Irn Bru Scottish Second Division               Att 442

Brechin 2 [McKenna 71, McManus 80] Stenhousemuir 0

 

Stenhousemuir would have went into this the first league game of the season with a reasonable air of optimism as they had last lost the opening day fixture away back in the 2004/05 season. This was despite the fact that Brechin have been a bogey team for Stenhousemuir for quite a while.

 

 There were three changes to the starting eleven from the side at Cowdenbeath with Chris McCluskey, Iain Thomson and Kevin McKinlay all starting. On the bench was a trialist keeper Kyle Allison, ex-Dunfermline Athletic, as Ally Brown was missing through injury.

 

The game started promisingly for Stenhousemuir and Brown Ferguson forced Craig Nelson into a save with a header from an Eric Paton free kick after 5 minutes. Brechin though went even closer two minutes later when a Paul McManus header from only 6 yards out rattled of the crossbar. The Warrior’s could have taken the lead in the 10^th minute when Stewart Kean picked up a loose ball but Nelson was able to stop his effort with his feet and when the rebound was eventually driven toward goal by Stevie Murray the keeper was able to save his effort as well. The game was moving back and forth in the early stages and Paul McLean drove an effort just wide of the target in the 15^th minute. The action moved to the other end where Paton once more was the catalyst picking out Kean at the back post and his header across goal may have sneaked in at the back post but Scot Buist was on hand to clear over the bar. Chris McCluskey then denied David McKenna with a save at point blank range to keep the score level. In the 36^th minute Buist came to the rescue once again for the home side to block a Kean effort but the Warrior managed to get another effort on target , this time it was tipped over the bar by Nelson.   

 

The second half was a totally different proposition as Stenhousemuir were in the main on the back foot and struggled to get any worthwhile attacks going at all. Brechin managed to cut off the supply to the more creative players in the Stenhousemuir ranks and thus Kean who was isolated up front was unable to cause the same threat as in the first half.

 

Brechin should have taken the lead in the 57^th minute when Craig Molloy was able to ride a poor tackle and his cross found McManus only four yards out with an open goal but he somehow missed the target. The Warrior’s goal continued to have a charmed life and McCluskey somehow denied McLean with a save that ballooned up off the ground and over the bar. With saves like that it looked as if the Warriors may get something out of the game but their luck was to run out eventually as the home side took the lead in the 71^st minute when David McKenna curled an effort past Chris McCluskey. The goal was no more than Brechin deserved. The introduction of Derek Carcary to the Brechin forward line had added an impetus to their play and in the 80^th minute he made a strong run holding off a Ross McMillan tackle, his shot was saved but the rebound fell to Paul McManus who tapped home from close range to put the game out of reach for Stenhousemuir. McMillan became the third Stenhousemuir player cautioned in quick succession for his failed attempt to stop the Carcary run as Stewart Kean and Chris McCluskey had already entered the book for dissent..

 

 In the end Brechin were too strong for Stenhousemuir and on the basis of their second half performance deserved their victory and outlined why they are one of the teams being tipped for promotion. This defeat means that the Warriors have not won at Glebe Park since February 1999 and indeed have now failed to win either home or away against City in the last 13 league games

 

Brechin City – Nelson, McLean, Dunlop, McLauchlan, Buist, Janczyk, Brady, Molloy, McManus [Lister 86], Weir [Carcary 65] and McKenna [King 83]. Subs not used – McClune and Scott

 

Stenhousemuir – McCluskey [b78], Lyle, Dickson [Plenderleith 74], Corrigan, McMillan [b81][Rodgers 81], McKinlay, Ferguson [McHale 74], Thomson, Kean [b74], Paton and Murray. Subs not used – Quinn and Allison [t]

 

Referee – Craig Charleston         Assistants – Andrew McWilliam and Lorraine Clark