Match Report - By Grant Hood

Brechin City suffered a fifth consecutive league defeat leaving the Glebe Park side disappointingly rooted at the foot of League One, following a 1-0 reverse at Stair Park.

The opening team-lines saw the re-introduction of David Weatherston to the starting line-up, along with keeper Graeme Smith. However, the pre-match intent of re-instating Ross Perry to a central defensive role was thrown into disarray, when he pulled up minutes prior to kick-off - forcing Player-Manager Dods into starting the match sporting the somewhat unconventional No 17 shirt.

The first half hour saw little in the way of meaningful goalmouth action for either team, although midfielder Gary Fusco had a timely defensive intervention inside the 6-yard box following a threatening move down the homesters' right.

City forced their first corner and a dangerous driven delivery wasn't far away from going straight in. Moments later, David Weatherston blasted a drive only just higher than the postage-stamp corner in a rare forward foray.

The game was heating up at this stage and central defender Darren McCormack earned the first yellow card of the game before the City defence survived a home penalty claim for handball amidst a series of threatening home corners.

In the lead up to half-time, the home side came close as some creative play down the left saw Andrew Stirling attract the attention of two City defenders. This led to a shooting chance for Dale Keenan whose curling effort smacked off the face of the crossbar - much to the relief of the travelling City support.

The start of the second half was dominated somewhat by home striker Jamie Longworth. His first attempt was a headed effort just wide of goal, followed shortly after by the game's only goal. He tussled for a long through ball with Darren McCormack, using his strength to gather possession inside the penalty area. LONGWORTH then turned away from City's No 4 before thundering a drive past Smith to put the home side ahead.

He sought to further exacerbate City's woes moments later with a powerful drive which keeper Smith did well to parry wide. 'Buzz' rescued City again, racing from his goal to block a Chris Aitken drive after the impressive home midfielder had created himself a shooting chance by blocking a McCormack clearance, before brilliantly turning over a vicious cross from Stranraer's left which was dipping in under the bar. Moments later the City keeper kept the Glebe Park side in it once again by advancing to block a one-on-one with Craig Malcolm. Longworth threatened once again with a drive which went narrowly wide, before the game lulled into a mundane period of substitutions and yellow cards.

In the closing stages, City pushed for the equaliser that would've seen a welcome first point on the board. Striker Andy Jackson latched on to a through ball and was unlucky to see his goal-bound drive blocked with his legs by Stranraer's on-loan Raith Rovers keeper David McGurn. Sadly for City, Gary Fusco's instantaneous 20-yard drive from the rebound was only just off target.

As the match meandered into injury time, a flurry of City free-kicks and corners failed to seriously trouble the home rearguard, with the most notable effort being a low 20-yard drive from midfielder Fusco which fizzed narrowly past the post.

With that came the final whistle and the realisation that the next opportunity for Darren Dods' men to get first points on the board would be a challenging encounter with county rivals Forfar Athletic at Glebe Park next weekend.

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