Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 2 Ayr United 1

Brechin City picked up a vital three points with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory over Ayr United at Glebe Park.

It was a battling and determined performance from the City players who for once got the reward their performance deserved.

A goal from Robert Thomson after only six minutes set City on the road to victory and when a magnificent goal from Craig Molloy made it 2-0 after 68 minutes it looked as if the points were safe. However Ayr reduced the deficit through substitute Kyle McAusland with quarter of an hour remaining which made for a very nervy last few minutes but City held on and with a little bit of luck might well have added to their tally.

City remain in seventh place in the League One table on the same points as Airdrie who defeated Dunfermline by 2-0 at Excelsior Stadium while East Fife who shared the points in a 1-1 draw against Stranraer at Bayview are three points behind on 32 points.

With another hugely important match against a rejuvenated Airdrie side coming up at the Glebe next Saturday, the City players can surely approach that game with a good deal of confidence after their performance today.

City boss Ray McKinnon fielded the same side that were so unlucky to go down at Dunfermline last Saturday with places on the bench for Paul McLean, Garry Kenneth and Steven Robb who have all recently been out of action.

A great pass from Greg Cameron after 3 minutes put Bobby Barr in the clear and he raced into the penalty-box and tried a shot which was wide of the target.

However, City kept up the pressure and they grabbed the lead after six minutes when a great run down the left by Darren Petrie saw the on-loan Dundee United midfielder cross low into the box for Robert Thomson who swept the ball past David Hutton in the Ayr goal.

The visitors hit back and a close-range shot after 12 minutes from Craig Malcolm was diverted for a corner.

City had another opportunity though a minute later when Greg Cameron played a short pass to Thomson in the penalty area but the striker hit his shot just over the bar.

Ayr then had a chance a couple of minutes later when an Adam Hunter header from a Michael McGowan cross was just wide of the target.

City though continued to press forward and they were unlucky in the 18th minute when Craig Molloy shot wide after great work from Alan Trouten on the right edge of the penalty-box.

The visitors were enjoying a fair degree of possession and they had a half-chance on the half-hour mark when a long-range effort from Hunter was just wide of the target.

City were continuing to push forward whenever possible and they were unlucky not to extend their lead three minutes before the break when a Trouten shot from a Barr pass was diverted for a corner.

The visitors started the second-half with Alan Forrest replacing Kevin Kyle and they were first to threaten after 51 minutes when Martyn Campbell headed a Scott McLaughlin corner wide of the post, and they came close again six minutes later when Michael Moffat's pace took him beyond Gerry McLauchlan and he bore in on goal hitting a right-foot drive which cannoned off the post.

However, City picked up the initiative once again and they deservedly doubled their advantage in the 68th minute with a magnificent goal from Craig Molloy.

Trouten cut inside the Ayr defence and when the ball broke free, Tiger picked it up 25 yards from goal and unleashed a tremendous right-foot drive into the top corner of the net which left Hutton helpless.

However, when it was looking as if the points were safe the visitors dramatically reduced the deficit after 75 minutes when Forrest shot home from close-range after a McLaughlin free-kick.

A nervy last fifteen minutes followed with City defending heroically and they were relieved when Ayr substitute Kyle McAusland shot wide of the target with five minutes remaining.

City though were still trying to find a third goal and they came very close indeed a couple of minutes later with another great move. Great work from Thomson who had collected the ball wide on the right made the opening for Barr who in turn played in Trouten but Trouts shot was deflected away by Hutton.

Other Results - Scottish League Second Division

Airdrieonians 2 Dunfermline Athletic 0

Big Win For Diamonds

East Fife 1 Stranraer 1

Honours Shared At Bayview

Stenhousemuir 2 Arbroath 2

Warriors And Lichties Share Four Goals