Despite a perfect start and having the numerical advantage for 88 minutes, City slumped to their first league defeat of the season against Formartine United in Pitmedden yesterday afternoon.

City, without the services of 7 players, namely Dayle Robertson, Ben Armour, Brad McKay, Cillian Sheridan, Finlay Allan, Wallace Baird and the suspended Mitch Taylor - were dealt a huge boost within the opening minute.

With just 46 seconds on the clock, GRADY MCGRATH pounced on a mistake from Rhys Thomas, racing through on goal before being hauled down by the Formartine defender. The referee showed Thomas a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity and McGrath dusted himself off and confidently dispatched the penalty, giving City the perfect start.

For all the promise of an early lead and numerical advantage, it was the ten men of Formartine who seized the initiative. Hamish Ritchie was denied by Hepburn after five minutes, before City threatened through Craig Tosh’s teasing cross that Moreland just narrowly failed to connect with.

The hosts drew level on 16 minutes. Julian Wade powered past Spark down the left hand side of the box and cut the ball back for HAMISH RITCHIE, who rifled a first-time strike into the net from ten yards. Suddenly, the momentum was with the home side.

Just four minutes later, they were in front. A long ball over the top split the City defence, and former City striker RORY MCALLISTER showed his quality with a thunderous volley beyond Hepburn.

City almost responded when Sweeney slipped Findlay through on goal, only for the forward to be denied at the near post.

Watson then tested McKenzie from distance before a cross from Moreland found Tosh whose volley crashed off the underside of the bar. Shortly after, Tosh then saw his audacious overhead effort saved.

But on 42 minutes, Formartine extended their advantage. RORY MCALLISTER, once again the tormentor, engineered a yard of space in the box before turning sharply and drilling a low shot into the bottom corner - his second of the afternoon and one that left his former club with a mountain to climb.

Wade might have added a fourth in first-half stoppage time, but Hepburn was equal to the task, keeping out at the near post.

Brechin pushed after the restart and were denied again by the woodwork. Fraser Macleod clipped the bar from the edge of the area five minutes into the second half while Watson’s strike moments later was tipped wide. McGrath also had a close-range effort smothered by McKenzie on the hour mark.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Findlay blazed over from 20 yards before testing McKenzie in stoppage time, but it was to be one of those afternoons for City.

Attention now turns quickly to Wednesday evening, when City will look to bounce back against Huntly at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park.