Brechin City dug deep to take all three points in the division two top-of-the-table clash against Livingston at Glebe Park.
The West Lothian side had beaten the Angus outfit twice already this season but a moment of Craig Molloy magic with just three minutes remaining ensured a reversal of fortunes this time.
The game looked certain to end in stalemate before Molloy kept his cool to net one of the few clear-cut chances of the evening. The victory cuts Livi’s lead at the top of the table to eight points and City also have two games in hand.
Brechin boss Jim Weir said, “We did not play particularly well in the first half and I thought we lacked a wee bit of self-belief. At half time I told them to go out and show what they could do in the second 45.
“Molloy has been an inspiration for me. He has been a fantastic signing and typifies everything I look for in a player. He got his reward in the end with a terrific goal.”
Weir made three changes from the side which drew 0-0 with East Fife at the weekend with Daniel McKay coming in for David McKenna, Jordan Kirkpatrick for Neil Janczyk and Paul McLean returning from suspension to replace Dougie Hill who was sent off at Methil.
The game only went ahead after an afternoon pitch inspection and while the soggy surface looked perfectly playable at kick-off, it quickly resembled a field that had recently hosted a ploughing match.
With so much at stake, it was no surprise that the opening quarter was a tough “arm wrestle” with both sides battling to establish early dominance. That desire boiled over in the fourth minute when Livi’s Kyle Jacob went in hard for a tackle on City’s Ewan Moyes with studs showing and he was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Law.
It was not until the 26th minute that either keeper was seriously tested. Livingston’s Kenny Deuchar, who was plying his trade in the SPL with St Johnstone last season, cushioned a downward header to Jacobs loitering dangerously on the edge of the Brechin box and he hit a dipping half volley which home keeper Craig Nelson did well to tip over.
Brechin tried their best to play in their main danger man Rory McAllister but he was enduring a frustrating night against a Livi defence that had former Dundee player David Cowan marshalling affairs. City’s overall frustration increased in the 39th minute when Moyes was booked for a challenge which barely merited the award of a foul.
Just before the break, the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock when a Liam Fox snap shot from the edge of the box crept just past Nelson’s right-hand post. The stalemate continued into the second half and it was not until the 60th minute that either side fashioned another opening.
McAllister wriggled free down the right edge of the Livi box, turning Cowan in the process, but his prodded effort on goal was easily gathered by Tony Bullock. Shortly after, McAllister again escaped the defensive shackles and found himself in space in the penalty area but he dragged his shot wide when he should have at least have tested Bullock.
As the game entered the closing stages, Brechin attempted to mount a grandstand, but were left frustrated by several marginal refereeing decisions. However, they came mighty close to taking the lead in the 81st minute when Molloy latched on to a McAllister return pass eight yards out-but he was at full stretch and turned his effort narrowly wide.
But Molloy received his reward for dogged determination after a marauding run down the left six minutes later. He again played a delightful one-two with McAllister before this time calmly slotting the ball past Bullock from 15 yards out.
Livi boss Gary Bollan said, “That was a disappointing defeat but Brechin City played well in the second half and were worthy winners.”
Attendance: 565.