PARS 2
Brechin City 1

THE PARS were made to work for their Christmas dinner as they narrowly ended their winless run with success over relegation favourites Brechin City.

Only the visitors to East End Park were on a worse league run than Allan Johnston’s men who had slipped out of the play-off places in recent weeks.

Brechin City hadn’t won all season prior to their arrival in Fife, and thanks to Declan McManus and Michael Paton, that remained the case at the full-time whistle, despite a consolation from Connor McLennan.

The hosts started brightly with Dean Shiels hitting the side-netting from a half-volley on 7 minutes after a lofted through ball from Joe Cardle.

City were set-up by manager Darren Dods to defend deep and endured wave after wave of attacks from kick-off.

Nicky Clark then beat the rooted Graeme Smith but he saw his snapshot from a deflected Nat Wedderburn drive go past the post on 12 minutes.

While Dods’ side were resolute in the opening exchanges, a well-worked move broke their resolve.

Wedderburn’s excellent cross to the back post was nodded down by Nicky Clark who gave Declan McMANUS the simplest of tasks of sliding home from four yards out on 22 minutes.

Isaac Layne was City’s constant out-ball, usually playing with his back to goal in a bid to allow the midfielders to break forward in support.

He was their only real attacking threat at this stage and he should have had them level on 32 minutes with a free header with only Sean Murdoch to beat at the back post. His effort cleared the bar as they trailed by a goal at the break.

It would soon be two as Athletic started off the second in excellent fashion with a cracking counter attack.

Clark sent Cardle clear who had to bide his time for the onrushing Michael PATON who smashed home a piledriver in off the bar to make it two on 49 minutes.

City responded emphatically to falling two behind by halving the deficit with a magnificent run and shot from substitute Connor McLennan on 59 minutes.

You always thought that if Brechin were going to score it would have to be something special. It was.

Wedderburn was robbed in his own half and McLennan evaded the Englishman’s challenge before firing into the roof of Sean Murdoch’s charmed goal from 30 yards out.

The goal rattled Athletic and were guilty of losing their composure as City built momentum.

There were claims from the travelling contingent for a penalty on 73 minutes after Murdoch clipped the lively McLennan. Greg Aitken ignored the protests, with Darren Dods venting his frustrations on the touchline.

The home support voiced their displeasure in the dying embers of the game as City tried to find a leveller.

It wasn’t to be for the relegation battlers as Pars ended their seven-match winless league duct.

Pars: Murdoch, Williamson, Morris, Ashcroft, Talbot, Paton, Shiels (Aird 77), Wedderburn, Cardle (Higginbotham 77), McManus (Ryan 78), Clark.

Subs not used: Gill, Martin, M’Voto, Smith.

Goal: McManus (22), Paton (49)

Brechin: G.Smith, McLean (Dale 46), Fusco, Crighton, Spark, Watt, Lynas, Sinclair (Graham 77), Smith, Orsi (McLennan), Layne.

Subs not used: O’Neil, Love, Jackson, O’Neil.

Goal: McLennan (59) Booked: Fusco, Graham.
Referee: Greg Aitken. 
Attendance: 4595.