Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 1 Dunfermline Athletic 2

Brechin City remain at the bottom of Ladbrokes League One after going down to a 2-1 defeat from league leaders Dunfermline Athletic at Glebe Park.

The Pars had opened the scoring after just six minutes when Josh Falkingham fired home but City fought back and equalised eleven minutes later when Robert Thomson headed home a Willie Dyer corner.

To be frank the Fifers had the lion's share of possession and pressure during that opening period scorning several gilt-edged opportunities and they made that almost continual pressure lay off five minutes before the break when defender Ben Richards-Everton was first to react to a Michael Paton free-kick into the City box with the home players appealing strongly that the Englishman had raised his foot too high in the box.

There was no further scoring in the second-half but City battled valiantly against a very good side and might have just grabbed the equaliser for the second time in the match five minutes from the end when Pars keeper Sean Murdoch smothered the ball at Andy Jackson's feet.

City boss Darren Dods made three changes with the manager dropping himself to the bench with Paul McLean coming in while Craig Molloy and Jamie Montgomery both came into the side with David Weatherston and Lewis Spence dropping out.

The Pars put pressure on the City defence straight from the kick-off and they grabbed the opening goal with just six minutes on the clock.

Joe Cardle picked up the ball up in his own half and sent a long ball forward for Faissal El Bahktoui who played it into the box for Michael Paton who then laid it on for Josh Falkingham whose low drive sailed last Graeme Smith in the City goal.

The Pars kept up the pressure but they were shocked to the core when City grabbed the equaliser against the run of play in the 17th minute. The hosts won a corner on the left and Willie Dyer delivered a pin-point cross straight into the box for Robert Thomson who bulleted a great header past Sean Murdoch.

Both sides then pushed forward in an effort to grab another goal and it was City who came closest to scoring in the 29th minute when Thomson broke clear of the Pars defence and drilled in a shot which Murdoch was at full stretch to save.

The visitors then hit back with a tremendous drive from Craig Reid going inches over the bar and they made the vital breakthrough five minutes before the break with the decisive second goal. They won a free-kick on the right after Dyer had fouled El Bahktoui and Paton then swung over a great free-kick into the City box for Ben Richards-Everton who drilled a low drive past Smith.

The visitors piled on the pressure and it should have been 3-1 on the stroke of half-time when the ball was played to El Bahktoui with the goal at his mercy but he blasted the ball over the bar from great position.

The Pars started the second-half as they finished the second and they should have increased their lead within the first minute but Falkingham shot past the target from good position.

The visitors maintained the pressure and they came close again in the 53rd minute when Michael Moffat broke clear and played in El Bahktoui who drilled a low drive just inches past the post.

City then had a rare opportunity when Andy Jackson forced his way into the Pars box but his shot was well held by Murdoch.

The Pars hit back again and they missed another great chance when El Bahktoui played in Paton but the winger blasted the ball over the bar just a couple of yards from goal and City had another let-off with ten minutes remaining when Gary Fusco headed the ball off the line under intense pressure.

Despite almost constant Dunfermline pressure, City were always in with a chance with only one goal in it and they came close to grabbing the equaliser with five minutes remaining when Jackson was played in by Thomson but Murdoch smothered the ball at the striker's feet.

Other Results - Ladbrokes League One

Airdrieonians 1 Stranraer 1

Diamonds And Blues Share The Spoils

Ayr United 2 Forfar Athletic 1

Narrow Win For Honest Men Over Loons

Cowdenbeath 2 Brechin City 3

Blue Toon Edge Out Blue Brazil