Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 0 Albion Rovers 1

Brechin City remain anchored at the foot of the League One table after going down to a 1-0 defeat from Albion Rovers at Glebe Park with the Coatbridge side now moving up to third place in the table.

It was a disappointing result for Darren Dod's men particularly as there was very little to choose between the sides as was the case the previous Saturday against Airdrie when City again came away pointless. However, the grim statistic is that City are in bottom position, four points adrift of ninth placed Cowdenbeath and the manager must now prepare his players for next Saturday's Angus derby at Station Park when he will be looking to steer his side back to winning ways.

There was a shock for City fans just before kick-off when it was announced that striker Dene Shields would be missing after picking up a training injury on Thursday night with fellow striker Robert Thomson also absent due to a thigh strain. Those absences meant starts for Euan Smith and David Wetherston with Darren McCormack also coming into the side for Craig Molloy who dropped to the bench.

City almost opened the scoring after 30 seconds when Andy Jackson was very unlucky to see his volley turned round the post by Rovers keeper Ross Stewart.

However, an uncharacteristic defensive lapse by Paul McLean a couple of minutes later allowed Alistair Love to make ground on the left and he then crossed into the box for Josh Mullin who blasted wide from good position. Another defensive error a couple of minutes later, this time from David Bates gave Love another opportunity to get a cross into the box with luckily for City the same outcome with Ross Davidson blasting his shot well over the bar from good position.

City hit back and Euan Smith was unlucky to see a fierce drive from the right edge of the penalty-box go inches over the bar.

City were pushing forward in an effort to grab the opening goal but they were finding it difficult to create any clear-cut opportunities.

Albion were also far from out of it as an attacking force in those early stages and they came close again in the 18th minute when Davidson deftly beat Dyer on the right touchline before pushing forward into the City box but he completely fluffed his shot to the relief of the home defence.

However, the visitors made the vital breakthrough six minutes later when they opened the scoring. Josh Mullin picked up the ball wide on the right and delivered a pin-point cross into the box for PAUL WILLIS who glanced a header well beyond the reach of Graeme Smith in the City goal.

Thr visitors threatened again a quarter of an hour before the break when Willis picked up the ball 35 yards from goal but instead of passing the ball forward, he elected to shoot with his shot going well wide of the target.

The visitors seized the initiative straight from the kick-off after the break with Dyer clearing a netbound drive from Willis off the line but City forced their way back into the match seven minutes later with Paul McLean doing really well to force his way into the visitors penalty-box, beating three Albion defenders on the way before seeing his drive well held by Stewart.

'Pabs' then turned defender six minutes later when he twice blocked close-range shots from Willis.

City however were pushing forward in an effort to rescue a point and they were desperately unlucky in the 83rd minute when Ross Perry then Darren McCormack had shots blocked in quick succession by Stewart and their lack of luck was summed up five minutes before the end when a wonderful strike from Dyer came back off the post with Stewart helpless.

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