Brechin City made it six consecutive league victories yesterday evening as Darren Watson’s early strike secured a hard-fought narrow 1-0 win over University of Stirling at Forthbank.

Despite extending their unbeaten start to the league campaign, it was far from plain sailing for Andy Kirk’s side who were made to work extremely hard for all three points by a Stirling Uni side that could certainly feel hard done by not to have come away with a share of the spoils.

City could have been out of sight by half-time after creating a host of opportunities, but the home side rallied after the interval and laid siege on City's goal at times during the second half.

Andy Kirk opted for continuity, sticking with the same starting eleven and substitutes that had been involved in Saturday’s victory over Lochee United.

City almost made the perfect start. Just a minute had been played when Mitch Taylor burst down the left before firing a low ball into the penalty area. Darren Watson’s initial effort was blocked with Dale Hilson lashing wide from the rebound.

Hilson then went close himself a minute later, collecting the ball on the edge of the box before striking straight at University of Stirling goalkeeper Alex Sutherland.

The Students had their first opportunity in the fifth minute when Ashley Koli sent a dipping 25-yard free-kick over the crossbar.

City continued to look dangerous, though, and got their reward in the 12th minute. A flowing passing move worked its way through the home defence before Euan Hamilton teed up DARREN WATSON inside the penalty area. The forward made no mistake, calmly sending a low finish beyond Sutherland and into the far corner to give City the lead.

Darren Watson fires City ahead

The visitors continued to threaten and came close to doubling their advantage midway through the half. Hilson dispossessed a defender and allowed Taylor to advance forward with the ball, creating a 2 on 1 situation. Taylor opted to go for goal and fired over although the better option may have been to square the ball back across the box to Hilson, who had found himself in a more favourable position.

Five minutes later, Hilson went close again, seeing a volley deflected over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, City were inches away from doubling their lead when Greig Young rose highest to meet the delivery, only for Sutherland to produce an outstanding low save to claw the powerful header away.

Hilson was again denied in the 33rd minute as he worked himself into a promising position, only for a last-ditch challenge to prevent him from getting his shot away cleanly. Moments later, Hamilton tried his luck from a tight angle but sent his effort wide of the near post.

City continued to dominate the chances and Watson had another opportunity just before the interval, shooting over with his left foot from the edge of the box.

Despite leading at the break, City could perhaps count themselves slightly frustrated not to have added to Watson’s opener given the number of opportunities they had created.

Dale Hilson battles for possession

City continued to look for a second shortly after the restart as Watson saw an effort deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Watson rose at the back post but could only head wide.

Just before the hour mark, Taylor came within inches of doubling the advantage when his dipping 20-yard strike beat Sutherland but crashed off the top of the crossbar.

University of Stirling began to grow into the game and suddenly City found themselves under increasing pressure. The Students were inches away from an equaliser in the 64th minute when Thomas Vonk’s header came back off the post. The rebound fell to Lennox Tendhar, but he could only fire over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Tendhar again threatened after taking advantage of some hesitation in the City defence. He cut the ball back into a dangerous area and although the City defence could only clear as far as Sam Martin, he could not keep his effort down.

City were now being forced to defend deep and another huge opportunity fell to the home side in the 71st minute. Vonk engineered some space inside the penalty area and got his shot away - the effort looked destined for the back of the net before Mason Chisholm threw himself in the way to produce a vital goal-line block.

Chisholm produces a fantastic goal-line clearance to deny Vonk

The home side continued to push for an equaliser while City struggled to regain the control they had enjoyed during the opening 45 minutes.

City did have an opportunity of their own in the 80th minute when Lewis Martin met Ryan Blair’s free-kick, but his header drifted wide.

The final stages were increasingly frantic as University of Stirling committed men forward in search of a leveller and in stoppage time, City survived a remarkable goalmouth scramble. The home side laid siege to the Brechin goal, with Archie Gibson seeing his shot blocked before the ball fell to Alex Jeanes just a few yards from goal. Once again, Chisholm was in the right place at the right time, throwing himself across the line to block the effort. The ball remained alive inside a crowded penalty area as another couple of shots were blocked before Kyle Gourlay finally managed to gather and bring the danger to an end.

Stirling Uni must have wondered just what they had to do to score and the final whistle eventually arrived as something of a relief for the visitors, who had been firmly under the cosh for significant periods of the second half.

It certainly wasn't City’s most convincing performance of the campaign, but once again they showed the resilience required to grind out another three points, making it 6 consecutive victories to go within 2 points of leaders Tranent at the top.

City will now turn their attention to another challenging fixture on Saturday when high-flying Hill of Beath Hawthorn make the trip to the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park.