Brechin City 3 Dunfermline 2

Husband and Young in for Smith and Morris. Shankland (30) 0-1; Wallace (54) 0-2; Carcary (57) 1-2; Jackson (61) 2-2; Petrie (89) 3-2

MATCH PICTURES
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Dunfermline returned to Glebe Park to face Ray McKinnon`s City team.  The home side went with the same eleven who were successful at Somerset Park the previous Saturday and that meant Ryan Ferguson lining up against guys who were his team mates less than a month ago.

The Fifers had Kerr Young back from suspension and he took over from the injured Callum Morris.  Birthday boy Allan Smith dropped out and Stephen Husband returned to the side. New signing from Morton, Jonathan Page was on the bench.

The Pars fans lined the famous Brechin hedge which was in its winter copper colour. There was a minute`s respect for the late Ian Redford who had been player manager at Brechin in 1993-94. The floodlights were on but the sun came out as Pars in their turquoise away strip kicked off attacking the goal at the foot of the slope.

A Husband break in 90 seconds sent Ryan Wallace in on the right and his shot cleared the bar but only just. The Fifers kept up the pressure with Husband and Byrne controlling the midfield. Byrne sent a useful ball left for Lawrence Shankland but he unluckily could not control.

In tenth minute Hubby picked out Whittle on the left but he lost possession in his interchange with Andy Geggan. Play switched to the other end and Ryan Scully who had hitherto had to deal with only pass backs, held a headed effort when Andy Jackson was on the end of a Ryan Ferguson cross. A wonderful run from Williamson got the 17 year old in on the right but he surprised his team mates and none were there to convert the cross.

A Pars corner followed on the quarter of the hour and when Wallace sent that over from the left, Shankland got in a shot at the far post that was blocked by his marker. Five minutes later Wallace crossed from the right, Shankland chested the ball down on the top of the box to create a good opportunity but when Byrne shot his effort was blocked.

in 27 minutes a Husband to Falkingham was swept on to Byrne 18 yards out but his shot was blocked out by Gerry McLaughlan.  Two minutes later Geggan released a rocket of a shot from 30 yards but keeper Graeme Smith dropped to his left to hold.

The opening goal was to come on the half hour. A quickly taken free kick fifteen yards inside the Brechin half put Young and Martin under a bit of pressure but Lewis took on his man and once past him produced a through ball that SHANKLAND latched on to beat Smith to his right. 0-1

Geggan had a header on target but Ferguson cleared off the left post. Eight minutes from the break Petrie produced a fantastic cross from wide left and Jackson dived at the ball but sent it narrowly wide right from six yards. Wallace made a break from half way when he collected Shankland`s clearance at an overhit Brechin corner. The striker beat two players and elected to shoot rather than ease the ball right for the unmarked Falkingham. Ryan`s attempt was off target however earning himself a roasting from his manager.

Half time: Brechin City 0 Dunfermline 1

The home side made a double substitution for the restart Derek Carcary and Allan Walker replacing Gerry McLauchlan and Craig Molloy. They looked keener and Scully had to hold a fierce cross from the left and then be brave to deny Bobby Barr close in.

Ryan WALLACE made the break on the right that resulted in the visitors going two up in 54th minute. It was a break on the right from just inside the Brechin half and the striker rounded the keeper and picked his spot as three defenders scrambled back. 0-2

The Pars advantage was to be wiped out within seven minutes.  Brechin got a goal back in 57 minutes when Barr weaved his way into the right side of the Pars box. Scully could only touch his shot on to the crossbar and CARCARY followed up to crash the the ball high into the net.

Four minutes later JACKSON fired in a powerful shot from an acute angle that Husband on the line just could not keep out. 2-2

Wallace had a crack at goal but was off target and although the Pars pushed up it was Brechin who should have grabbed another as the match entered its final quarter. Carcary got in on the right and the between him and Barr delayed too long before getting in the shot.

Next Brechin threatened again with Jackson driving solo through the middle. Between them Young and then Martin did enough to allow Scully to sweep up. Jordan Moore replaced Shankland in 77 minutes and the Pars came close again with a good diving header attempt from Geggan.

Moore did well to persevere on the left and beat off the challenge of three defenders before sending in an invitation that Geggan and Falkingham just could not take. Smith came out on top and then Brechin broke, 3 on 1. Derek Carcary had players either side of him and only Martin in front of him but the defender did really well to stem the tide until his fellow defenders got back.

Brechin secured the match winning goal in 89th minute after Falkingham had slipped as he tried to control the ball on the right touchline. Right back Williamson paid the penalty for moving up in anticipation of a pass from his captain and so the miscue sent Carcary through on goal. Martin again put in a great last ditch effort to stop Brechin but this time the ball sat up for Darren PETRIE on loan from Dundee United to score his first ever goal for the Glebe Park side.

There was time for one final push with for the second week running Scully going up in added time for a corner but with no success. Jim Jefferies` side let their opponents back into the game too quickly after going 2-0 up and ultimately paid the penalty for not taking their chances.