Brechin take bonus point from derby

BRECHIN 1 FORFAR 1 (BRECHIN 4-3 PENS)

Brechin City took the honours in last night’s Betfred Cup derby at Glebe Park, winning a bonus point after they prevailed 4-3 on penalties after the sides had tied 1-1 at the end of the 90 minutes.

Issac Layne had given City the lead in the 66th minute but Mark Millar converted from the penalty-spot for the Loons with just seconds remaining, meaning the tie went to penalties.

Willie Dyer, Sean Crighton and Andy Jackson all converted for City, with Marc McCallum saving spot-kicks from James Dale and Ally Love, while Mark Millar, Andy Munro and Scott McBride were on the spot for the Loons with Graeme Smith saving from Dylan Easton and David Cox leaving Kalvin Orsi to step up to sink the decisive penalty to give City the bonus point.

The first opportunity came Brechin’s way in the 16th minute when Issac Layne outpaced Simon Mensing wide on the right and crossed into the box for Euan Spark, who fluffed his shot with the goal at his mercy.

City created another opportunity a couple of minutes later when Gary Fusco made ground down the left and flighted a cross into the Loons penalty-area for Andy Jackson, who steered his header well over the bar.

Forfar hit back three minutes later when former City striker Jim Lister chased a long ball from defence and laid it back for Matthew Aitken, whose blistering drive was tipped around the post by Graeme Smith.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining Smith came to City’s rescue again when he had to dive full stretch to keep out a netbound header from Lister.

However, the last chance of the half fell to City a minute before the break when Layne made a great run down the left before cutting inside and firing in a shot which was deflected for a corner.

The Loons created the first chance of the second-half in the 58th minute when Aitken found space just within the City box, but a last-gasp tackle from Fusco averted the danger.

However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute when City grabbed the opening goal.

Layne picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and pushed forward before rifling home a superb right-foot drive giving Loons keeper Marc McCallum no chance.

Forfar fought back and they dramatically levelled the match with just seconds remaining when Mark Millar converted from the penalty-spot after substitute Ousman See had been brought down in the box by Fusco.

Brechin City manager Darren Dods said: “We created some great chances in the opening 25 minutes but the long ball from Forfar almost caught us out.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty for Forfar just before the end,” he added.

“But they are a hard team to break down and can cause you problems, but I was delighted with the bonus point.”

Forfar manager Gary Bollan said: “It was always going to be nip and tuck and although there wasn’t a great deal of difference between the teams I thought that we just edged it.” Teams Brechin: Graeme Smith, Fusco, McLean, Crighton, Lynas, Graham (Love 76), Euan Smith, Dale, Dyer, Jackson, Layne (Orsi 70). Unused subs: Ford, Patrick O’Neil, Dods, Sinclair. Forfar: McCallum, Bain, Travis (Munro 86), Mensing, Malone, Scott (Cox 61), Millar, Easton, McBride, James Lister (See 81), Aitken. Unused subs: Gill, King, Warwick. Brechin win 4-3 on penalties. Attendance: 526 Referee: Craig Napier.