Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City 5 Peterhead 1

Brechin City gave their hopes of avoiding relegation a massive boost after a stunning 5-1 victory over Peterhead at Glebe Park.

It was a clinical performance from City who now move off bottom spot in the League One table, two points ahead of Forfar Athletic, a point behind Stenhousemuir and three points behind Cowdenbeath.

The highlight of a superb home display was a hat-trick from top scorer Robert Thomson with Andy Jackson and Liam Watt scoring the other goals and all City supporters will be hoping they the team can carry this form into their final two matches against Stranraer next Saturday and Forfar Athletic the following week.

Manager Darren Dods made just one change to the side that lost at Cowdenbeath the previous Saturday with fit again Darren McCormack coming in for Jaseem Sukar.

City started the game really well and they grabbed the opening goal after just five minutes. A throw-in on the right was flicked on by Thomson into the path of Jackson who wasted no time in blasting an unstoppable shot past Graeme Smith in the Blue Toon goal.

Thomson ran clear of the visitors defence a minutes later and squared the ball,across the face of the goal, but Smith was quickly off his line to smother the ball with Jackson ready to pounce.

The Blue Toon hit back and Nicky Riley did well to force his way last Gary Fusco right on the touchline and cross into the box where the ball was cleared only as far as Jordon Brown whose right-foot drive was just inches over and Fusco was in the thick of the action again just minutes later when his superb tackle prevented Shane Sutherland from getting a shot in on goal.

However, City alleviated this short period of Peterhead pressure by doubling their lead in the 21st minute.

A goal-kick from Graeme Smith was carried by the strong wind straight to the feet of Thomson who sent a deft lob over the head of Smith.

The visitors battled back and they reduced the deficit with an excellent goal just on the half-hour mark. Defender Nathan Blockley picked up the ball midway in the City half and forced his way forward into the penalty-box, beating a couple of City defenders on the way before steering a low drive beyond the reach of Smith.

Play then swung from end to end but City came close to restoring their two-goal advantage in the 39th minute when Lewis Spence pushed forward from the middle of the park before firing in a drive which just skimmed last Smith's left-hand post. However, another City goal was only delayed by a further four minutes when Thomson played in Watt whose cracking drive sailed past Smith into the top corner of the net and it was incredibly 4-1 a couple of minutes later when Watt played a short pass to Jamie Robson whose shot was parried by Smith only as far as Thomson who could hardly believe his luck before tapping the ball into the empty net.

City continued in the ascendency in the second-half and they made it a stunning 5-1 score-line in the 66th minute.

The ball was played out wide in the right to Robson who then quickly released Thomson who completed a superb hat-trick by slotting the ball beyond the despairing arms of Smith.

Other Results - Ladbrokes League One

Albion Rovers 0 Cowdenbeath 0

No Goals At Cliftonhill

Forfar Athletic 0 Airdrieonians 2

Diamonds Too Strong For Loons

Stenhousemuir 0 Ayr United 4

Honest Men Romp Home At Ochilview

Stranraer 4 Dunfermline Athletic 1

Blues Shock Champions