Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 1 Dunfermline Athletic 6

Brechin City's season got off to an extremely disappointing start after an emphatic 6-1 defeat from Dunfermline Athletic

The Fifers put on a five-star performance, scoring four goals without reply in a first-half they totally dominated and although City 'steadied the ship' after the break they fell further behind with ten minutes remaining before pulling a goal back a minute from time only for the Pars to go straight upfield and score their sixth goal right at the death.

To be frank, City simply had no answer to the pace and thrust of the visitors attacks and player/boss Darren Dods who had to sit the match out because of suspension must now try and restore spirits before another very difficult match against Ayr United at Somerset Park next Saturday.

City made no changes from the side that went down at Ayr last Saturday whilst Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston named an unchanged side for the third week in succession.

City won a free-kick at the edge of the Pars box within the first minute after Craig Johnston had been impeded by Ryan Williamson but Robert Thomson fired the kick against Dunfermline's defensive wall.

Andy Geggan then fired a shot just wide of the target before the visitors grabbed the opener a couple of minutes later.

FAISSAL EL BAKHTAOUI made space for himself in the box before trying a shot which was parried by Graeme Smith but El Bakhtaoui followed up to slot the ball into the net.

City hit back straight away with skipper Craig Molloy driving a right-foot shot well wide of the target.

Dunfermline though pushed forward again with a 15 yard drive by Geggan held by Smith.

The visitors were pushing forward relentlessly with the City defence at full-stretch to keep them at bay. Another goal had to come and it arrived in the 22nd minute in what was a defensive mix-up from City's point of view. A cross came deep into the box which Ross Perry tried to head clear but instead only managed to head the ball towards his own goal. Smith scrambled to palm the ball away but unfortunately only as far as MICHAEL MOFFATT who had the simplest of tasks in heading the ball home.

The Pars continued to press and they scored their third goal just after the half-hour mark, and what a goal it was.

Midfielder JOE CARDLE picked up a ball at the edge of the City box and took a couple of steps before unleashing a wonderful right-foot drive which sailed into the top corner of the net with Smith helpless. It was nearly 4-0 a minute later when an El Bakhtaoui shot was just inches over the bar and in the 33rd minute Smith did well to save a free-kick from Lewis Martin.

City did try to push forward and relive the almost constant pressure and in the 36th minute, a Johnston cross was just missed by Perry. However, the Pars pushed forward again and Ryan Williamson did well to create space for himself in the City box before firing in a shot which Smith saved easily.

City were trying to stick manfully to their task and attempting to move out of their own half and they were unlucky five minutes before the break when a Johnston cross/cum/shot from the right skimmed the top of the cross-bar.

However, any slim hopes the home side had of taking anything from the match were dealt a body-blow a couple of minutes later when the visitors sewed up the points with a fourth goal.

James Dale lost possession midway in the City half and the ball was pushed out wide on the right to Williamson who immediately released Michael Paton who sent a deep cross into the City box straight to the unmarked EL BAKHTAOUI who had the simple job of heading the ball past Smith.

City took the field at the beginning of the second-half with an unchanged side while Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston replaced Callum Fordyce with Jason Talbot.

City were first to threaten when Paul McLean won the ball and pushed into the Dunfermline box before trying a shot which was over the bar.

The visitors looked content to sit on their four-goal advantage while City who were trying hard to come forward weren't really threatening the Dunfermline defence.

Moffat nearly made it five for the visitors when he headed a Josh Falkingham cross just past the post and at the other end six minutes later, City sub David Weatherston who had replaced Dale ten minutes earlier had a drive saved by Sean Murdoch.

Weatherston was in the thick of the action again a few minutes later when he crossed into the box for Thomson who headed the ball back across the face of the goal for Andy Jackson whose overhead kick was smothered by Murdoch and seconds later, City skipper Molloy saw a tremendous right-foot drive brilliantly tipped over the bar by the Pars keeper.

However, Dunfermline extended their lead with ten minutes remaining when Ryan Wallace, who had replaced Shawn Byrne on the hour mark slotted the ball past Smith after being played in by Paton.

City then scored a late consolation with a minute remaining when WEATHERSTON scored his first goal for the club, slotting the ball past Murdoch after a knock-down by Thomson, but the visitors emphasised their total superiority right at the death when FALKINGHAM had time and space to tuck away goal number six.