Defeat puts Brechin four points adrift

Brechin City’s relegation woes deepened last night after they were ripped apart by red-hot Rovers.

The Hedgemen are now four points adrift at the bottom of League One after they crashed at Cliftonhill.

First- half goals from Scott McBride, Andrew Barrowman and Ally Love sent Darren Young’s Rovers back up to fourth in the table with a second win in three games.

Paul McLean netted with a penalty after the break but it was too late for City, who have gone seven league games without a victory, and conceded a fourth in injury time when Love converted from the spot.

City player/manager Darren Dods made one change to the team which started the 2-1 defeat to Dunfermline Athletic, with on-loan Pars midfielder Lewis Spence replacing Craig Molloy.

The home side had the ball in the net through Love in the 14th minute but he was flagged for offside.

City were struggling to gain a foothold, and were blown away with three goals in eight minutes.

The opener arrived when Alan Reid crossed for McBride and his looping header from just inside the area kissed the post on its way in.

Rovers doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Croatian defender Lukas Culjak made a mess of attempting to clear with Barrowman stealing in and scoring.

And it was 3-0 with Love producing a fine finish following good work on the counter-attack by McBride and Barrowman.

Dods’s men were handed a lifeline in the 76th minute when referee Gavin Ross pointed to the spot after Ross Dunlop bundled Jackson over in the box. McLean duly converted.

But Love then netted a penalty of his own after Euan Smith’s foul on Ross Davidson in the area. Attendance: 210.

Albion Rovers: Stewart; Reid, R Dunlop, M Dunlop, Turnbull; Fisher, Petrie; McBride (McRobbie 72), Ferry (Davidson 66), Love; Barrowman (Georgiev 82). Subs not used: Lochhead(gk), Talu, Archibald.

Brechin: G Smith; Fusco, McLean, Culjak, Dyer; Montgomery (E Smith 58), Spence, Dale, Tiffoney (Shepherd 70); Jackson (Johnston 90), Thomson. Subs not used: O’Neil(gk), Molloy, McCormack, Dods.

Referee: Gavin Ross.