With six Ryans in Dunfermline’s squad, it was perhaps inevitable that at least one of them should play a key role at East End Park on Saturday.
Sure enough, gangling full-back Ryan Williamson was voted man of the match following a series of rampaging runs, Ryan Thomson pressurised City skipper Ewan Moyes to put through his own net and Ryan Wallace book-ended the Pars’ latest win with clinical strikes at the beginning and end of the game.
“I got a wee bit lucky there to get a touch and then just lashed it into the net,” he said modestly of his third-minute opener. In truth, Wallace’s sublime chest control and 14-yard volley owed nothing to luck.
The 23-year-old struck again with three minutes left as the home side clung nervously to a 2-1 lead, staying just onside and skipping around keeper Graeme Smith before sliding the ball into the empty net.
“That killed the game off because it was looking a bit sticky for a while there,” he recalled. “Three-one seems quite comfortable but it got quite sticky in the second half and we didn’t play anything like as well as we did in the first half.
“I’ve been playing in more of a wide position this season, which is what the gaffer wants me to do. Getting on the scoresheet is always good but it’s even more important for the club to get into a play-off spot.
“The boys have been playing consistently well this season. We’re scoring goals and it must be a joy for people to come and watch us. The young players aren’t scared to try things, even if they end up making mistakes.
“Rangers said we were bullies a few weeks ago and that’s the first time I’ve heard that!”
It seemed at first as though Thomson had tapped in Williamson’s low cutback for Dunfermline’s second goal but the player later admitted that Moyes got the final touch.
“I’ve no chance of claiming that one!” smiled Thomson. “It definitely wasn’t my goal, it was a good few yards away from me.”
Brechin’s limp first-half display, plus the two-goal deficit that resulted from it, might have knocked the stuffing out of most teams, but there were further body blows.
Seven minutes into the second period, Steve Jackson’s clever dink to the back post was headed down by Andy Jackson, creating a simple chance which Michael Jackson would have buried yet Alan Trouten somehow missed.
Worse followed on the hour mark when substitute Stuart Anderson was sent off after fouling Josh Falkingham within four minutes of his arrival.
Moyes could easily have joined him moments later but referee Des Roache chose compassion over the letter of the law and awarded a yellow card instead.
Paul McLean’s neat finish set up a grandstand closing 10 minutes and, although Wallace’s second goal put the result beyond doubt, City boss Ray McKinnon said: “We showed good character.
“We stood off them in the first half and allowed them to play but we got to grips with that and came out for the second half like a different team.”