Match Report - By John Hoey

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Brechin City 1 Ayr United 1

Brechin City and Ayr United shared the after an absolutely cracking match at Glebe Park which ended 1-1.

The Honest Men grabbed the opener three minutes before half-time when James Adams slotted the ball home from close-range but City fought back after the break and levelled the match within a minute of the restart when on-loan Alloa striker Isaac Layne fired home from the edge of the box.

Thereafter it was end to end with both sides going all out to grab a decisive second goal but despite both teams having chances to go in front, the match finished all square.

It was another tremendously encouraging performance from City who pushed the league leaders all the way in a display which belied their basement position in the table.

Brechin City manager Darren Dods kept faith with the side that won at Forfar last Saturday while Ayr boss Ian McCall included former City favourites Gerry McLauchlan and Alan Trouten in his starting eleven.

The first chance came the visitors way with just a minute on the clock when Jordan Preston drilled a shot well wide of the target.

City fought back and a good pass from Paul McLean a couple of minutes later was just beyond Layne.

Darren McCormack then showed his defensive qualities for City when he blocked a good run from Robbie Crawford and minutes later he did well to divert a dangerous looking cross from Ross Caldwell for a corner.

City had a half-chance in the 12th minute when a loose ball from Andy Graham fell for Layne at the edge of the box but the young striker was crowded out by the visitors defence and couldn't get a shot in.

The on-loan Alloa striker was in the thick of the action again in the 24th minute when he collected the ball at the left edge of the penalty-box and neatly turned Gerry McLauchlan before crossing into the box, but unfortunately for City just beyond Andy Jackson and Jonathan Tiffoney.

The visitors should have grabbed the opener four minutes later though when a great ball was played into the City box for Trouten but the former City midfielder's header was brilliantly palmed away by Graeme Smith.

Play then swung to the other end and a great pass from Craig Molloy released Layne who played back the ball to Tiffoney. ''Tiff' then pushed forward to the bye-line before crossing into the box for McCormack whose drive was blocked by McLauchlan.

The visitors then exerted a period of sustained pressure on the City defence and David Bates did really well to divert the ball for a corner after a great run from Caldwell. Shortly afterwards Ross Docherty picked up the ball deep in the City half and beat a couple of home defenders before releasing Nicky Devlin wide on the right but his cross into the box was cleared by the home defence.

However, the visitors pressure paid of three minutes before the break when they grabbed the opening goal after some great play.

Caldwell sent a good pass to Crawford who quickly chipped the ball into the path of JAMES ADAMS who slotted it past the despairing arms of Smith.

City came out for the second-half with their sleeves rolled up and they levelled the match within a minute with a superb home debut goal from Layne.

The hosts won a corner on the right and the ball was cleared by the visitors defence only as far as LAYNE who cracked a superb drive past Greg Fleming in the Ayr goal.

Play was swinging from end to end as both sides went in search of a decisive second goal and the Honest Men were unfortunate when a superb Docherty drive came crashing back off the City bar before going out for a bye-kick to the relief of the City defence.

It was thrill a minute as both sides continued to push forward and Ayr might have done better in the 71st minute when Preston collected the ball in the City box before swivelling and ballooning the ball over the bar from good position.

Jackson then tried to squeeze the ball through to Layne but he was crowded out by the visitors defence. Layne was having a great game and was proving to be a real thorn in the flesh of the Ayr defence and he did superbly well in the 83rd minute to beat a couple of Honest Men defenders on the right before sending a dangerous cross into the box where Devlin was relieved to knock the ball out for a corner.

City were piling on the pressure and in they were desperately unlucky not to grab the lead with seven minutes remaining when Fleming superbly turned away a header from McLean. Then within the space of the next couple of minutes, Layne, Dyer and sub Euan Smith all had shots blocked within quick succession and the final opportunity came City's way a minute later when a free-kick from Layne hit the base of the post.

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