fusco cleared, but only as far as Thompson who quickly dispatched a cracking drive into the bottom corner of the net, with Nelson having no chance.

Fusco performed heroics in the visiting defence eleven minutes later when he blocked shots on the line in quick succession from first of all Rodgers and then Grant Anderson.

City hit back, and a great ball from Ewan Moyes found David McKenna in space and he quickly squared the ball across the face of the penalty area for Rory McKenzie, but his shot was well wide of the target.

In the 32nd minute an Anderson low drive from the left was well held by Nelson and on the stroke of half-time Rodegrs played in Kean who blasted wide from good position.

The early stages of the second-half were evenly contested, and City had a chance in the 58th minute when Bryan Hodge delivered a cross into the box for Moyes who headed just wide, but a couple of minutes later, City found themselves two goals down.

Scot Buist was short with a pass-back to Nelson and Anderson nipped in on his blind side to collect the ball, round the keeper and slot the ball home.

City tried to find a way back and in the 71st minute, substitute Jim Lister played a good pass to Molloy whose shot was blocked and seconds later at the other end, a fierce angular drive from Kean was only inches past.

In the 78th minute, City came again came close when a Mckenzie shot on the turn was tipped away for a corner by Stenny keeper Ally Brown.

However, City did pull a goal back nine minutes from time when substitute Derek Carcary picked up a pass from Hodge and crossed into the box for Lister who steered it home.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

Albion Rovers 1 Arbroath 1

Crucial Point for Albion

Cowdenbeath 2 Forfar Athletic 0

Blue Brazil Win Title Against Loons

Dumbarton 2 Airdrie United 1

Sons Consolidate Third Place

East Fife 1 Stirling Albion 0

Fifers Win Narrowly Over Binos