(27/08/2022 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GLEBE PARK, BRECHIN)
LOSSIEMOUTH suffered a rare defeat as BRECHIN CITY did just enough to claim the points at Glebe Park. A sunny day saw the hosts score through Grady McGrath, Anthony McDonald and Fraser Macleod in the first half before downing tools at the break and joining in with the growing industrial unrest sweeping the country.
Lossie were without skipper Liam Archibald and Adam Macleod, while Martin Charlesworth made a return to the squad. Brechin continued with their settled starting line-up, with Lenny Wilson, Jamie Bain, Kevin McHattie, Marc Scott and Seth Patrick all claiming starting berths yet again.
With twelve minutes on the clock, Brechin took the lead. A punt over the top landed fortuitously for McGrath, and his shot from inside the area squeezed home beyond the hand of Logan Ross. Midway through the half McDonald poached a second for the hosts after good work from Macleod.
Lossie briefly threatened and were almost handed a route back into the game as Lenny Wilson steamed off his line and through the back of Lewis McAndrew to punch clear a high ball that ended up in his area, but Jared Kennedy could only volley the loose ball wide of goal. Macleod then added a third for Brechin ahead of half time.
HALF TIME – BRECHIN CITY 3-0 LOSSIEMOUTH
With the sun now playing hide and seek with the clouds, the teams trotted out for the second half and Brechin set themselves up for a spell playing down the Glebe Park slope and the Lossie support steadied themselves in case Brechin scored an early fourth to get their afternoon going. The travelling fans need not have worried. Brechin have come in from criticism for failing to finish teams off or rack up the goals their dominance in games has deserved, and the home side drew yet more squeals of despair and sighs of frustration from the home support as they produced yet another indifferent second half showing that saw them fail to add to their tally in the manner of Buckie and champions Fraserburgh.
A penalty appeal from Grady McGrath went unheeded by both whistler and stand-side semaphore operator, and a half-cleared corner landed at the feet of McHattie who could only thump the ball high over the bar and shed roof and out of the ground, to yet more grumbles of despair from the home fans. Lossie hiked uphill and won a free kick on the left which Ross Morrison landed on target without seriously testing Wilson, before reloading from the right and sending the ball through the box untouched by players from both sides.
The introduction of substitutes in the second half benefitted Lossie more than the home side, and Baylee Campbell and Jack MacArthur racked up valuable game time as Lossie shuffled things about, but while they were clearly in no humour to break into a sweat up front, Brechin were equally reluctant to concede anything to their guests. Brechin’s afternoon was soured by the loss of Hamish Thomson to injury, replaced by Nathan Cooney, and later Jamie Bain who hobbled off under his own steam late on.
With time winding down and everyone now checking coupons on their phones, referee Robin Taylor decided to make the closing stages a bit more interesting by issuing some cards. A second yellow for Seth Patrick left Brechin a man down for a dozen minutes, and Ryan Farquhar also collected a second yellow for colliding with Jordan Northcott. Marc Scott went into the book for tangling with Ryan Stuart as the frustrations of the home support began to infect their team in the moments leading up to a final whistle met with muted applause after a sleepy second half.
The first half goals and results elsewhere were enough to send Brechin to the top of the table for the first time, while Lossie can now focus on a cup semi-final and another run of games against mid-table outfits.
FULL TIME – BRECHIN CITY 3-0 LOSSIEMOUTH
TEAMS:
BRECHIN CITY – Lenny Wilson; Jamie Bain, Kevin McHattie, Hamish Thomson (Nathan Cooney (74)), Marc Scott, Seth Patrick, Grady McGrath (Cameron Ross (63)), Kieran Inglis, Fraser MacLeod, Anthony McDonald (Trialist (46)), Jordan Northcott; UNUSED SUBS – Iain Davidson, Ewan Loudon, Euan Spark, Dean Easton
LOSSIEMOUTH – Logan Ross; Ryan Farquhar, James Leslie, Lewis McAndrew, Ryan O’Halloran, Niall Kennedy, Jared Kennedy, Ross Morrison, Ross Archibald (Jack MacArthur (78)), Ryan Stuart, Fraser Forbes (Baylee Campbell (61)); UNUSED SUBS – Martin Charlesworth, Kyle Morrison
GOALS:
BRECHIN CITY – Grady McGrath (12), Anthony McDonald (24), Fraser Macleod (30)
RED CARDS:
BRECHIN CITY – Seth Patrick (79, second yellow card)
LOSSIEMOUTH – Ryan Farquhar (83, second yellow card)
REFEREE:
Mr Robin Taylor