BRECHIN City's week started on a high, hit an all-time low in midweek, and was uplifted once again through the efforts of the club's players at Hampden Park on Saturday.
City went 1-0 down after less than two minutes, were two -nil down at half-time, but after the week from hell, the one thing that surely can't be questioned at Glebe Park is the character of the players.
City were 1-0 down after just 73 seconds w
hen Steven Canning held off John Ward and Paul Cairney hammered the ball into the Brechin net off the underside of the crossbar.
City eventually got going and Kevin Byers and Charlie King both had attempts on goal blocked inside the box. The latter's even more agoningsingly, as he had done well to get into a shooting position.
A great cross into the box from Michael Paton on the right flank picked out Neil Janczyk, but he couldn't divert his header downwards and his effort flew over the upright.
Alan Trouten then ran fully 30 yards unchallenged until he met Davie White. The Spider's player was cautioned for taking a dive when he could have easily committed the last Brechin defender.
However, the next time Trouten clashed with a Brechin defender, the decision was to go his way. On this occasion, John Ward challenged him inside the box and referee Stephen Finnie decided it was a penalty. He also booked Ward for his challenge. Trouten picked himself up and struck the ball to cleanly for Nelson to keep out. Despite a good attempt from the goalkeeper.
After 37 minutes, City were forced into a substitution. Gary Fusco had picked up an injury and he was replaced by debutante Ian Diack.
The home side almost killed the game seconds after the restart. Trouten's cross from the right was met by striker, Robert Dunn, and has effort bounced just thr giht side of the post as far as Brechin were concerned.
New signing Diack was brought in to score goals and he did exactly that when Steven Reilly was short with a header back to his goalkeeper, the new City front man showed good anticipation before finishing calmly.
White, Janczyk and Dunlop of the opposition all entered the ref's notebook, after the City midfield man had went for a 50-50 ball, White was unhappy with the challenge on his team mate.
In the 69th minute, City were back on level terms. Mark Cairns, the former City goalkeeper, flapped at a corner-kick and sub Scott Walker, on for the injured Ward, climbed above him to head the ball home.
Brechin were holding all the aces now and they looked the far more likely side having come back from a seemingly irreversible position. It got better for the visitors after skipper, Darren Smith, who had picked up a knock in the middle of the park, side-stepped a challenge and cut in from the left to hit a cracking drive with his right foot, which had Cairns diving for fresh air.
Brechin had a couple of chances to increase their lead in the closing stages. Substitute Nicky Walker having a shot blocked and then Charlie King being denied by a last-gasp tackle from Agostini.
All credit to Brechin's players, other than the club's fans, no group of individuals has suffered more through the on-goings of the last week, their response was the best one possible.
Queen's Park: Cairns, Paton, Reilly, Agostini, Dunlop, Trouten, Kettlewell, Cairney, Canning, Dunn (McGrady 74), Quinn. Subs Not Used: Boslen, Ure, Harty, Cowie. Booked: Trouten, Dunlop, Kettlewell.
Brechin City: Craig Nelson, Richard Walker, Ward (Scott Walker 46), White, Dyer, Byers, Janczyk, Fusco (Diack 38), King, Paton (Nicholas Walker 82), Darren Smith. Subs Not Used: Adam Nelson, McCluskey.
Ref: S Finnie
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