Despite being hit by a wave of absences, Brechin City produced a confident and clinical performance to dispatch Wick Academy 5–1, making it back-to-back victories and moving up to second in the Highland League table.

Both sides arrived with depleted squads - City missing six first-team players after Adam Hutchinson was forced to withdraw injured during the warm-up - while Wick travelled south with only two outfield substitutes. In the absence of skipper Euan Spark, Mitch Taylor captained the side.

Brechin started brightly and might have been in front within six minutes when Fraser Macleod shot narrowly wide after a neat move. The hosts kept the pressure on and came even closer on 11 minutes when Finlay Allan’s strike crashed off the inside of the post and somehow stayed out.

City didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough, though. In the 12th minute, Paul Watson spotted the run of MITCH TAYLOR and lofted a perfectly weighted ball over the Wick back line. Taylor met it first time with a thunderous volley that arrowed into the far corner - a goal of real quality to put City ahead.

Brechin continued to dominate possession and territory. On 19 minutes, Taylor’s shot was blocked with Ben Armour offside with the follow up. Moments later, Armour again saw a goal-bound effort blocked, while Kieran Sweeney's downwards header from the resulting corner was pushed out by Wick keeper Rebilas.

The second goal came in the 27th minute. Finlay Allan whipped in a low cross from the right and BEN ARMOUR was perfectly positioned to meet it first time, rifling high into the net from close range to double the advantage.

City looked comfortable, with Watson and Allan both going close before the interval, while Wick offered little going forward, their only first-half chance coming in the 43rd minute when Richard Macadie fired over from the edge of the box.

Brechin resumed control immediately after the restart. Just five minutes into the second period, Armour almost grabbed his second when Rebilas made a superb fingertip save to push his strike onto the bar, with Armour volleying the rebound wide.

On 56 minutes, Allan picked out Spencer Moreland unmarked in the area, but his shot was saved and scrambled off the line. Wick’s only real threat came at the hour mark when a defensive lapse from Sweeney allowed Marc MacGregor in, but the Wick forward lifted his effort over the bar.

That miss proved costly as City extended their lead seconds later. Sweenie-Rowe delivered a teasing cross that BEN ARMOUR chested down before being denied initially, but he made no mistake with the rebound to claim his second of the afternoon and Brechin’s third.

It was soon 4–0 when a Mitch Taylor free kick from the right was whipped into the danger area and CILLIAN SHERIDAN was on hand at the back post to prod home.

City continued to press for more. Watson’s fierce half-volley on 73 minutes drew another fine stop from Rebilas, while substitute Craig Tosh’s pinpoint cross found Macleod whose header was straight at the keeper.

Wick managed to pull one back late on with OWEN RENDALL firing home from close range after a free kick lofted into the box had fallen kindly for him.

There was still time for one more goal as substitute GRADY MCGRATH was bundled over in the box as the game approached stoppage time. The striker dusted himself down and confidently dispatched the penalty into the corner to round off a comprehensive 5–1 win.

It was a thoroughly professional display from Brechin, who dictated the tempo from start to finish and created a host of chances. Ray McKinnon will undoubtedly be delighted with the attacking fluency and work rate but will be disappointed with the late goal that denied his side a clean sheet.

With back-to-back league victories, City now sit second in the table and will look to carry that momentum into next weekend’s Scottish Cup Second Round tie at home to Dundonald Bluebell.