Match Report - By John Hoey

Peterhead 2 Brechin City 1

Ramsdens Cup First Round - Balmoor Stadium

Brechin City were eliminated from the first round of the Ramsdens Cup after a 2-1 defeat against Peterhead at Balmoor Stadium.

David Cox had opened the scoring for the hosts after just seven minutes but an Andy Jackson header levelled the match for City on the stroke of half-time with Jordon Brown scoring the winner for the Blue Toon in the 73rd minute.

Despite the disappointment of the defeat, there were definitely some positives to take from the performance and the team have the chance to bounce right back in a further cup competition (The Scottish League Cup) next Saturday at Stranraer.

City boss Ray McKinnon's side lined up with Graeme Smith in goal and Steven Jackson and Paul McLean in the full-back positions with Graham Hay and Gerry McGlauchlan in central defence. Alan Trouten and Bobby Barr were in the wide midfield positions while Stuart Anderson and Allan Walker assumed the central midfield roles. Andy Jackson sat just behind main striker Derek Carcary up front.

Peterhead boss Jim McInally included former City players Rory McAllister and Jamie Redman in his starting eleven.

The hosts were first to threaten after just two minutes when Smith had to look sharp to clear from ex City favourite Rory McAllister but the visitors responded immediately when Trouten was unlucky to see his header from a Barr cross instinctively saved by Graeme Smith in the Blue Toon goal.

However, Jim M Inally's men shocked City when they opened the scoring after seven minutes. Smith failed to gather a McAllister cross from the right and COX was on hand to blast the ball into the roof of the net.

City were finding it difficult to prise open a dominant home rearguard although Allan Walker did try a shot from 25 yards after 23 minutes but unfortunately it was well wide of the target.

A great home move a couple of minutes later saw Graeme Sharp pass to Ryan McCann who in turn released Brown who fired a drive just past Smith's right-hand post.

A Steven Jackson free-kick in the 41st minute was saved by Smith at the second attempt but with it looking very much as if City would go in at the break one goal down, they levelled the match with seconds of the half remaining.

Barr picked up the ball wide on the left and drew in Sharp before delivering an inch-perfect cross into the Peterhead box for JACKSON who glanced a header well beyond Smith's reach.

The second-half was only two minutes old when McAllister rifled an angular drive just past Smith's right-hand post but City were beginning to assert themselves and McLean curled in a right-foot drive after 58 minutes which Smith did well to save.

A Trouten pass three minutes later provided an opportunity for Derek Carcary but his shot hit the side-netting.

City created another chance a minute later when Barr left Cowie standing before releasing Carcary with a great pass and when Del's cross came into the box it was just missed by Jackson.

However, the Blue Toon scored the decisive winning goal in the 73rd minute.

BROWN looked to be in an offside position as Cowie played the ball through the City defence but the youngster kept his composure to slot the ball into the corner of the net.

Smith then brought off a couple of great saves from Trouten as City tried in vain to level the match for the second time.