Brechin City boss Ray McKinnon hailed his players after denting Dunfermline’s promotion hopes with a 1-0 triumph at East End Park.
A header by Alan Trouten 16 minutes from time was enough to settle last night’s contest and put six points between City and their hosts in the League One play-off race.
With their unbeaten run in the league extended to 14 matches, McKinnon was understandably delighted to see his side strengthen their grip on fourth spot.
“The lads were excellent from start to finish,” he said. “They gave it their all at a tough place to come.
“Dunfermline are a right good side so we’re over the moon with the three points.
“We fought for everything. We thought we had a stonewall penalty which wasn’t to be, but we created some good chances and I’m delighted.”
The home team went into the game on the back of a disappointing 1-0 loss to promotion-chasers Forfar and Potter’s line-up perhaps reflected the urgent need to bounce back with seven changes.
Ryan Williamson returned from injury to start, while Jim Paterson, Shaun Byrne, Ryan Thomson, Lewis Allan, Michael Moffat and David Hopkirk all took their spots in the first 11.
Brechin made two changes from the team that earned a 1-0 win over bottom club Stirling, with Ryan Ferguson and Craig Storie in for Andy Jackson and Gary Fusco.
The Pars started the game brightly and Kyle McAusland had a shot blocked inside three minutes after City failed to properly clear a Hopkirk free-kick from the left.
City keeper Graeme Smith then became the first man in referee Andy Dallas’s notebook after a silly challenge on Moffat right beside the corner flag, this after Moffat had almost pounced on slackness by the keeper after receiving a pass back.
The visitors soon settled into the game though and enjoyed a decent spell of possession, although the Pars’ on-loan striker Allan was next to threaten as his turn and shot forced Smith into a save.
There was controversy in 14 minutes as a well-worked move ended with Ferguson going down in the penalty area, but referee Dallas waved away City’s claims for a spot kick and booked the forward for diving.
Smith saved from McAusland three minutes later as the Pars struggled to find an opening, before Paul McLean was next to be yellow-carded for the visitors for a cynical block on Hopkirk on 27 minutes.
As if not to be outdone, the home side’s Paterson then saw yellow just before the half-hour for tugging back Ferguson.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the first half but City finished the first period strongly, with the Pars fortunate that Ryan Scully beat Bobby Barr to a decent looking through ball on 37 minutes.
Barr was entitled to go for the ball, but referee Dallas felt his sliding attempt was reckless and booked the City forward.
A minute later Alan Trouten screwed over a Barr cutback from the right, before a booking for City’s Craig Molloy was the last meaningful action of the half.
City came flying out of the traps in the second half and should have grabbed the lead four minutes in.
Barr was allowed to bear down on the Dunfermline defence unchallenged before a neat one-two in the area between Trouten and Robert Thomson gave the latter a chance to get a snap shot away, but Scully saved well.
And fewer than 60 seconds later the home keeper made an even better save, somehow getting down to block a sidefooted effort by the on-rushing Gerry McLauchlan after Thomson played him in.
The Pars then raced to the other end and, after the ball rebounded off the post following Ryan Thomson’s effort, Hopkirk thought he had scored from a tight angle but the linesman’s flag curtailed his celebrations.
Sub Josh Falkingham then failed to connect with an inviting cross from Hopkirk just before the hour, and it was clear both teams fancied their chances of a winner with the game opening out.
Barr dragged an effort wide from the edge of the area on 67 minutes and Allan had a shot charged down by McLean three minutes later as both side probed, with Barr continuing the topsy-turvy pattern to play by firing wide of the post.
One goal seemed likely to settle it, and it came with just 16 minutes left. Slack play by Scully allowed Thomson to win the ball on the left and his cross found the unmarked Trouten who nodded the ball beyond Scully from close range.
Disappointed Pars boss John Potter said: “I thought we were good first half, looked energetic, but we never really threatened the goalkeeper.
“Second half, they were dangerous on the counter attack and we lost a bad goal.
“I’m just disappointed because we can play well up to a point, but we’re just missing that cutting edge and not scoring goals.”
Attendance: 1,574
Dunfermline: Scully, Williamson (Geggan 71), Paterson, Urquhart, Buchanan, McAusland, Byrne (Falkingham 58), Thomson, Allan, Moffat (Barrowman 79), Hopkirk. Subs not used: Good-fellow, George, Martin, El Bakhtaoui.
Brechin: Smith, McLean, Hamilton, McCormack (McNeil 55), McLauchlan, Storie, Trouten, Molloy (Fusco 82), Thomson, Ferguson (A Jackson 63), Barr. Subs not used: Tough, Durojaiye, S Jackson, Tapping.
Referee: Andrew Dallas.