Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 1 Airdrie 1

Brechin City and Airdrieonians shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Glebe Park.

Both goals came late on in what had been a dull and dreich encounter.

Bobby Barr scored City's goal with nine minutes of the game remaining when he intercepted a headed pass-back from Luca Gasparrotto to blast the ball into the net but the Diamonds hit back just three minutes later when former City striker Jim Lister took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence to poke the ball home.

At the end of the day, a draw was probably a fair outcome but the City players will have been disappointed to let the lead slip for the fourth game in succession.

With Tuesday night's Scottish Cup fourth round replay against Annan Athletic on the horizon, manager Ray McKinnon rested Paul McLean, Gary Fusco and Bobby Barr with Ewan McNeil, Craig Molloy and Jamie Masson all coming into the side.

Airdrie had the ball in the net after just eight minutes when Jim Lister headed home a Keigan Parker cross but the stand side linesman already had his flag up for offside. City responded immediately with Alan Trouten unlucky not to hit the target after a great diagonal pass from Kyle McAusland.

It was the Diamonds turn to be out of luck shortly afterwards when Graeme Smith brought off a great point-blank save from Parker who was clean through on goal.

The visitors were enjoying the majority of possession at this stage and Lister had a shot blocked after 29 minutes, with Paddy Boyle drilling a left-foot drive beyond Smith's left-hand post seconds later.

The pattern in the second-half was much the same as the opening 45 minutes with both sides trying to prise an opening with very little occurring in the way of clear-cut chances.

Smith brought off a good save to deny Nathan Blockley after 71 minutes and his counterpart in the Airdrie goal, Andy McNeil came to his side's rescue twice within the next five minutes when he brought off a couple of superb saves from Masson free-kicks.

However, City made the vital breakthrough in the 81st minute when Luca Gasparrotto, under pressure from Barr headed the ball past his own keeper with the City sub following on to blast the ball home for the opener.

City's joy however was short-lived as the Diamonds drew level three minutes later.

Lister headed a cross from the left towards goal with Smith just getting a hand to the ball, but he was unable to gather it safely, and The Diamonds striker was on hand to prod the ball home to earn the Diamonds a crucial point, their first in three games with City left to rue letting another three points slip through their grasp.