Match Report - By John Hoey

Brechin City maintained their unbeaten league record and retained pole position at the top of the Highland League table following a narrow but deserved 1-0 victory over Wick Academy at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park.

The only goal of the game came in the 17th minute when Scott Logan blasted a close-range drive high into the net to score his first goal for the club and it should have been 2-0 ten minutes before the break when City were awarded a penalty but unfortunately, Dayle Robertson who has been so deadly from the penalty-spot this season struck his shot against the cross-bar.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, City were well worth the three points but Wick’s tactics of sitting deep and soaking up pressure made it difficult for them to find a way past the visitors well-organised defence. However, chances were created, particularly in the opening 45 minutes and if a some of those had been converted, the winning margin would have been greater.

City manager Patrick Cregg made four changes from the side who had routed Strathspey Thistle the previous week with Lenny Wilson, Craig Tosh, Seth Patrick & Scott Logan coming in for Issac Carmody, Marc Scott, Spencer Moreland and Anthony McDonald.

The hosts started brightly and they nearly opened the scoring after just seven minutes when a Robertson volley from a Fraser MacLeod cross was brilliantly tipped round the post by Wick keeper Graeme Williamson.

They came close again just four minutes later when Tosh fired another MacLeod cross inches past the post.

The opening goal had to come and it arrived in the 17th minute when a great run from City skipper Euan Spark saw him push forward into the visitors penalty-box and fire in a shot which looked as if it was going into the far corner of the net, however, SCOTT LOGAN was on hand at the post to blast the ball high into the net to score his first goal for the club.

City continued to press for another goal and five minutes later, Tosh raced down the right flank and crossed into the box for Lewis Martin whose first-time shot went narrowly past Williamson’s far post.

However, another goal looked on the cards ten minutes before half-time when Tosh was brought down in the box. Robertson stepped up to take the penalty but he struck his shot against the bar and the ball was then cleared by the Wick defence. Another fine move from City four minutes before the break ended with a MacLeod shot from 10 yards being deflected for a corner.

City continued on the offensive in the second-half and Williamson brought off a great save to deny Robertson in the first minute when he dived to his left to turn the striker’s volley from a Tosh cross round the post and in the 59th minute substitute Ruari Henry headed another Tosh cross just over the bar.

City continued to dominate proceedings as the game drew to a close but were finding it difficult to prise open a well-organised Wick back-line. A Ewan Loudon shot from 20 yards after 75 minutes was well over the bar with the last chance of the match falling City’s way nine minute from time when Spark headed a free-kick from Moreland just past the post.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Buckie Thistle 0 Banks O' Dee 1

Deveronvale 1 Rothes 1

Formartine United 1 Inverurie Locos 1

Forres Mechanics 2 Fraserburgh 2

Lossiemouth 0 Nairn County 4