Brechin City Football Club

Glebe Park, Brechin, Angus DD9 6BJ

Tel : 01356 623344
Email : secretary@brechincityfc.com
www.brechincity.com

Brechin City 0 Queen of the South 1

Match Report - By Steven Mew

Report by Steven Mew

Frustration is fast becoming a familiar feeling for City players and supporters come 4:45pm on a Saturday afternoon as they are left to ponder yet another single goal defeat in which many will say a share of the spoils would have been a fairer reflection on the game.

Despite there only being a solitary goal, it was a thoroughly entertaining match with plenty of chances at both ends of the park.

Manager Darren Dods opted to freshen up the team following the narrow defeat at home to Morton last weekend. He was forced into one of the changes with Ryan McGeever ruled out for 4-6 weeks with damaged ankle ligaments - he was replaced in the team by Gary Fusco. Also coming into the side was Liam Watt and Isaac Layne, meaning Finn Graham and Kalvin Orsi had to settle for a place on the bench.

City looked keen and started the game at an electric pace. With just a couple of minutes on the clock Sean Crighton had a header cleared off the line by Jordan Marshall and shortly after, the lively Connor McLennan headed wide from Jordan Sinclair’s cross.

The visitors were also playing at a high tempo so there was end to end action for much of the first half. Queens won a free kick 20 yards out following a handball but Stephen Dobbie could only curl the ball into the side netting. They came even closer just a few minutes later, a corner from the left was headed goalwards but McLennan was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

McLennan was in the action again at the other end of the park, he burst forward from midfield and fed the ball to Isaac Layne in the box who drilled the ball low towards the near post but Martin got down well to parry away for a corner.

Stephen Dobbie was showing glimpses of quality for the visitors – the veteran striker made a good run down the left before supplying a teasing ball into the box, however Sean Crighton managed to get a touch to the ball to stop an almost certain goal with Connor Murray lurking in behind. Back came City and Sinclair curled a free kick wide after McLennan had been fouled outside the box.

Remarkably all of this action was packed inside a whirlwind opening 15 minutes. The game settled down slightly and the next chance fell to the Doonhamers on the half hour mark and City had Graeme Smith to thank for keeping the scoreline level. A cross from John Rankin was met powerfully by Lyndon Dykes but Smith made what could only be described as a world class reflex save to deny the striker.

Five minutes later City came close to breaking the deadlock. A through ball from Gary Fusco sent Isaac Layne clean through on goal, his low finish beat Alan Martin but the ball rolled agonisingly past the post.

With half time approaching, Callum Fordyce headed against the top of the crossbar from Connor Murray’s corner and another corner shortly after was headed wide by Derek Lyle, who had replaced the injured James McFadden a few minutes prior.

The visitors started the second period brightly with a Stephen Dobbie effort being deflected over the bar, whilst Derek Lyle headed wide from a corner. Lyle, who netted a double against City on the opening day of the season, came close again when he headed over from Lyndon Dykes’ cross.

City conjured up two glorious opportunities to open the scoring. Firstly, Isaac Layne was played through on goal but his shot was straight at Martin. Layne came even closer a couple of minutes later – Willie Dyer received a pass from Watt and his cross was inch perfect for Layne but his powerful header was kept out superbly by Martin at his near post.

However it was the Doonhamers who broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Connor Murray’s corner was only partially cleared and the ball fell kindly for JASON KERR who finished low into the corner from around 12 yards out.

This was a hammer blow to a City side who could have easily been ahead just minutes prior to the goal. They didn’t let their heads go down and immediately went in search of an equaliser – Jordan Sinclair was unlucky not to connect with Liam Watt’s cross just in front of goal.

Two minutes later Connor McLennan set up substitute Kalvin Orsi who lashed the ball into the far corner of the net, however the linesman had already flagged for offside.

City continued to pile players forward which left them vulnerable to a counter attack, and so it proved with Dobbie was sent clean through on goal. Although Smith got a touch to Dobbie’s initial effort, the ball was still heading goalwards and Gary Fusco raced back to clear off the line.

As the game approached 90 minutes, Aron Lynas blazed over the bar after a corner was only partially cleared and Lynas again came close when his header just went past the post from Liam Watt’s delivery.

There was an ugly end to a pulsating game deep into stoppage time. City won a throw in down the hedge side and with Jason Kerr far from keen to return the ball, this caused a reaction from Ally Love which resulted into a melee between the two sets of players. Referee Craig Charleston, who hadn’t issued a single card all game, took action by giving straight red cards to both Love and Kerr, whilst also booking John Rankin for his involvement.

This proved to be the last action of the game as Queens took all three points back down to Dumfries. Next up for City is a difficult trip to face Livingston at the Toni Macaroni Arena next Saturday as they continue to search for their first win.

Other Results - Ladbrokes Championship


Dundee United 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2

A dissapointing defeat at home for the Tangerines.

Dunfermline Athletic 3 Livingston 1

The Pars get back on track with a fine win.

Falkirk 0 St Mirren 0

Stalemate at the Falkirk Stadium.

Morton 1 Dumbarton 1

Another valuable point for the Sons.

Result

21 October 2017
Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park
Attendance: 562
Jason Kerr 60

Brechin City

1 Graeme Smith
2 Paul McLean
4 Gary Fusco
20 Sean Crighton
3 Willie Dyer
6 James Dale
11 Liam Watt
14 Aron Lynas
21 Jordan Sinclair
10 Isaac Layne
17 Connor McLennan
     
7 Ally Love
8 Finn Graham
12 Chris O'Neil
15 Euan Spark
18 Kalvin Orsi
19 Patrick O'Neil
29 Euan Smith

Substitutions:

  • On: Kalvin Orsi
    Off: Isaac Layne ( 64 )
     
  • On: Ally Love
    Off: Connor McLennan ( 75 )
     
  • On: Finn Graham
    Off: Jordan Sinclair ( 77 )
     

Queen of the South

1 Alan Martin
3 Jordan Marshall
4 Callum Fordyce
5 Darren Brownlie
15 Jason Kerr
8 John Rankin
14 Kyle Jacobs
16 James McFadden
17 Connor Murray
11 Stephen Dobbie
25 Lyndon Dykes
     
2 Shaun Rooney
6 Callum Tapping
9 Derek Lyle
18 Ross Fergusson
20 Jack Leighfield
22 Jesse Akubuine
24 Scott Mercer

Substitutions:

  • On: Derek Lyle
    Off: James McFadden ( 41 )
     
  • On: Scott Mercer
    Off: Jordan Marshall ( 48 )
     
  • On: Callum Tapping
    Off: Connor Murray ( 72 )