By Ian Roache

ALLY MITCHELL has revealed that not only did his wonder goal kick-start a great Brechin comeback at McDiarmid Park on Saturday it also put an end to his embarrassment.

The former Kilmarnock star bulleted the ball home from 30 yards just a minute after the break to stun St Johnstone, who had looked to be cruising in the first half after opening up a two-goal lead.

City went on to make it 2-2 through Steven Hampshire and could even have gone on to win a game that had looked to be well beyond them.

And Mitchell, who had seen the ball crawl through his legs when Peter MacDonald opened the scoring for Saints, was delighted that his super strike overshadowed his early blushes.

“At their first goal the ball took a deflection off our keeper (David Hay) then went between my legs,” said Mitchell.

“It was a wee bit embarrassing at the time and I am glad my goal made up for it.

“We were disappointed to be 2-0 down and just sometimes you just need a wee spark to get you going again, and I provided that spark.

“At the break the manager told us to keep our shape after changing to four in the middle and two up front. Getting the goal early gave us a lot of time to get back in the game.

“To come here and get a draw does seem like a victory and we deserve credit because we did not look like a team that is sitting at the bottom of the league.”

Saints were coasting with a two-goal lead at half-time and should have put the game beyond their Angus visitors. Counters from MacDonald on 22 minutes and a Miksu Paatelainen header six minutes later put them on easy street.

But they were hauled back by City, who netted through Mitchell and Hampshire and could even have wrapped the game up after seizing control of the second period.

So it was a happy start to the new year for Brechin manager Dick Campbell.

“You are down 2-0 away from home to St Johnstone, who have been one of the favourites to win the championship, so what do you do apart from shout for help?” asked Campbell.

“I know what we didn’t do and that is crumble. I was very angry at half-time, as you can imagine. There were one or two adjectives thrown about.

“In the first 20 minutes we went about our job right and were well in the game.

“Then how can we lose a goal like that first one?

“Ally Mitchell had a chance to clear it. It hit his knee then hit David Hay and went back and trickled through Ally’s legs. Then Miksu Paatelainen arrived on the scene and he does not have 90-odd caps for his country (Finland) without being a good player, but we should have stopped the cross.

“We then scored as good a goal as you are going to see. I would like to say it was straight off the training pitch, but...

“We got that goal and took it from there. We got a great second, with Stevie beating the offside trap.

“We could have gone on to win the game, although I would admit St Johnstone could have scored too.

“Still, we are unbeaten this year,” he joked, “and I am happy to come here and take a point.”

Making his first—and possibly last—appearance for City was central defender Scott Walker, who was listed as a trialist.

The former Dunfermline player did enough to impress Campbell but is also a target for Hartlepool and is heading south in search of full-time football.

“I am trying to bring players to the club who are better than the ones we have and Scott comes into that category,” said the Brechin boss.

“But players want to go full-time and he is no different so he will be going down to England for trials. I am sure Scott would enjoy it at Brechin as I believe we are as good a part-time club as you will find in Scotland.”