The Fifers' last defeat in an away league match had come at Dumbarton almost a year prior.

However, the way City started this game it looked liked being a cricket score.

And, to be brutally frank, City's players could have done with a shot of some protective clothing giving the elbowing, punching and bullying that the visitors attempted to dish out.

And, sadly it went unpunished, with cautions handed out to both sides, three to Brechin and one to East Fife, that were barely merited, more serious matters being missed by all three officials.

In football, the last time I saw a manager fail to immediately shake another's hand was after Brechin had won at Ross County when Neale Cooper was in charge.

Dave Baikie eventually got around to it on Saturday, although his assistant Graeme Irons seemed upset at Kevin McAllister and Michael O'Neill, perhaps not recognising that it was Scott McDonald's watch and not that of the two former Hibees that mattered most.

Baikie and Irons gained their reputation in junior football. However, one thing that is common at every level of the senior game is that handshakes are exchanged win, lose or draw.

Mr Irons and Mr Baikie could have no complaints. Yes, their unbeaten record was gone and yes, Brechin scored a winner four minutes into stoppage time. But it made it two-one when it should have been five or six nil after half-an-hour or so of the game gone.

John Baird and Gary Twigg, not surprisingly, started as the front pairing, with Michael Paton on the bench. Kevin Byers returned to the starting line-up as did David Murie.

Brechin flew out of the traps in a manner that must have had Davie Baikie's injury-hit side trembling in their expensive boots and the visitors' defence, usually well-marshalled by the experienced Steven Tweed, was caught out time and time again with Baird's pace and that of the strong running of King on the right flank.

It was King whose deft cross from the left picked out Byers. The latter's technique was fantastic and his sweetly struck half volley gave City a well merited lead.

For the rest of the half, City continued to carve open the Fifers defence and John Baird could have helped himself to not one, but three or four goals. Baird, at present, looks a lot like Iain Russell, desperately needing that first counter and more will surely follow.

However, his overall contribution to the game was excellent. Perhaps City fans will recall Russell's luck in front of goal prior to scoring his first counter and what ensued thereafter.

Baird's luck was summed up by one net-bound drive that rebounded off the goalkeeper's kneecap, without the custodian not knowing too much about it.

Craig Nelson was a mere spectator for practically the entire first period. After 30 odd minutes Paul McManus was replaced by Craig O'Reilly. The Fifers tactic of one up front and an attempt to hit City on the counter hadn't paid off at all. In all fairness, they must have been read the riot act at half-time.

Amazingly David Murie had his name taken in the 34th minute for what can only be described as by far the best tackle of the game.

Brechin's only moment of really slack defending cost them dearly and another former player made them pay when Greig McDonald fired home an equalising goal within five minutes of the restart.

The game swung to and fro and at least Craig Nelson had something to do during this period, although his biggest stretch was a couple of long-range efforts after Bobby Linn had found space on the edge of the City penalty area.

Brechin, all too often in the second period, got the ball wide, but never delivered the same telling crosses which had been a feature of the first half.

Michael O'Neill went for broke. Paton came on for Twigg with ten minutes left and Diack for Byers with five minutes left.

Justice was finally done four minutes into stoppage time as Paton showed great composure to control the ball, hold off Fotheringham and set up Diack, who finished with great aplomb and heralded the best goal celebration Glebe Park has seen in years.

Handshakes all round at the final whistle, well not quite!

There's no place in football for those that lift their hands. But the best answer is battling on until the bitter end. All City's player deserve immense credit for doing so.

Brechin City - Craig Nelson, Murie, Ward, White, Dyer, Byers (Diack), Janczyk, Nimmo, King, Twigg (Paton) and Baird.

East Fife - Brown, McDonald, Tweed, Fotheringham, Cameron, Young (Linn), Fagan, Stewart (Templeman), Campbell, McManus (O'Reilly) and Crawford. Referee - S. McDonald; attendance - 691