Match Report - By Grant Hood

City travelled to Ochilview to face The Warriors of Stenhousemuir with high hopes of a third win out of the three clashes against the hosts this season so far. Manager Ray McKinnon resisted any temptation to make changes to the team that started against Morton last weekend. Exciting new loan signing from Dundee, 17-year-old Craig Wighton was named amongst the City substitutes.

In the early exchanges Colin McMenamin, wearing the number 9 shirt for the homesters, headed over the bar from around the penalty spot after a Gerry McLauchlan defensive header was lofted back into the danger area. In reply, some impressive wing play from Bobby Barr on the left saw him sneak along the goal-line although on this occasion his attempted pull-back came to nothing. Bobby’s energy, tenacity and direct wing play would go on to make enthralling viewing for City fans throughout the match.

After 10 minutes City keeper Graeme Smith managed to scramble wide a low 20-yard shot from Tom Walsh, and shortly after he dived to his right to make an altogether more comfortable save from another long range effort, this time from McMenamin.

A Jamie Masson free kick was easily dealt with by the home defence leading to a threatening three-on-two break upfield from the Warriors. Smith, in the City goal, dealt with the initial danger by shepherding the Warriors attack away from immediate danger but, before City could regain comfortable possession, a secondary scramble ended when ex-City midfielder Bryan Hodge fired a right footed effort narrowly over the bar.

It was 21 minutes in before City had their first attempt at goal. The referee played an entirely legitimate advantage after Paul McLean was quite crudely blocked on City’s right flank. The ball broke to Alan Trouten who suddenly found himself inside the box with clear possession, but his early stinging drive was turned away for a corner by home keeper Greg Fleming.

In 26 minutes Colin Hamilton ‘took one for the team’ as he made a crucial back post header to clear a dangerous driven cross. In doing so, he took a push from an onrushing Warriors forward and clattered into the goal post at speed. Happily, after a few minutes of treatment, he was back in play.

Just after the half-hour mark City took the lead. McLauchlan played a free kick from around the half-way line into the home penalty box allowing Andy Jackson to receive possession, shield and turn. In doing so, he was hauled down by Warriors defender Ross McMillan, and a penalty was immediately awarded by the well positioned referee. Having deemed the challenge illegal, the ref was pretty well compelled to issue a red card to the home number four. ALAN TROUTEN stepped forward and skilfully drilled a composed shot low to the keeper’s right. Despite diving the correct way, the strike was sufficiently powerful and accurate – and City found themselves a goal up with only their second attempt on target. This was the first time this season that City found themselves up against opponents who had been reduced to 10 men.

Before the game re-started, home manager Scott Booth received something of a ‘talking to’ from the referee, an incident which would become of greater significance later in the game.

Five minutes before half-time, Bobby Barr was fouled wide on the left. A creative free-kick saw Bobby dart along the goal line and fire in his eighth cross of the first half. Unfortunately for City, McLauchlan couldn’t divert it goalwards.

Just before half-time, Gary Fusco was penalised for handball, but City quickly regained possession and neat interplay at pace from Barr and Masson saw a block from the home keeper, and the loose ball fell at the feet of Trouten. With little opportunity to adjust his footing, ‘Trouts’ failed to make good contact – resulting in an awkward ‘sclaff’ wide of the post and a glorious opportunity to go in to half-time 2 goals up had gone.

In a frantic end to the half McMenamin twisted his way past 2 City defenders, but City had keeper Smith to thank for a timely block.

In the first goalmouth action of the second half Barr retrieved a driven cross from the right by Fusco, and he picked out Masson with his cut back. The young Aberdeen loanee turned and shot, only for his strike to be blocked.

Shortly after, Hodge broke down the Warriors' left, but Smith did well on the floor to gather the awkwardly deflected cross. A moment later the keeper stepped out well to clear with his feet after some hesitant City defending and was sharp again to make another low save from McMenamin.

In 64 minutes, the travelling Glebe Park faithful were able to see new signing, Dundee loanee Craig Wighton in Brechin City red (or rather, blue) for the first time when he replaced Masson. Wighton was promptly involved in the action as he broke from the half-way line with Barr, who couldn’t quite get his shot away. Trouten picked up the loose ball, but was escorted to safety following some astute close defending by the home rearguard.

In the next action, Paul McLean expertly took the ball off McMenamin’s toes just as he was preparing to shoot. This led to an ultimately fruitless flurry of home corners. Being a man short nearly proved the Warriors' undoing as one corner was overhit which gave Barr the chance to break. His through ball to Wighton allowed the City fans a first glimpse of his impressive pace, but his cross ball from the right was comfortably gathered by the home keeper.

Despite the numerical advantage, City must have wondered at times just who was a man short as Stenhousemuir were consistently an attacking threat. This was illustrated in 72 minutes when a cross found its way over Alan Trouten’s head and dropped invitingly for McMenamin. The home striker who had scored a hat-trick last Saturday, took a touch and rocketed a terrific left foot shot past the onrushing Smith – only for it to thunder back off the face of the crossbar. In response, Trouten threaded a pass to the impressive Wighton who fired a shot over the bar from the corner of the box.

On 77 minutes, Club Captain ‘Tiger’ Molloy replaced Gary Fusco in central midfield and shortly afterwards Fleming in the home goal produced two cracking saves to keep City at bay. Firstly a low dive to stop a goal-bound Barr effort after Bobby had jinked past a couple of defenders, and Paul McLean then thundered the loose ball towards the top corner and the keeper did exceptionally well to reach high to his left to turn it past for a corner. ‘Pabs’ won the header from the subsequent corner but it landed on the roof of the net.

Soon after, home boss Scott Booth was sent from the technical area by the referee for presumably having had a word too many to say about what appeared to be a fairly innocuous throw-in award mid way inside City’s half. McMenamin later received the game’s only caution for dissent.

As the game entered added time, some quite mesmerising wing play from Bobby Barr ended with yet another blocked effort. Craig Molloy had his powerful follow-up drive from the edge of the box blocked too.

Deep into injury time another goal arrived although, unlike at Cappielow the previous weekend, this time it was City who were the beneficiaries. Barr showed neat control and composure to keep the ball in play right on the touchline. The ball was fed into the box where ROBERT THOMSON (who had replaced Alan Trouten after 84 minutes) took possession and gleefully dispatched a low shot to the right of the despairing arm of Fleming in the home goal.

Most City fans who saw the game would doubtless acknowledge that the team has played better recently but the points haul simply hasn’t reflected this. The Glebe Park side left Ochilview having achieved the primary objective of the day by securing three valuable points and maintaining a 100% record to date against the hosts this season. By extending the current unbeaten run to 10 matches, City now know that a win against full-time Dunfermline Athletic at Glebe Park next Saturday will ensure the reward of a move into the League One top four for the first time since early October.

Other Results - Scottish League One

Ayr United 2 Stirling Albion 2

Honours Even At Somerset Park

Dunfermline Athletic 0 Stranraer 1

Blues Go Top After Win Against Pars

Forfar Athletic 1 Airdrieonians 1

Diamonds Hold Loons

Morton 0 Peterhead 1

Blue Toon Shock Morton