City took on SPL outfit Dundee Utd at Glebe Park last night in the first round of the Forfarshire Cup. As was expected, both sides gave some fringe players the chance to shine which gave some regulars a rest ahead of important league matches on Saturday.

City fielded a young team with trialist Matthew Flynn playing at left back for the home side. Grant Johnson and Stuart Ferguson both returned from injury while youngsters Ross Archibald, Steven McManus, Scott Devlin and Chris Geddes were all given starts by City gaffer Michael O'Neill. Second choice goalkeeper John Hillcoat was also given the nod.

The Dundee United side were expected to be full of confidence after their result victory against Rangers but the away side struggled to cope with the pace of the City front-line in the first half.

City started the game brightly and Chris Geddes was unlucky to see his low shot go narrowly wide of the post. However, Stuart Duff nearly opened the scoring for the Arabs when his powerful shot from outside the box just flashed past the top corner.

City came agnonsingly close to the opener when keeper McLean committed himself outside the box and Charlie King lobbed the goalkeeper but his effort was cleared off the line by Neil McMeechan.

Brechin were not to be denied however, as they broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when Steven Hampshire was played through on goal and he made no mistake, sliding the ball underneath the keeper and into the net.

Richard Walker was having an excellent game on the right, tormenting the Dundee Utd defence with his darting runs and City came close to a 2nd goal when Walker set up Charlie King who had a shot blocked and the ball fell to Matt Flynn who struck the inside of the post.

With just a minute into the second half, City doubled their advantage. Richard Walker received the ball on the right hand side and his teasing ball into the box went right over the keeper and into the corner.

The away side began to put City under some pressure and John Hillcoat made a string of fantastic saves to keep City in a comfortable lead. Hillcoat saved well from Duff's low shot before denying William Easton with a superb reflex save.

The tangerines did pull a goal back eight minutes from time when William Easton rose to head into the far corner to give United some home of salvaging something from the match.

However, it was City who went out looking to re-gain their two goal advantage and Scott Devlin was unlucky to see his low shot blocked by the legs of McLean, who was partially blinded by the ruck of bodies in front of him.

City held on for victory to progress into the next round of the cup. City Gaffer Michael O'Neill will have delighted with the way the players applied themselves, particularly those who have not been regulars in the side throughout the season.

Brechin: Hillcoat, Archibald, Ferguson, Johnson (White 54), Flynn, McManus, R.Walker, Devlin, Hampshire, Geddes, King. Subs not used: Byers, Callaghan, S.Walker, Nelson.

Dundee United: McLean, Proctor, Pope, Burnett, McMeechan, Archibald, Andreoni, Smith, Feeney, Duff, Easton. Subs not used: Gray, McCord, Milligan, O'Hara, Curtis.