Ups and downs of a hectic schedule for the Jags
Brechin City had to overcome stubborn resistance from Wednesday’s hosts before eventually securing the points against a battling Strathspey Thistle to keep the pressure on joint leaders Brora Rangers at Seafield Park.
This season’s front runners both have three league fixtures remaining as they look to secure the Breedon Highland League title although the Cattach’s have a vastly superior goal average giving the Dudgeon Park side the edge.
The home side got themselves of to the perfect start with the opener inside the opening two minutes. Liam Shewan made the running with a powerful run down the left. His perfectly delivered cross found youngster Lewis Mackie inside the box, however, the striker was pulled down by Liam Callaghan with the referee pointing immediately to the penalty spot.
Liam Shewan swept home the resultant spot kick to give the home side an early advantage.
The home side looked to capitalise further on their excellent start, with Jordan Laidlaw forcing Keeper Lenny Wilson into a save at the far post following a Filip Franczak corner.
The visitors were visibly rattled by the home side’s early advantage and were clearly struggling to breach a well organised home defence, with Sam Morrison and Jordan Laidlaw rock solid.
The visitors were forced to make an early change to personnel when striker Dayle Robertson limped off, to be replaced by former Celtic Striker Cillian Sheridan midway through the opening period.
The Irishman would later go on and play a pivotal role in his side’s latest victory. With four minutes of the first half remaining the visitors drew level. Lewis Milne Swivelled on the edge of the box to get in a shot that Euan Storrier could only parry, and Sheridan was on hand to apply the finish for the equaliser.
Milne saw a well struck effort saved by Storrier as the visitors went in search of another effort in their hopes to maintain the pressure on their title rivals.
The Angus side were ahead eight minutes after the resumption. Jamie Calder was adjudged to have halted Ewan Loudon just outside the box. Substitute Mitch Taylor smacked the resultant free kick from 20 yards round the defensive wall, before finding the net via the base of the post.
The visitors went in search of another in an effort to kill the match as a contest with Sheridan watching as a header brought a fine save from Storrier, with Fraser Macleod going close with an effort that was blocked from close range.
The Angus side continued to push forward with a Euan Spark effort coming back of the crossbar following a corner.
Brechin made the points safe with a quick-fire double, to dispel any hopes of a home side revival.
With 15 minutes remaining Sheridan got his second of the night with a well placed header following a Scott Bright cross from the left. A minute later the scoring was completed when Mitch Taylor netted his second, when he worked a position before smacking his effort high into the net past the helpless keeper.
Strathspey Thistle: Storrier: Franczak, Docherty (Fraser 71) C.MacPhee (McShane 71) Laidlaw, Calder (Z.MacPhee 82) Lisle, Shewan, MacKie (Brindle 58) Duffty (Mutch 58) Morrison
Subs unused: Rae (Gk) Doran