Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City went down to their second successive league defeat, going down by 2-1 against Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park.

Alan Cook notched the opener for the Warriors in the 31st minute, finishing off a great three-man move but City fought back after the break and deservedly equalised with a superb strike from Isaac Layne in the 71st minute.

Both sides then pushed forward to find a second goal, but unfortunately for City, it was the Warriors who scored it, Colin McMenamin firing home from close-range in the 80th minute after a Jason Scotland free-kick had been blocked by the home defence.

City fought hard to grab a second equaliser but it was not to be and they were reduced to ten men in the dying seconds when Willie Dyer was red-carded by referee Craig Charleston after receiving two bookings in quick succession.

City player-boss Darren Dods made a couple of changes to the side that started against Cowdenbeath a week ago with Darren McCormack and Euan Smith dropping down to the bench and Gary Fusco and Jonathan Tiffoney coming into the starting eleven.

City threatened in the third minute when Isaac Layne collected the ball and swivelled round before firing I a shot which went narrowly past.

The Warriors responded immediately when they won a free-kick 25 yards from the City goal but Stephen Stirling sent his kick well wide of the target.

Layne came close again for City in the 10th minute when he collected a pass from Andy Jackson and managed to fire in a shot despite close attention from the Stenny defence but it was again wide of the target and a minute later a 25 yard thunderbolt from Willie Dyer also went narrowly past.

Gary Fusco then saw a drive from 25 yards go over the bar before the visitors passed up a really good opportunity a couple of minutes later when the ball fell kindly for former City full-back Jamie McCormack 15 yards from goal but he made a complete hash of his shot and the opportunity was lost.

However, the Warriors had better luck eleven minutes later when they grabbed the opening goal after a really good move.

Ross Perry lost possession to Jason Scotland midway in the City half and the former St Johnstone striker quickly released Colin McMenamin who in turn laid the ball on for ALAN COOK who pushed forward into the City box before firing a great drive into the top corner of the net.

City hit back and thought they were going to be awarded a penalty just three minutes later when Jonathan Tiffoney was sent sprawling in the box after a challenge by Stuart Malcolm but incredibly referee Craig Charleston booked Tiffoney for diving and awarded a free-kick to Stenny.

City pushed into attack immediately after the break and they were really unlucky not to grab the equaliser two minutes into the half when David Bates was desperately unfortunate to see his header from a Dyer corner strike the list before being cleared and seconds later Bates played a good pass to Jackson who fired home but unfortunately the stand side linesman had his flag up for offside.

The visitors then hit back and Mark Gilhaney made ground on the right before crossing into the box for McMenamin whose close-range header was easily held by Graeme Smith.

City pushed forward again and great play from Tiffoney saw him make it to the bye-line before sending a great cross into the Stenny box which keeper Matty Gould held at full stretch with Jackson ready to pounce.

City were taking the game to the visitors and they got their reward in the 71st mi ute when they scored the goal their play had so deserved when ISAAC LAYNE collected the ball at the edge of the Stenny box and shielded it superbly before turning and unleashing a superb right -foot drive which soared into the roof of the net.

City pushed forward again in search of a second goal and and Ross Meechan did well to knock a Paul McLean cross away for a corner and from the resultant kick, Bates rose above the visitors defence to power in a header but it was too close to the keeper who saved easily.

Play was swinging from end to end as both sides pushed forward in an effort to score a decisive second goal but unfortunately for City, it was the Warriors who scored it with ten minutes left on the clock when Stenny won a free-kick at the edge of the City box.

Scotland stepped up take the kick which he drilled against the home side's defensive wall but the ball broke to COLIN McMENAMIN who had time and space to slot the ball past Smith.

City pushed forward again In an effort to grab the equaliser for the second time but unfortunately to no avail and their misery was compounded in the dying seconds when full-back Willie Dyer received his second yellow card of the match and was sent to the dressing-room by referee Charleston.

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