League

Brechin Vics 1 Scone Thistle 0

Vics welcomed back Manager King into the starting line up at the expense of the injured Lewis Dunn in what was the only change to last weeks team. Scone were first to threaten but the Vics rear guard held firm. The game was fairly open in the early exchanges but both sides were struggling to create any chances. Vics eventually carved an opening from a free kick but Mustard's effort from 25 yards was wide. Chances were now being created and Doig of Scone shot high over the bar from 20 yards. Robbie in the Vics goal produced a good save on 28 mins tipping a shot from 30 yards over the crossbar. Scone were having the upper hand at this stage and probably should have taken the lead on 30 mins but some how the effort from 6 yards was put high over the bar. Vics came back at Scone and McKay had a header from 8 yards saved by the keeper. Vics were forced into a change on 40 mins when the injured S Eaton had to be replaced by Cairney

Half time 0-0

Vics started the second half on the front foot and carved an opening on 52 mins when Cairney sent McKay down the wing but his shot was cleared for a corner. From the resultant kick McKay had a header cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. Vics were on top at this stage but Scone posted a warning on 65 mins when Robbie had to produce a great save diving high to turn a shot from 8 yards behind for a corner. Manager King freshened things up with Ferguson replacing Henderson and Bayfield replacing Steel. Vics pressure eventually paid of on 77 mins when C Eaton sent a ball into the box for Ferguson to control and coolly slot the ball past the Curtis in the Scone goal from 10 yards. Vics continued to press and Mustard had a shot from 20 yards go just wide of the target. Vics almost increased their lead on 85 mins when King played in McKay but his angled shot was saved by the keeper.

Full time 1-0

Brechin Vics

Team - Robbie, S Eaton, C Eaton, Ross, Whitworth, Strachan, McKay, Mustard, Henderson, King, Steel. Subs - Cairney, Bayfield, Ferguson, Renilson, Young

Scone Thistle

Team - Curtis, S Ballingall, Michie, Laing, C Mitchell, Robertson, Keir, Hynd, Doig, R Mitchell, K Ballingall, Subs - McLeod,J Mitchell, Brown, Ayton, Dudek,

SAT 29 MARCH 2014 - BRECHIN VICS v SCONE THISTLE - McBOOKIE.COM NORTH LEAGUE

Concerns had been raised recently that the stop-start nature of Scone's fixtures over the past couple of months would have a knock on effect to the consistency of the young squad and so it proved yesterday when the team looked a bit out of sorts in a close match with few chances.

Scone did create the first chance of the game after six minutes when Kyle Ballingall won the ball in midfield before passing to Keir, he in turn slipped the ball up to Ross Mitchell on the edge of the Brechin box and Ross laid the ball off to his left to Doig who took the ball into the area but shot wide of the left hand post.

After 10 minutes Scone could have been awarded a penalty after Ross Mitchell was pulled back whilst breaking into the box from the right hand side, however Ross was strong enough to stay on his feet and with control of the ball the referee, correctly, allowed play to continue with the Jags holding an advantage.  Unfortunately when the ball was played by Mitchell into the centre Doig was crowded out by the home defence and the chance was lost.

After 16 minutes there was a half chance for the Jags.  Ross Mitchell had made a good attacking run down the right which saw his cross into the centre cleared up towards the half way line where Craig Mitchell was able to header the ball back goalwards.  The ball was picked up by Kyle Ballingall about 25 yards out who controlled the ball well with his knee before firing a long range effort over the bar.

A minute later and it was the turn of the hosts to carve out their own chance when they were awarded a free kick on their left after a foul by Laing on King.  The free kick saw a bit of clever play by the Vics as when the Scone defence were awaiting the ball being swung into the area by King he picked out the inrunning Mustard who had made a late run from the midfield but his shot went past the post.

Moments later there was another chance for Scone when a goal kick from Curtis was headed on by Keir to Kyle Ballingall but his effort was over the bar.

26 minutes had gone when Scone had one of their best chances to score of the game when a Michie throw on the left to Ross Mitchell was crossed into the centre to Doig who laid the ball off to Keir at the edge of the area.  The Jags' central midfielder's well placed dipping shot forced Robbie into a great save.

Four minutes later and there was a candidate for miss of the season and unfortunately it was the Jags that squandered the chance to take the lead.

A throw in on the right was taken by Robertson to Keir and he in turn played the ball forward on the right to Doig.  Doiger managed to get the cross into the centre to Kyle Ballingall who unfortunately was slightly ahead of the ball and from about three yards out was only able to scoop the ball over the bar.

Brechin responded well to this and after some good play through midfield Henderson saw a long range effort well held by Curtis for Brechin's first shot on goal of the game.

That was it for a first half that had plenty of action from both sets of players but without either goalkeeper being seriously troubled.  Unfortunately for the fans that had gathered at Victoria Park on a chilly afternoon the second half had more of the same in store with one wee difference and annoyingly for Jags' fans it was the fact that their team just didn't turn up for the second 45.

Brechin controlled the play with good mobility and fast breaks from defence but like Scone in the first half couldn't convert that possession into goals with first King then Steel and Mustard all having shots off target which combined with the attacks that were broken up by a hard working Jags defence could have seen a heavy defeat for Scone on another day.

Scone did manage a rare chance on Robbie in the home goal after 66 minutes when a well taken Keir free kick was gathered by Doig in the Brechin box, his shot deflected upwards off a Vics defender and Kyle Ballingall fired the ball goalwards via an acrobatic volley which forced Robbie into a fantastic save.

Just as the game appeared to heading for a 0-0 draw Brechin made the breakthrough after 77 minutes.  A long cross into the area from the left was met by sub Andrew Ferguson who took one touch to knock the ball wide of Curtis before getting onto the end of it to bundle to ball home from six yards out.

There was just time for one last flurry from Scone when a quick ball from Keir out to the right to John Mitchell was crossed into the centre, the ball bounced off first one defender, then a second, then a third before finally being booted clear by a fourth.  The fact the ball didn't fall to any of the four Scone players in the box perhaps summed up the luck the team had enjoyed during the match but in fairness to Brechin they worked hard, took their chance and deserved their win.