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Locos were defeated for the first time this season as second half goals from Ewan Loudon and Dayle Robertson ensured that Brechin extended their own winning run at the start of the campaign.
Loudon had missed a penalty before the break but Locos, despite being under pressure for long periods, had kept the hosts at bay until the opener, controversially awarded despite the goalscorer’s apparent hand ball.
Cole Anderson was added to list of unavailable players for Dean Donaldson, who handed Callum Duncan a first start of the season. It was Duncan who had the first opportunity of the game as Locos started brightly, latching onto Blair Smith’s excellent pass but home keeper Lenny Wilson was off his line quickly to deal with the threat.
The Hedgemen then began to dominate. Lewis Martin powered a header off target before Zack Ellis got down low to his right to turn a Robertson shot behind. Loudon then dragged his spot kick wide after Mark Souter had brought down Fraser Macleod shortly before the half hour mark.
MacLeod then fired wide as Locos restricted City to shooting from distance. The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes as Calum Dingwall found himself facing his own goal with Loudon on his shoulder. His clearance hit the attackers arm before sitting up nicely for him to finish past Ellis. Locos were stunned that the goal stood.
Last season’s runners up went looking for a second and it arrived eleven minutes later through Dayle Robertson as he diverted a cross from the right beyond Ellis. It was hard to see Locos getting back into the game and the prospect became even less likely with 14 minutes remaining as youngster Reuben Skea, making his debut off the bench, was shown a second yellow card.
The Railwaymen kept working hard but a Greg Mitchell drive over the bar was as close as they could get to breaching the home defence. Brechin were worthy winners but Locos will feel aggrieved at the nature of the opening goal and will be keen to bounce back against Clachnacuddin at Harlaw Park on Saturday.
