Match Report - By Steven Mew

City completed their pre-season schedule yesterday afternoon with a comfortable win over near neighbours Brechin Victoria and in doing so lifted the historic Americas Cup.

The Vics fielded some familiar faces, with a number having played for City in previous friendly matches against Dundee United and Forfar Athletic.

Michael Cruickshank conjured up the first opportunity for City after 6 minutes when his strike was blocked and Sean Hastie was next to threaten on 12 minutes when he was denied at the near post by Aaron Morrison in the Vics goal.

Shortly before the quarter hour mark, Marc Scott headed straight at the keeper and five minutes later City had the opportunity to go ahead when Fraser MacLeod was fouled from behind inside the area. SEAN HASTIE stepped up to take and he confidently stroked the ball in the corner to open the scoring.

Just two minutes later the advantage was doubled when a ball fell kindly for TRIALIST #10 on the edge of the box and he fired a crisp low strike into the bottom corner.

The trialist could have had his second just five minutes later when Sean Hastie did well to skip past the keeper to the byline and his cutback found the trialist inside the box but his strike bobbled up and hit his own hand.

On the half hour mark Morrison made a great save at his near post to deny Craig Tosh from point blank range whilst Hastie found the side netting from a low cross shortly after.

Defender Lewis Martin’s game was ended prematurely on 34 minutes when he forced off with a head knock – he was replaced by trialist #15.

Just a few minutes before the break City extended their advantage when FRASER MACLEOD rifled high down the middle of the net from 14 yards.

A minute later Michael Cruickshank’s cross found Craig Tosh at the back post but the Vics keeper did well to gather.

Ewan Loudon replaced the trialist #10 at the break and it was the visitors who conjured up their first real change 5 minutes after the restart when Reece Campbell dragged a shot well wide.

On 54 minutes a rasping strike from Macleod was deflected wide and from the resulting corner, Seth Patrick headed over.

That proved to be a continued theme as Tosh, Spark and Hastie all threatened with headed efforts but they were unable to find the target.

Craig Tosh was within a whisker of grabbing the 4th goal when his volley struck the inside of the post and rolled across the line before being cleared to safety.

Marc Scott curled a left footed shot just inches wide of the post before a downwards header from trialist #15 looped over the bar.

City’s continued dominance eventually paid off on 70 minutes when a low cross from Marc Scott found MICHAEL CRUICKSHANK making a late run into the box and he drilled a low shot on his weaker right foot beyond the keeper.

Opportunities continued to come thick and fast for the home side but unfortunately they were unable to find their clinical edge that they had against Scone in midweek. With quarter of an hour remaining Ewan Loudon had a shot deflected wide following Marc Scott’s layoff and from the corner, trialist #15 had a volley blocked.

Another Loudon shot whistled just past the top corner before Marc Scott very nearly took advantage of some hesitant defending from Vics but he was unable to guide his effort on target under pressure from the goalkeeper.

With ten minutes remaining, Seth Patrick surged forward from midfield and tried his luck from over 25 yards but he was just off target.

On 85 minutes, the visitors managed to clear following a scramble in the box whilst Cruickshank nearly grabbed his second when he met a cross at the near post but finished just wide.

In the closing minutes, the Vics came close to netting a consolation when substitute Matthew Platt burst clear down the right hand side of the box but his low strike was across the face of goal.

Attention will now turn to the competitive action next Saturday as former Manager Andy Kirk and Club Advisor Craig Levein bring their St Johnstone side to Brechin in the Premier Sports Cup (kick off 3pm).