(21/01/2023 – BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH)
A slow start for LOSSIEMOUTH allowed BRECHIN CITY to escape Grant Park with the points after the latest installment of the Custard Cream Derby. A goal inside the first minute got the tourists off to the best possible start, and another first half goal was followed by one deep into second half injury time.
Lossie were without Dean Stewart but welcomed Ryan Farquhar back into the squad, joining Adam Macleod on the bench. Brechin made one change from their last outing, throwing Kevin McHattie into the starting lineup in place of Ryan Spark who played through an injury at Rothes two weeks back and is now paying for it.
With the crowd still filtering in, Brechin opened the scoring inside of the first minute, as Marc Scott volleyed home from twenty yards with Lossie still getting into shape.
A hard enough task made all the harder by a slow start, Lossie found the going difficult and only rarely threatened their guests, who were up to their old antics once again as a second goal proved harder to come by. Botti Biabi fired wide and Kevin McHattie – once again enduring a game against Lossie rather than enjoying it – fired well over the bar.
Moments before half time, Brechin doubled their lead, and having failed to break down Lossie coming through the middle managed to do so from a corner. Kieran Inglis played the ball in and Scott rose just high enough to head home.
The half was into injury time when things took a turn for the worse for the hosts. From a free kick, a goalmouth scramble saw the ball cleared and Lewis Mcandrew left on his back in the area. With the referee facing the other way, Jamie Bain took his chance and walked into the prone Mcandrew before hitting the deck clutching his leg in apparent agony. With the half time whistle blown and the players trotting off the pitch, the Brechin bench sought out the linesman to complain to and – to the disbelief of all, including the Brechin players who couldn’t believe their ruse had succeeded – the referee chased after Mcandrew, called him back out of the tunnel and brandished the red card for an offence he didn’t see.
HALF TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 0-2 BRECHIN CITY
The second half saw Lossie start with more gusto, and Ross Morrison drove down the left side before drawing a save from Wilson, who deflected the ball out for a corner. The resulting dead ball saw Lossie continue to camp in front of the Brechin goal, and while a goal failed to materialise the home support enjoyed the moment of respite.
Brechin smartened up and spent much of the rest of the half keeping Cammy Farquhar on his toes. The Lossie keeper made a string of fine saves to keep the score down, notably denying Marc Scott his hat-trick before keeping Anthony McDonald out.
Late in the game Lossie appeared to be denied a penalty when a Ross Archibald ball across the face of goal appeared to strike the arm of Nathan Cooney, but referee Seago wasn’t for pointing to the spot.
Having kept Brechin at bay for the duration of the second half from open play, Lossie were hit from a set piece deep into injury time. Another Inglis corner was met by late substitute Dominick Naglik and his header flew into the net. The goal was finally enough to have referee Seago reach for his whistle for the final time, allowing the remaining spectators to meander out of the ground.
Lossie now make the trip west to face Nairn County at the weekend, while Brechin will attempt to extend their unbeaten record – already stretching back to October – when they host Strathspey Thistle.
FULL TIME – LOSSIEMOUTH 0-3 BRECHIN CITY
GOALS:
BRECHIN CITY – Marc Scott (1, 42, Dominick Naglik (90+)
RED CARD:
LOSSIEMOUTH – Lewis Mcandrew (45)
REFEREE:
Gordon Seago