Match Report - By Steven Mew

Stirling Albion were the visitors to the Glebe this afternoon in what promised to be an entertaining match, judging by previous encounters between the two sides. However, the match failed to live up to its expectation.

Stirling, by their own standards, had started the season off poorly. A 3-1 defeat on the opening day of the league season at home to Ayr was followed up with a humiliating defeat against Dumbarton in the first round of the CIS Cup. Allan Moore and his troops were eager to give their loyal supporters something to shout about after a slow start to the season and they certainly did that today with a battling performance which saw them go back to Stirling with all three points.

City gaffer Michael O’Neil fielded the exact team that beat full timers Greenock Morton on Tuesday night in the CIS Cup. Richard Walker, who was ineligible to be fielded as a trialist against Morton, was signed up before the game and had to settle for a place on the bench.

Meanwhile, Stirling welcomed several players back from injury in time for this match and City definitely had to look out for their dangerous forward line which consisted of Dene Shields, who was formerly with Brechin and is currently on loan from Gretna, and Colin Cramb, a man of many clubs with an impressive scoring record.

The visitors created the first chance of the game as early as four minutes when a slack back-pass from Craig McEwan was latched onto by Dene Shields but Craig Nelson got down well to smother the ball his feet before he could pull the trigger. The Bino’s had another chance barely four minutes later when a Stewart Devine cross broke for Paul Hay, but his shot from outside the area flew wide of the target.

However, City went up the park and created a couple of chances themselves. On 12 minutes Stuart Callaghan curled a shot just wide of Myles Hogarth’s right hand post. City came even closer just a minute later when centre back Mark McNally mis-judged the bounce of the ball which allowed former Bino Paddy Connolly to latch onto the loose ball but Myles Hogarth did well to save with his feet.

On the 20 minute mark, Stirling took the lead and deservedly so with City still to get out of first gear. Stewart Devine hit in a low cross from the left hand side which evaded the entire City defence and the ball fell for Steven Bell at the back post, who had plenty of time to slam the ball low into the far corner to give the visitors the advantage.

Stirling could have easily doubled their lead just a couple of minutes later when Stewart Devine burst through a static Brechin defence but his powerful shot was well parried away by Craig Nelson in the City goal.

The ref then blew for half time with City yet to show the courage and determination they displayed against Morton on Tuesday night.

City looked fired up for the second half and came agonisingly close to the equaliser just a few minutes after the break. Darren Smith was played through on goal but his weak shot was parried away by Hogarth but only as far as Chris Geddes, and his follow-up was also well kept out by the Stirling goalkeeper.

It was Stirling who were next to threaten from a free kick but Chris Aitken’s goalbound effort was tipped over the bar by Craig Nelson.

Darren Smith missed another glorious chance to equalise for Brechin in the 71st minute when the ball fell kindly for him in the box but shot looped over the bar when it looked easier to score.

City gaffer Michael O’Neill threw on Kevin Byers and Richard Walker on for Grant Johnson and Craig McEwan respectively as City tried desperately to get something out of the game and it was Byers who created City’s next couple of chances. Firstly, a low shot from the midfield maestro was comfortably saved by Hogarth and the same player was again denied by Hogarth from a difficult angle.

Stirling soaked up all the pressure and almost snatched another goal at the other end when Steven Bell got past Craig Nelson but his shot cannoned off the crossbar while Dene Shields also shot over the bar when it looked easier to score.

City came desperately close once again when Chris Geddes burst through on goal and instead of shooting, he unselfishly cut the ball back for Iain Russell in front of an open goal but the ball fell just behind the striker and his shot went well over the bar as he was leaning back.

City threw everything at Stirling in the last 10 minutes, with John Ward playing upfront for the remainder of the game and the big centre back came close a few minutes from time with a header which just went past the post but the visitors held on for a priceless away victory.

Next up for Brechin is a home tie against local rivals Arbroath in the first round of the Bell’s Cup and City will be hoping to progress. The game is on Tuesday night and has a 7:45pm kick-off.

Other Results - Bell's League Division 2

Alloa Athletic 1 Peterhead 1

Good result for the wasps as they hold Peterhead to a draw at Recreation Park.

Ayr United 0 Cowdenbeath 4

Cowdenbeath continue their fantastic start to the season with a convincing win at Ayr.

Raith Rovers 0 Forfar Athletic 0

Stalemate at Starks Park between Raith and Forfar.

Stranraer 0 Morton 3

Comfortable victory for Morton at Stair Park.