Match Report

Brechin City v Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park, Brechin on 6.8.16

SPFL Ladbrokes League One                        Att 402

Brechin City 2 [Trouten 35,  Caldwell 79] Stenhousemuir 1 [Kerr 66]

Brechin City – G.Smith, C.O’Neil, Dyer, E.Smith, Hill, Rodger, Trouten, Graham, Jackson, Dale and Love [Caldwell 78]. Subs not used – Ford, Lynas,Dods, McLean and P.O’Neil

Stenhousemuir – McCabe, McCormack [b86],Hamilton [b46], Meechan, Kerr [b70], Berry, Gilhaney, Stirling [Docherty 83], McMenamin, Millar and Cook [Smith 86]. Subs not used – McCroary, Sinclair [t], Howarth, Runciman and McMaster.

Referee – David Munro

After the struggles of the Betfred Cup it was always going to be interesting how the Warriors would play in their first league match. The results at Glebe Park haven’t been great in recent years and they were defeated once again in this game.

Stenhousemuir started the game positively and Alan Cook came close with an effort that struck the side netting in the second minute of the game. Finn Graham fired a powerful effort over in the 5^th minute before play transferred to the other end and Graeme Smith saved a Colin McMenamin effort. After this promising start the home side gradually got into the game and they had a claim for a penalty turned down when Andy Jackson went down under close attention from Colin McCabe.

Stephen Stirling dragged a shot wide after dancing into the box but his shot ended up going for a throw in. Brechin then came close twice when Willie Dyer saw a shot pushed out by McCabe. Gareth Rodger then headed wide from close range.

Eventually Brechin took the lead in the 35^th minute when Jackson picked out Alan Trouten who fired a first time shot into the net.. Three minutes later Stenhousemuir should have equalised when Mark Gilhaney won the ball and drew a defender before playing the ball into Alan Cook who with just the keeper to beat took a fresh air swipe. The ball hit his standing leg and as he slipped he managed to prod it goalwards but was easily saved.

It was a slow start to the second half by both sides but Brechin looked the more likely to score with Jackson, Trouten and Graham all having efforts without really troubling McCabe. Cook blasted over in the 63^rd minute after Stirling rolled a free kick into his path. Stenhousemuir however equalised in the 66^th minute. Stephen Stirling’s free kick was headed back across goal by Fraser Kerr and Grant Hamilton did well to win the battle for the ball and play it out to Vinnie Berry who crossed for Kerr to fire home.

That thought was the last time that Stenhousemuir really threatened and Brechin took the upper hand. Trouten saw an effort pushed wide before the home side took the lead once again. An Andy Jackson shot was saved at close range by McCabe but the ball fell to Ross Caldwell and the striker who had just came on as a substitute scored with his first touch of the ball.

Ross Meechan forced Graeme Smith into a fine stop in the 84^th minute but the Warriors were being caught on the counter attack and before the end both Trouten and Jackson had chances to extend the lead before the end. In the end though Brechin saw the game out comfortably to pick up all three points