City's preparations for the new season continued yesterday afternoon as they put in an impressive showing, particularly in the second half to record a comfortable victory over Jeanfield Swifts in Perth.

The scoreline was a little harsh on the East of Scotland League side who had chances of their own, whilst City were ruthless when the opportunities came their way.

After missing a number of players for the opening friendly against Arbroath last weekend, manager Andy Kirk welcomed a number of bodies back with only Iain Ross and the injured Nathan Cooney missing from the squad.

Euan Spark and Fraser MacLeod both had their first runouts since signing in the summer as they were both handed starts.

The Swifts started brightly with Shaun Struthers and Gary Fergus both shooting wide before City opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Cammie Ross did well to get the better of a defender down the left hand side before providing a cross which found GRADY MCGRATH in the centre of the box. The former East Craigie man made no mistake as he fired beyond Dalton.

After 18 minutes Connor McLaren's lob ended up on the roof of the net and he would come close again shortly after. City were dispossessed in midfield and a ball was threaded through for McLaren who flashed a shot just wide of the far post.

Midway through the half, City were unfortunately forced into an early change when Euan Spark appeared to injure himself in a sliding challenge and had to be replaced by Jordan Northcott.

Shortly before the half hour mark, Cammie Ross almost doubled the advantage in bizarre fashion when his sliced volley almost caught the goalkeeper out but to his relief the ball came off the top of the crossbar.

Lenny Wilson was called into action on 33 minutes when some slack passing in defence allowed Christopher Dodd in on goal but the City stopper did well to save with his feet.

At the other end, Kevin McHattie played one of his trademark cross-field passes to Jordan Northcott on the right hand side - the former St Johnstone man cut inside but his left footed strike was weak and straight at the keeper.

Six minutes before the break, Cammie Ross received a pass from MacLeod out on the left and he unleashed a terrific strike which looked to be heading for the far corner, however Dalton in the Swifts goal did well to tip round the post.

City remained unchanged after the break and the hosts were first to threaten in the second half when Scott Smith volleyed straight at Wilson.

On 56 minutes Andy Kirk made a double change with Marc Scott coming on for Ewan Loudon, whilst a trialist keeper replaced Lenny Wilson between the sticks. The introduction of 'Marco' sparked City to life as they laid siege on the Jeanfield goal for the remainder of the match.

City would double their advantage on 63 minutes when the impressive CAMMIE ROSS fired an angled drive into the far corner. Just a minute later, Ross almost had his second when Marc Scott found him with a cutback at the edge of the box but his strike was deflected wide for a corner.

Andy Kirk continued to bring on some fresh legs with Kevin McHattie and Grady McGrath being replaced by Kieran Inglis and a trialist, with both players going on to make sizeable contributions in the final quarter hour.

With 75 minutes on the clock KIERAN INGLIS added a third goal with a splendid left footed strike from the edge of the box which curled into the corner.

Barely a minute later KIERAN INGLIS made it a quickfire double as he latched on to a neat flick from Marc Scott before firing into the far corner via the inside of the post.

Inglis was hungry for more and it could have easily been a hat-trick for the substitute but his strike from the edge of the box flew just over.

City were relentless at this stage and with 10 minutes remaining they further added to the advantage. Marc Scott's strike could only be parried by the goalkeeper and a TRIALIST was on hand to convert from a couple of yards out.

With a few minutes to go, the scoring was rounded off. Cammie Ross was the architect as he swung in a cross from the right hand side which was knocked in at the near post by the TRIALIST for his second of the afternoon.

Overall, a very worthwhile runout for City against a Swifts outfit that finished 4th in the East of Scotland Premier Division last season. Attention now turns to the friendly against Aberdeen at Glebe Park on Wednesday evening.

Jeanfield Swifts: Sean Dalton, Scott Mollison, Kieran Sweeney, Connor McLaren, Fraser Smith, Chris McLeish, Gary Fergus, Christopher Dodd, Shaun Struthers, Scott Smith, Keillour Lowe. Substitutes: Paul Simpson, Robbie Young, Rannoch Ramsay, Christopher Scott, Adam Leese, Sam Townsley, Jon Clark.

Brechin City: Lenny Wilson (Trialist 56), Jamie Bain, Kevin McHattie (Kieran Inglis 67), Hamish Thomson, Seth Patrick, Grady McGrath (Trialist 73), Cammie Ross, Michael Cruickshank, Fraser MacLeod (Iain Davidson 61), Ewan Loudon (Marc Scott 56), Euan Spark (Jordan Northcott 23). Subs not used: None