Brechin 2-2 Peterhead

Aug 17 2008 Chris Gallagher At Stark'S Park

MARTIN BAVIDGE smashed a late equaliser as Blues capped a stunning fightback. Peterhead looked dead and buried at half-time after failing to shackle double-strike danger man Ian Nimmo.

But Craig Gunn gave them hope in 55 minutes before hitman Bavidge secured a well-deserved point.

City had triumphed in 11 of the sides' 15 previous meetings and took early control.

They should have struck first in six minutes but Gary Twigg failed to connect with Nimmo's cutback. Twigg was guilty again in eight minutes, lobbing wide from 14 yards after a super pass from Darren Smith.

Nimmo showed him how though, a minute later as City got off to a great start.

He tied Calum McDonald in knots before firing home past Michael Kula.

Smith almost stole in unmarked for the second in 11 minutes with a low strike that the keeper held.

Brechin were well on top but McDonald should have equalised in 13 minutes but was gutted to head over from eight yards out.

Bobby Mann also went close, glancing Daniel Moore's free-kick past a post from 10-yards.

But Peterhead paid the price for their misses in 16 minutes when Smith's inchperfect cross was tapped in by Nimmo for his second.

Ian Diack almost headed home No.3 ten minutes later but Kula acrobatically palmed his effort wide.

Smith's 20-yard drive arrowed just wide in 33 minutes - but seconds later City survived a scare.

David Murie's clumsy challenge on Gunn in the area went unpunished by ref Thomas Robertson.

And just before the break City keeper Craig Nelson was twice tested as Blues stormed back. First he produced a stunning onehanded stop to palm Gunn's goal-bound effort over.

And seconds later veteran Stuart McKay's fierce shot was parried.

Gunn threw the visitors a lifeline in 55 minutes when he rifled a shot past Nelson from six yards.

Bavidge had a chance for an equaliser five minutes later but blazed wildly over the bar from 20-yards.

Kevin Byers should have wrapped up the points for Brechin but Tula blocked his low goalbound shot.

Neale Cooper's men were smelling blood though and Mann's looping header in 65 minutes almost embarrassed Nelson, who was well out of position, but dropped over.

The keeper redeemed himself, tipping away Gunn's close-range flick.

Mann threatened again in 75 minutes - this time with a 30-yard free-kick that crept narrowly wide.

With 10 minutes left City's John Ward was booked for a late foul on Gunn.

And Graham Sharp's pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Bavidge to cap a gutsy fightback.