Match Report

MATCH REPORT
Brechin City v Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park, Brechin on 08.12.18
SPFL Ladbrokes League One Att 355
Brechin City 1 [Sinclair 43] Stenhousemuir 2 [McGuigan 8 pen, Cook 78]

Brechin City – Brennan, Burns, Hill, Spark [Melingui 85][b87], Orsi, C.Tapping [b40], Jackson, Sinclair, Lynas [b90], Morena and J.Tapping [b30][McLean 74]. Subs not used – Smith and Blues.

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Donaldson, Neill [b85], Ferry [b43], Gibbons, McGuigan [Vaughan 77], Duthie, Ross [Cook 64], Dickson, McBrearty and Paton [b76][Halleran 90]. Subs not used – McMinn, Tena, and Reid.

Referee – Gavin Ross Assistants – Gordon Crawford and Chris Hughes

This bottom of the league clash was a vital one for the Warriors as a win for the home side would have put some distance between them and bottom placed Stenhousemuir.

Although it was a whole-hearted performance by both teams it was not the best performance from either side from a skilful football point of view but the Warriors who were the better footballing side on the day with the glimpses that they showed were ultimately able to grind out a result.

They were given a help in the early stages when Mark McGuigan was able to convert from the penalty spot after he had been tripped by Jordan Tapping.

The play tended to be bogged down but there was an occasional flash and the Brechin defence had to be at the top of their game to keep out a Sean Dickson cross that caused problems for the Glebe Park side just being intercepted as McGuigan looked to pounce.

In the 28th minute Brechin did have the ball in the net when a Kalvin Orsi cross was tucked into the net by Andy Jackson. Celebrations though were cut short by the sight of the assistant referee raising his flag for offside.
The closest that the Warriors came before the end of the half was through a Ruaridh Donaldson free-kick that dipped at the last second and would have beaten the keeper if it had been just the other side of the post.

The Warriors were unable to hold onto their lead though as with two minutes to go in the first period Jordan Sinclair tapped the ball into the net as a Graeme Smith save fell into his path.

Just after the restart Callum Tapping came close with a swerving effort that Smith did well to push away. After that burst though from the home side they rarely threated until the latter stages of the game. They had the misfortune to see Jordan Tapping wheeled off after he went down with no one near him with what looked like a knee injury to complete a game he would definitely like to forget against his local team.

In the 78th minute Stenhousemuir took the lead once again when Alan Cook scored his second goal of the league campaign when he struck a first time shot past Conor Brennan after Conner Duthie had whipped a cross to the back post.

For most of the game after this Stenhousemuir didn’t look in too much trouble. There was a scare when Graeme Smith went down after a late challenge by substitute Boris Melingui. Happily though the keeper was able to continue after treatment.

When the whistle blew it meant a vital three points for Stenhousemuir and saw Brechin stay above the Warriors by a solitary point.
This win meant that the Warriors have still to record a draw in any competition so far this season after a total of 22 games and they along with Edinburgh City are the only clubs in Scotland not to draw at least one league game.