Brechin boss looking for change in fortunes

STRANRAER 2 BRECHIN CITY 0

Brechin boss Darren Dods has tipped his team to turn things around after watching them slip to a fifth defeat in six games.

Goals in either half saw Stranraer close the gap on their League One visitors to three points while East Fife edged one further in front in the final play-off spot.

The game hinged on two key moments for Brechin, with referee Steven Reid failing to play the advantage on one occasion in the first half and Cameron Belford making a great double save to deny Ally Love and Andy Jackson with the score at 1-0.

Dods said: “It’s certain opportunities, it just the run we are on at the moment, things are just not breaking for us.

“Paul McLean had a great run and slides the ball through to Andy Jackson and then goes to ground and the referee pulls it back 20 yards for a free-kick.

“It is just the decisions that go against you on this type of run.

“Then, at 1-0, Belford makes a great save from Andy Jackson where he has saved Love’s shot and you think Jackson will put it into an empty net but Belford gets a block on it. “It’s just those fine lines at 1-0.” Dougie Hill had a header chalked off in the opening 10 minutes for climbing in the box before the hosts got their noses in front.

There was an element of good luck about the goal as Willie Gibson’s deflected long-range effort deceived Graeme Smith.

Belford then denied Love and Jackson in quick succession before Gibson turned provider and whipped in a free-kick which Craig Malcolm glanced home for his 100th Stranraer goal.

Dods said: “We were in a worse situation than this last season and we know we have got two games in hand over Stranraer, Peterhead and the teams around us.

“We’ve got to take advantage of that and use our home form.”