Match Report - By John Hoey

Albion Rovers 3 Brechin City 1.

Brechin City remain firmly anchored at the foot of the Ladbrokes League One table after going down to their fourth successive league defeat at Cliftonhill.

City fell behind to a goal from Ross Dunlop in the 23rd minute but a Craig Johnston penalty levelled the score-line a couple of minutes later. Unfortunately, another penalty award in the 33rd minute, this time for Rovers, saw John Gemmell blast the ball past Patrick O'Neil and a further Rovers goal within a minute of the second-half beginning from substitute Andy Barrowman left City chasing the game.

The visitors were handed a life-line in the 73rd minute when they were awarded the third penalty of the match after Craig Molloy had been brought down in the box by Kyle Turnbull who was subsequently sent from the field by referee Gavin Duncan after receiving his second yellow card but Robert Thomson's spot-kick was well saved by Rovers keeper Ross Stewart.

Rovers looked the likelier side in the opening minutes with a fairly strong wind behind them and they grabbed the opening goal in the 23rd minute when the City defence failed to clear their lines with the ball falling nicely for home defender ROSS DUNLOP who slammed the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net.

City though immediately hit back and they levelled the match from the penalty-spot just a couple of minutes later. After some good build-up play, Andy Jackson was sent sprawling in the box by Alan Reid and JOHNSTON stepped up to send his spot-kick well beyond the reach of Rovers keeper Ross Stewart

City's joy however, was short-lived as Rovers regained the advange in the 33rd mi ute after another penalty award.

Paul Willis picked up the ball at the edge of the City box and then cut inside only to be brought down by City full-back Jonathan Tiffoney. John Gemmell who has had a habit of scoring against City over the years then stepped up to blast the penalty past Patrick O'Neil.

Being only a goal down at half-time meant that City had all to play for in the second-half but they fell further behind within just a minute of the re-start when Willis collected the ball on the left before delivering a cross right across the face of the City goal for substitute ANDY BARROWMAN who had time and space to direct his header well beyond the reach of O'Neil.

City were 3-1 down but they tried to push forward without really reading anything clear-cut in front of goal. However, they were handed a life-line in the 73rd minute when they were awarded the third penalty of the match after Craig Molloy was brought down in the box by Kyle Turnbull who was then sent off by referee Gavin Duncan after receiving his second yellow card of the match but Robert Thomson's subsequent penalty-kick was well saved by Ross Stewart in the Rovers goal.