Glebe Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the Binos, in recent years but a solid defensive performance laid the foundation for a 3-0 victory over Brechin City. Pre-season talk had made Brechin one of the teams tipped to be promoted at the end of the season, therefore, the margin of victory must have surprised even the most fervent Binos’ fan.

The Brechin side was packed with experience with Dennis, Walker and Deas in defense and former Binos’ players, King and Templeman in attack. Brechin also had the experienced Paul Ritchie partnering Templeman. The Binos showed one change with Scotland continuing at left back in place of the injured Devine. Fortunately, Chris had a much better game than Wednesday as the defence was put under a lot of pressure throughout the game but they did not wilt in the glorious sunshine which bathed Glebe Park all afternoon.

The Binos, resplendent in their new black and yellow away kit, were put under pressure almost from the kick off and wave after wave of Brechin attacks were ably dealt with by the Binos defence. The Brechin players seemed to have plenty of time when they were on the ball and they sprayed passes all over the park. However, the first real chance of the match fell to the Binos but Paul Nugent was unable to keep his shot down and the ball sailed well over the bar. Then somewhat against the run of play, the Binos took the lead when, with their second corner kick of the match, McDonald’s corner came across to Glancy. The little striker had time to steady himself and unleashed a shot which ended up in the back of the net despite valiant efforts by a Brechin defender to clear the ball.

Martin Glancy smashes home the first goal.

A few minutes later, Brechin almost equalized when a Templeman shot went across the face of the goal. Fortunately for the Binos, no Brechin player was following up.
Brechin, kicking down the slope, continued to apply pressure but the Binos’ defence was dealing with everything in a calm manner. Then the Binos doubled their lead courtesy of a McLean penalty. Trigger did well to muscle his way into the box and the referee should have had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick when King tripped him. However, the referee required confirmation from his assistant before deciding that the offence had happened inside the penalty box, which it clearly had, before pointing to the spot. Trigger stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and make it 2-0 to the Binos.

Trigger slots away the penalty..

It should have been 3-0, shortly after that, when McLean intercepted a poor pass back by Walker. McLean passed to Glancy but his shot only went into the side net. There was no further scoring and the Binos went in 2-0 ahead.

In recent matches, the first ten minutes of the second half seems to have been the time when the Binos’ defence has gone to sleep having conceded 2 goals in that period in each of their 2 previous matches. Today there was no repeat although Brechin continued where they had left off and continued to pressurize the Binos’ defence.

However, in 60 minutes the Binos more or less killed the match when O’Brien passed to Glancy who cut in from the right and his right foot shot went past Hay in the Brechin goals.

Glancy complete's his brace in front of the travelling support.

Brechin’s response was to make a triple substitution as they attempted to salvage something from the match. However, some super defending by McNally in preventing Gibson from getting his shot in and then making another clearance kept the Binos’ goal intact. McLeish then became the only player to be booked.

O’Brien collected a pass from McLean and outpaced the full back. Unfortunately, his attempt to chip the ball over the keeper ended with the ball falling nicely into the keeper’s hands. Glancy, who earlier had some treatment from the Binos’ physio, was replaced by Cummings as full time began to approach.

Referee Thomson blew his whistle to bring the match to a close and ensure that, at least for another week, the Binos remain at the top of the Second Division.

Whilst it was pleasing to score 3 goals away from home, the plaudits must go to the defence which has come in for a lot of criticism over the past week. Hogarth did not have much to do whilst Rowe and McNally, ably supported by Chris Scotland and Paul Nugent, dealt with everything the Brechin attack could throw at them. Scotland put in a much better performance than Wednesday although full back is not really his position. The midfield did a lot of defensive work and a great deal of credit must go to Ferguson and O’Brien in this respect. Up front, the partnership of Glancy and McLean looks as though it is going to be one of the most lethal partnership in the Second Division.

The Binos now look forward to 2 successive home league matches, with a CIS cup tie against Livingston sandwiched between them, and they must look to consolidate their position. On the basis of today’s performance, hopes should be high that they can come out with 2 victories and, possibly, an upset in the cup.

MANY THANKS TO GRAHAM HAMILTON FOR THE ACTION PICTURES.