Match Report - By Grant Hood

Brechin City’s miserable start to the season continued with a home loss to Airdrieonians which saw the Glebe Park side slide to the bottom of the emergent Ladbrokes League One Table. Five defeats in the first 5 competitive games was clearly not the start to his tenure player-boss Darren Dods was hoping for, as City fans once again headed home disappointed.

Two straightforward finishes in 3 first half minutes from visiting striker Bryan Prunty was enough secure the points for Gary Bollan’s side – despite being reduced to 10 men and conceding to Andy Jackson’s first goal of the season.

Dods chose to stand by the outfield line-up which lost narrowly at Ayr the previous weekend. The only change was in goal where Paddy O’Neil stepped in to replace the suspended Graeme Smith. Sadly for City fans, sitting alongside ‘Buzz’ in the Centre Stand, albeit through injury, were the not inconsiderable talents of Paul McLean, Dene Shields and David Weatherston.

On a perfectly pleasant August afternoon, the game kicked off with both sides wearing change kits – City sporting their new gold and blue colours for the first time, and The Diamonds opting for their bright pink option.

O’Neil in the home goal looked nervous initially, being caught out under a long high cross, but his fumble came to no harm. City’s first attempt at goal was a low Robert Thomson drive into the side netting, after Player-Manager Dods won an aerial challenge in the visitors’ penalty area. The Diamonds replied with an Alan Lithgow header from a driven corner flashing across the home goalmouth.

After 18 minutes, Craig Johnston picked up possession in his own half, and seconds later his searing, penetrative run saw him dart between 2 retreating defenders and create a shooting chance inside the penalty box. Frustration followed for the lively winger as his goal-bound effort was blocked by the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Neil Parry who was advancing off his line at pace.

Minutes later, Andy Jackson latched on to a through pass but the ball was hooked off his toes just as he was about to shoot. Johnston once again came close to scoring his first Brechin City goal on 35 minutes, as he cut in from the left wing and blasted a terrific dipping effort which, to the dismay of the home supporters, was expertly tipped over the bar by Parry.

The ultimate destination of the 3 points was determined with a quick-fire double in the lead-up to half-time. As City carried goal threat of their own from a corner, 3 passes later The Diamonds’ Caolan McAleer found himself leading a swift counter-attack which suddenly saw the home defence outnumbered 3 to 1. Keeping his composure, he played a square pass to the unmarked BRYAN PRUNTY who took a touch before coolly rolling the ball past O’Neil and into the bottom corner.

Before City could generate any form of response, O’Neil was unable to hold a low drive from Jordan Morton and could only divert the ball straight to the feet of PRUNTY who couldn’t believe his good fortune and rolled the ball, unchallenged, into the empty net.

The second half saw little in the way of goalmouth action although, on the hour mark, the game took an unexpected twist. The visitor’s Caolan McAleer lunged for a loose midfield ball with City skipper ‘Tiger’ Molloy. Referee George Salmond gave himself some thinking time before reaching into his top pocket and producing a red card for The Diamonds’ No 7.

City were thrown an additional lifeline when, after some encouraging interplay, Andy Jackson found himself through on goal with only Parry to beat. Rather than strike, the City frontman chose to round the keeper, only to be pulled down. The referee opted this time to reach for yellow rather than red, seen by some as equally debateable a decision as the earlier dismissal.

ANDY JACKSON stepped up to take the kick, only to see Parry parry the ball low to his right. Happily for the Glebe Park faithful, City’s No 9 was first to the loose ball making a sufficient - if un-convincing – contact, seeing the ball dribble over the line to get the home side back in the game with 18 minutes remaining.

Despite having the majority of subsequent possession against an Airdrie side who were unable to muster a meaningful attempt on goal in the entire second half, City rarely looked like forcing an equaliser. The home trialist wearing No 15 skewed a shot wide from 20 yards following set up play by Robert Thomson and, despite a flurry of 4 corners in added-on time, the game reached an altogether disappointing conclusion.

As the Glebe Park fans drifted home, confirmation of other Ladbrokes League One results saw the grim realisation that City were the uncomfortable dwellers of the bottom rung. With two challenging but winnable sojourns to Albion Rovers and Stranraer looming, hopes remain high that as players return from injury, City’s form – and good fortune – will improve.

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Stranraer 1 Ayr United 2

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