What a disaster this was! Coming into the game, most Arbroath fans were confident we could get a result today after recent good form, but sadly we were outplayed by a far better Brechin.
It was Arbroath who started brighter than their hedge trimming neighbours, with the early possession and midfield play being with the team in maroon. On 9 minutes, Arbroath won a free kick 40 yards out from goal, near the touchline, with Craig Winter being booked for throwing the ball at Gavin Swankie. From the free kick Euan Donaldson crossed the ball in, and after John McGlashan headed it back into the centre, Steven Rennie flicked it into the path of Gavin Swankie, but as Gavin was about to blast it home from 6 yards out he was hauled to the ground by Craig Winter, who was already on a yellow. Surely hauling a player down when he’s entering the 6 yard box, and about to shoot its at least a yellow card, resulting in Winter being sent off? Not according to Crawford Allen! Greg Henslee slammed the penalty home while sending Craig Nelson the wrong way.
After this goal, Brechin dominated, and got a deserved equaliser with 16 minutes gone. A long throw by Steve Hamilton was headed onto King who hammered the ball home from 10 yards out, leaving Neil Inglis with no chance. Only minutes after that Brechin took the lead. A Steve Hamilton free kick was flicked on to Charlie King who sent the ball across into the box for Steven Hampshire to finish.
The rest off the half belonged to Brechin, and AFC were lucky to go in at half time with the score at 2-1. The only main chance they had was hit against the bar though. Graham Gibson hit an acrobatic overhead kick from 10 yards out which looped onto the bar and went out off play. Arbroath came out after HT with 1 change, John Cusick coming on for Euan Donaldson, with Marc McCulloch moving back into the left back role. This was a tactical move by Harry Cairney, as the Brechin right winger was causing Donaldson all sorts of problems in the first half.
Five minutes into the 2nd half Brechin killed the game off with a 3rd goal. Manny Panther went off on a run down the right wing, before cutting inside and curling a beautiful left yard shot into the left hand corner off the net. Brechin nearly got a 4th in the 54th minute due to poor marking. A corner from the left left Scott Walker with a free header, but he put it inches wide.
13 minutes from time Arbroath nearly got a goal back. Gavin Swankie had a good run down the left, and after beating 2 players hammered the ball at the goal, but Nelson tipped it behind for a corner. With 7 minutes left Brechin got a 4th and final goal. Ian Diack made a complete mess off a simple pass to Chris McLeod, which allowed Steven Hampshire to walk in and place the ball over Neil Inglis for a 4th goal.
A very disappointing performance this week from AFC, after the last few months good form. Hopefully this was only a blip and we will be back to the way we have been against