In all honesty, a draw was just about right, City had the better of the first half and the home side were on top for much of the second.

Brechin might have secured all three points had they taken their chances when 1-0 up, but the Rovers' equalising goal was one straight out of the top drawer.

City were robbed of the services of skipper, Darren Smith, whose hmstring injury kept him on the sidelines.

Brechin started the game stronger of the two sides and they took the lead with a real mix up in the home defence after just ten minutes. Andy Tod's back pass was booted straight to Ian Diack by Rovers' goalkeeper, Keiron Renton, and the big striker calmly side-footed home his 14th goal of the season from over 20 yards out.

City continued to hold the upper hand and Ian Diack was denied a second goal as he bore down on goal, which was only prevented by a last-gas tackle from Rover's Hislop. Paton then found space at the edge of the box, but Renton stooped low to collect his drive at his near post.

Craig Nelson was called into action for the first time after 25 minutes when he parried a volley from former Hearts sriker Graham Weir. Michael Paton had City back on the offensive when he cut inside Tod on the edge of the penalty area, but failed to test Renton with his parting shot.

Most of the crowd thought that the home side had levelled matters minutes later when Robert Sloan's cross was flicked goalwards by Andy Tod and, having deceived the defence, the ball hit the crossbar when it looked certain to hit the back of the net

City looked liek they had made it 2-0, just five minutes before the break. Kevin Byers fired a tremendous volley from from fully 30 yards which had Renton rooted to the spot and beaten all ends up. But the reds were once again denied by the woodwork, and Byers' effort rebounded off the upright.

There was more agony for City, when a second goal looked likely after a typical burst up the rught flank from Richard Walker ended with his shot rolling agonisingly past the far post.

Brechin came off at half-time a goal ahead, but they could have so easily have been in the comfort zone at this stage.

There was no doubt that John McGlynn had given his side something of a half-time gee up as they took the game more to City in the second half. Craig Nelson made a fine save to deny Weir once again, but big Andy Tod failed to trouble the City goalkeeper from an even better position when he fired his shot from just inside the box high and wide.

City should have been awarded a penalty after 66 minutes. Charlie King cut in from the left flank and tried to go past stand in defender Steven Hislop who brought him crashing to the ground, but referee, Mark Gough, waved play on, much to the anger of the Brechin forward line and equally the travelling support.

City were just 18 minutes away from collecting the three points. But in the 72nd minute, the hard-working Craig Wilson sent in a cross which was met on the volley by Graham Weir and which gave another former 'Jambo' in the Brechin goal absoloutely no chance.

The Kirkcaldy side went in search of the winner and came close Derek Carcary who saw his shot saved by Craig Nelson. In between those two efforts, Adam Nelson scooped an effort high and wide from twenty five yards as Brechin tried to grab a late winner.

Brechin's last chance of the game feel to Calum Smith, but the City substitute was unable to utilise space at the edge of the Rovers' penalty area to test the home goalkeeper and Renton's save was more comfortable than it might have been.

Brechin's star performers on this occasion were in defence with Scott Walker, John Ward and Richard Walker turning in sterling performances. Michael O'Neill will be looking for more from the middle to front in the next two weeks, and if City can produce their first half performance from Saturday over a 90 minute period, they shouldn't be far off that much coveted fourth place.

Raith: Renton, Wilson, Pelosi, Tod, Davidson, Silvestro (Carcary 68), David Templeton (Bryce 85), Henderson, Hislop, Weir, Sloan.
Subs Not Used: Borris, Dingwall, Fahey.
Booked: Davidson, Sloan.

Brechin: Craig Nelson, Richard Walker, Dyer, Ward, Scott Walker, Fusco (Janczyk 83), Byers, Paton (Calum Smith 85), Diack (Nicholas Walker 79), King, Adam Nelson.
Subs Not Used: White, McCluskey.
Att: 1,955
Ref: M Gough (FAI)