Highlights - Brechin City 2-2 St Johnstone

By Andy Campbell

Brechin City claimed a Scottish Cup replay against St Johnstone after an enthralling match at Glebe Park.

Rory McAllister opened the scoring for the hosts with a re-taken penalty just before the interval.

Substitute Chris Millar volleyed Saints level before Danny Invincibile headed his first goal for the Perth club to give them the lead.

But McAllister prodded home his second of the day on 78 minutes to ensure the sides will meet again later this month.

That replay will take place at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday, 22 March where Brechin will bid again to reach their first ever Scottish Cup semi-final.

The match, which survived a morning pitch inspection, got off to a lively start and it was the Second Division side who threatened first.

Craig Molloy received the ball inside the box, turned away from Liam Craig and fired in a shot that deflected into the arms of goalkeeper Peter Enckelman.

Saints responded and Craig's shot from the left-hand side of the box rattled the crossbar.

Brechin, managed by former St Johnstone defender Jim Weir, should have taken the lead in the sixth minute.

McAllister squared for the unmarked Kevin Byers and, although the midfielder's low shot had the beating of Enckelman, the ball clipped the base of the post on its way out.

The visitors were struggling to cope with the pace and enthusiasm of the Brechin attack and Jamie Adams was booked for a late tackle on Molloy before David McKenna flashed a shot over Enckelman's bar.

Invincibile almost grabbed the opener after getting in behind the Brechin defence, goalkeeper Craig Nelson saving well from the Australian.

McAllister's earlier claims for a spot-kick after he had been nudged by Graham Gartland had fallen on deaf ears, but Brechin were awarded a penalty four minutes before the break.

Neil Janczyk played a one-two with McKenna and went to ground as Murray Davidson slid across to make the tackle.

Referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot despite furious protests from the St Johnstone players, who felt Janczyk had dived.

Janczyk stepped up to net from 12 yards, but the referee ordered a re-take for encroachment.

Second time round, it was McAllister who took the responsibility and the striker stroked home to give Brechin a lead their first-half play just about deserved.

Millar replaced Adams as the Scottish Premier League outfit looked for a fresh impetus after the interval.

But Brechin looked the more determined side at the start of the second period and a well-worked break ended with Jamie Redman's shot bringing out the best in Enckelman.

The save proved to be a turning point as St Johnstone went up the park almost straight away and equalised.

A headed clearance from Craig's cross fell to Millar on the run and midfielder's volley trundled into the net.

Brechin went back on the attack and on-loan Hibernian defender Ewan Moyes connected well with Jaczyck's corner only for his his header to be cleared off the line by Steven Anderson.

McAllister had another penalty appeal turned away after he was challenged in the right-hand corner of the box by Anderson.

Invincibile curled a left-foot shot narrowly wide of the post after making space on the edge of the Brechin box.

St Johnstone came close again when Peter MacDonald volleyed over from inside the six-yard box.

Nelson made a superb save to tip MacDonald's header over, but the goalkeeper could do little to stop Saints taking the lead from the corner.

Danny Grainger's near-post delivery was headed powerfully by Invincibile, Nelson getting a hand to the ball as it flew into the net.

Collin Samuel set up MacDonald for a shot as St Johnstone looked to make sure of the win and Nelson again came to Brechin's rescue with the save.

Nelson's heroics were rewarded when Brechin gabbed their equaliser.

McAllister turned Grainger to latch on to Molloy's lofted pass and slammed the ball across Enckelman and in off the far post.

Both sides had chances to claim victory, McAllister firing over from the right angle of the box before Samuel's replacement, Stephen Reynolds, missed a gilt-edged chance inside the Brechin six-yard box, the striker blasting over from MacDonald's knock down.

However, in the end, there was to be no winner at the end of a thoroughly entertaining cup tie.

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