Match Report - By Grant Hood

Ayr Utd 2-1 Brechin City

Darren Dods' Brechin City left Somerset Park with no points but sufficient cause to be relatively upbeat despite the hosts inflicting a second defeat on the Glebe Parkers within 2 weeks.

After the previous weekend's heavy defeat at home to title favourites Dunfermline Athletic changes were expected, particularly in defence, and the pre-match plan was to see the re-introduction of both Dods himself and City favourite Gary Fusco. However, an injury in the pre-match warm-up to defender Ross Perry saw the initial plans fall into disarray forcing former Dundee United starlet Jamie Montgomery into a last minute league debut wearing the unconventional No 14 jersey, and a significant change of formation for the Glebe Park side.

Against a backdrop of a pleasant mid-August blue sky, the early chances fell to the home side, with Crawford, Moore and Trouten all failing to seriously trouble 'Buzz' in the City goal, before Robert Thomson struck a shot wide in City's first meaningful attack.

After 17 minutes Montgomery shot narrowly over the bar after a Darren McCormack piledriver was blocked by home keeper Fleming, and shortly afterwards Craig Moore was one-on-one with the City keeper Smith, who blocked his effort before the rebound bounced narrowly wide off Darren McCormack. Gary Fusco headed the resultant corner clear, but crucially Brian Gilmour was afforded an inordinate amount of time to fire the ball back into the danger area, to be met by the onrushing ALLAN FORREST who comfortably headed home unchallenged from a central area 6 yards out. City down 1-0, 21 minutes gone.

Brechin City were on the front foot for a significant period of time but, sadly for the understandably outnumbered travelling support, this was to prove inconsequential. Firstly, a Montgomery shot was blocked on the line after an initial shot was diverted goalwards by a home defender, and then - much to City's chagrin - an equaliser from Andy Jackson, after terrific hold-up play and a delicious back-heel from Robert Thomson, was deemed offside by the Assistant Referee on the far side.

As the first half drew to a close, and in an encouraging contrast to the previous games, City remained assertive but were unable to break through a stubborn home rear-guard.

City started the second half in a similarly forceful manner with 2 crosses from Gary Fusco, as ever putting in a willing shift - albeit this time at right back - but just not quite creating a gilt-edge chance - before having a drive of his own blocked by former City team-mate Gerry McLauchlan.

Quick-fire cautions followed for player-manager Darren Dods and skipper 'Tiger' Molloy, before the City had to be dependent on the far-side assistant referee as he made another tight call to disallow a finish from the home side's Motherwell loanee Craig Moore - he of last season's Fir Park / Rangers / Mohsni end-of-season play-off incident.

On 68 minutes City's captain engineered a terrific equalising goal. 'Tiger' scrapped aggressively to secure midfield possession, and skilfully created room to dink a cute through ball into what was once known as the inside left channel. With Gerry McLauchlan on the turn, City's hardworking No 10, ROBERT THOMSON, beat the home keeper to the ball, heading it past him before walking the ball into the net unchallenged. 1-1 with 22 minutes left.

Sadly parity was to remain for only 5 minutes. A through-ball caught Dods on the wrong side of Alan Trouten inside the penalty area and any challenge had to be absolutely spot on. It wasn't. Graeme Smith's remonstration saw him receive a yellow card and, despite the ensuing mind-games, 'Buzz' was sent the wrong way by the type of composed 12-yard finish City fans had become accustomed to seeing from ALAN TROUTEN. In common with Gerry McLauchlan 2 weeks prior, 'Trouts' was sufficiently respectful to keep his ensuing goal celebration relatively subdued.

Amidst a flurry of home substitutions City were far from out of this, and with 10 minutes remaining Thomson intercepted a McLauchlan prod back to his goalie and laid the ball back to the onrushing Jackson. Arriving at pace 'Jacko' was unable to take clean possession and the home defence arrived to snuff out the danger.

With the game entering added-on time, the day's outcome became evident in an incident which would impact on Brechin City well beyond this match itself.

City worked hard to earn a corner on the right. In an altogether assertive move, City's bench beckoned goalkeeper Graeme Smith forward in an attempt to salvage what would've been City's first point of the season. The corner itself was disappointingly ineffective but saw 'Buzz' concede a foul at the edge of the home penalty box, and then elbow United's No 6, Peter Murphy. The inevitable straight red card followed, much to the dismay of everyone in Somerset Park of a red'n'white hue.

Ayr United simply had to take the ball to the corner flag to see out the game to secure a second victory over City at Somerset Park in 2 weeks - notably a City side which hadn't been defeated there in the previous 5 visits.

Despite the defeat, a slightly bizarre consolation existed given that Cowdenbeath's heavy defeat to Fife rivals Dunfermline Athletic, saw Brechin City move off the bottom rung of the fledgling League One table. Whilst City's Management Team considered the impact of losing their first choice goalkeeper for two matches, cognisance was also given to a wholly more encouraging performance in advance of the upcoming league challenges which lay ahead.

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