Saturday 26th March
Scottish Division 2
In to the final stretch now, only two more games to go after our visit to Glebe Park, home of Brechin City, to watch the home side play Dumbarton. It should be a good game as earlier in the month the two sides played out a three all draw.
We're fortunate enough again to be receiving tickets for the game from Duncan Ferguson in Forfar. Duncan runs the local Ford showroom in town and it's my sister, Isla, that put us in touch with Duncan earlier in the adventure. I'm sure he's on the Committee at Arbroath FC, but I'll need to check that with my dad, and he has connections at all the clubs in Angus.
I'm on a mission today for my friend Steven as his son, Joe, has decided that he's going to be a Brechin City fan and I told Steven I'd pick up a scarf for the wee man. I am however under strict instructions not to get anything if it turns out Brechin play in maroon and white. No son of a Hibernian fan would get away with that.
It's a mid-morning start then for us as we'll need to pop into the showroom to pick the tickets up before heading on to Brechin.
As ever, I'm not quite on time and my dad is already in the car. After I've answered the now standard: 'do you have your camera and phone' question in the affirmative, we're off on our way.
Tam & Stuart entertain us through the drive. Guests this week are; in the studio, Darren Jackson and some bloke from ESPN is on the phone. Topics of discussion this week include tomorrow's Scotland v Brazil game and the fact St. Johnstone now have to play both their home games against the Old Firm on a Tuesday night at 6pm.
We turn into Duncan's place about 2pm, he greets us at the door and we head inside. As he's heading off in to his office my dad asks if he has a Focus Sport in the showroom. He does and he thinks it's out in the yard.
Emma and I are trading in her current car and taking advantage of the family connection to buy a discounted new Ford. I've never bought a new car before and to be honest I've not even seen this new one. I let the Emma test drive it and I went with the Ford sales pitch from Isla.
As we're heading out to look at it Duncan tells us that the tickets will be on the Players Turnstile at Brechin. He lets us know that he hasn't been able to get us hospitality tickets for the last game at Arbroath as all tickets are sold out between now and the end of the season. If Arbroath win their next four games then they could actually win promotion on the day we're meant to be there, which would be amazing.
If they do manage that I'll be asking my dad to work out a schedule for next season for all the European leagues and then we'll be off down the bookies.
Ford inspected and given thumbs up and we're saying our good bye's to Duncan as we need to head up the road to Brechin.
We arrived at the ground about 2.15pm and after we're informed there is no parking at the ground we nip back up the way we came and find a side street to park on. Duncan said the tickets would be at the Players & Officials turnstile for us so we decided to wait in the car for a wee while before heading over.
When we get to the gate, instead of receiving free tickets for the game, we were presented with Lounge tickets. Ooh interesting. Duncan had only gone and fixed it again.
It's my dads turn to pose for the pre-match photo. We toy with the idea of heading for a pie but decide to wait and see what's on offer inside. I spy a boy selling programmes and pick up two, one for me and one for Joe. I buy us two tickets for the half time draw as well. I missed out on the 117m Euro Lottery last night so maybe I'll be lucky and hit the jackpot here.
We ask a bloke in a Brechin City jacket if he can direct us to the Lounge. He goes one step further and walks us there.
The Lounge turns out to be a large room with tables and chairs with a bar at the top end, the walls are decorated with large photo's of Brechin City teams through the ages. There's one that must have been taken in the 70's as the hair styles are magnificent.
The bloke introduces himself as Anton and asks if we want anything to drink, my dad settles for a soft drink where as I fire into the free beer. We saunter over to a table where we find free programmes laid on the table.
Anton tells us we're free to sit anywhere in the ground and at half time we can come back here for refreshments. My dad asks if he'll be able to get a pie, probably to be sure he doesn't suffer the same fate as last week. Anton confirms that yes he will get a pie. It's at this point we inform him of our quest and the fact that we've already seen Brechin this season and that we hope they've more luck than they did against Livingston. Anton remembers that game and admits they were second best but that poor refereeing decisons didn't help.
We decide to take a wander round the ground to find the Club Shop and the optimum viewing position. The ground is a mish mash of new and old at Brechin. The stand we've just come from sits behind one of the goals and looks like a fairly new addition to Glebe Park. At the other end of the pitch is a small covered terrace, the near side of the ground has really old wooden stand - see the photo above - and two smaller cabin type structures one of which is the changing area. On the other side there is an small uncovered standing area and it backs on to the famous hedge which must be about 10ft tall and runs the length of the pitch.
We manage to find the club shop situated at the far end of the ground and I pick up a scarf for Joe, red and white with Brechin City stamped on both sides. My dad picks up his umpteenth pin badge of the season.
We stroll round to complete our circuit of the ground and find ourselves beside the pie stand. We buy two and head back around to the wee stand on the half way line. My dad decides that the pie is a seven out of ten job. If it hadn't had such a crumbly bum it would have been awarded a higher mark as the filling is tasty and the temperature was just right.
During the warm up the Dumbarton substitute keeper was showing off doing the Scorpion Kick; made famous by Rene Higuita. Do you remember when he did that against the English? Bloody brilliant that was.
The game kicks off.
In the 5th minute Brechin force a corner and it's scambled clear by the Dumbarton defence and behind for another corner. Brechin captain Neil Janczyk floats the ball to the front post where it's flicked on by Gerry McLauchlan and David McKenna is on hand to knock it in to the net.
Dumbarton go close to an equaliser on twelve minutes when Jon McShane hits a fierce shot goalwards but it's too close to the keeper and Craig Nelson saves well.
On the quarter hour mark we see the first sign of the skill of Rory McAllister, the Brechin City forward, who if you believe the media a summer target for a fair few sides Aberdeen included. He gets on the end of a Kevin Byers knock down to fire a left foot volley on target but keeper Stephen Grindlay gets right behind it.
Minutes later McAllister has another chance when he skins his defender with a great turn but again hits his shot at the keeper.
From our position in the stand all we can hear is the Brechin City Assistant Manager Kevin McGowne scream instructions at his players. It's Cookie this and Tiger that. He shouts at one boy and then gives him a row when he turns to face him instead of the ball. Calm doon mate, your team are playing well, there no need for the touchline barking.
The Dumbarton bench on the other hand are silent. Somewhere in the middle would be the ideal approach I'm guessing.
Brechin are playing some great football and a series of one touch passes leads to a shot from Roy McBain which curls in on goal and forces Grindlay in to another save.
David Somers is the referee today and the first real incident he has to deal with comes on the half hour. Brechin's Jamie Redman come steaming in when he sees McAllister challenged, unfairly in his eyes. He pushes the Dumbarton player, Ryan McStay in the back and to the floor. McStay reacts by pushing Redman back. It's all handbags at dawn stuff and the referee decides to book both players.
After another tasty challenge by a Dumbarton player the old codgers in our stand are on the offensive. Somers comes in for some choice words and when one of the Dumbarton staff in the Directors Box dares to defend his player it looks like a ruck might actually take place.
Ten minutes before the break and we get another rare attack into the Brechin penalty box but Mark Gilhaney hits a wild shot way over the bar.
McBain becomes the third player booked when he lunges at Gilhaney as the Dumbarton winger threatens to break free.
Five minutes before half time and the referee waves away Dumbarton shouts for a penalty when the ball seemed to strike a Brechin hand.
Moments before the end of the half a Dumbarton throw in goes straight to an opponent whose first time sends McAllister through one on one with the keeper. The Brechin fans are on their feet as McAllister takes it round the keeper and shoots goal wards. Amazingly defender gets back to clear it off the line.
Half time.
We head back to the Lounge and by the time we get there we're right at the back of the queue for the free drinks and pies. So I take the time to approach Anton again and ask him if there is any chance he could get the Brechin City players to sign a programme for Steven's son. He says that shouldn't be a problem and he'll try to catch the players before they leave after the game.
The queue has gone down and when I get to the front I notice that there is more than just pies on offer. They've only gone and prepared a beef hot pot for half time. I dive in for a plate-full (Editor's note: Healthy eating week?!?!) whilst my dad goes for the pie option. My dad reckons the pie on offer isn't the same as those being sold to the rest of the punters outdoors, I tell him I'm not fussed as the hot pot is lovely.
We don't win the half time draw.
The referee blows for the start of the second half just as we take our seats and straight away Brechin are on the attack. A pass from McKenna finds Redman free at the edge of the penalty box and his first time side foot shot beats the keeper and nestles in the bottom corner.
It's not a great start to the second half for Dumbarton and it's almost three moments later when a McKenna cross is just out of the reach of McAllister at the back post. No matter as five minutes in to the half a McBain free kick finds McAllister. He rounds the keeper and taps it in to the empty net.
I can't see any way back for Dumbarton now.
Nearly spoke to soon there as Nelson came racing out of his box but didn't get to the ball before the Dumbarton player. The ball is played to Andrew Geggan but his first time shot clears the bar.
A Ewan Moyes header is cleared off the Dumbarton goal line as Brechin go in search of a fourth.
With ten minutes left the fourth goal is scored. McAllister looks suspiciously offside when the ball is played to him but the linesman doesn't raise his flag and play continues. McAllister skips into the box and unselfishly squares it to the open McKenna who can't miss from the six yards.
An old fella in front of us has been shouting abuse at the referee all game and when the home side went to make a substitution the old boy pipes up - we're taking you off ref - followed by - it's a shame we don't have a fourth official here we can sub on. Brilliant.
Brechin City sub on Mitch Megginson for Janczyk with ten minutes to go. Megginson is on loan from Aberdeen so it's nice to see a Don get in on the action. when he gets his sides fifth goal with eight minutes to go. Megginson wins a free kick on the edge of the box, its taken by Molloy and breaks to Megginson on the edge of the six yard box and he rifles it in to the corner.
Four minutes later and Megginson nutmegs a defender and plays the ball in to the box where a mighty stramash takes place before it falls to McKenna who can't miss from a yard and he completes his hat trick.
Quick as a flash a Dumbarton fan in front of us stands up and shouts 'Come on Sons, still time. We only need a quick seven'. It's nice to see that they still have a sense of humour eh.
The referee blows his whistle and puts Dumbarton out of their misery.
All in all a ruthless display in front of goal in the second half. At no point during the first forty five minutes did I think we'd get a six nil score line by the final whistle.
We decide against heading back to the car straight away and head back to the Lounge for a warming cup of tea before the journey south.
Anton comes over and finds us when we get back in the room and before I now it he's only gone and finshed out loads of goodies for Joe. We come away with a baseball cap, pencils, pens, a mug and a copy of the Brechin City St. Johnstone Cup quarter final programme. I tell him he doesn't need to do any of that but he insists and tells us he's thinking about the future.
We wish him well for the remainder of the season and tell him we'll look out for him in Division 1 next season. He answers that there is a long way to go yet.
Not for us there's not. Two games left now, Ayr United next Saturday and then Arbroath in three weeks time. I can not believe the time has flown by so quickly. What am I going to do with my time next season.
The Statistics
Ticket: Adult £10 , Concession £5
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 514
Pie: £1.40
Pie Marks: 7 / 10
Mileage: 180 miles
Final Score: Brechin City 6 v Dumbarton 0
Man of the Match: Dad - David McKenna (Brechin City), Me - David McKenna (Brechin City)
Fascinating Fact of the Day: David Will, who was the Chairman of Brechin City, went on to become the President of the Scottish Football Association and then Vice President of Fifa
Next Game: Somerset Park (Ayr United)
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