Brechin City booked their place in the semi-finals of the R Davidson Highland League Cup with a 3–2 victory over Nairn County at Balmoral Stadium, capped by a last minute winner from substitute Mitchell Findlay.

The tie had a slightly unusual build-up, with less than 24 hours’ notice that the match would be switched from Glebe Park to Balmoral Stadium after considerable rainfall rendered Glebe Park unplayable. Despite the late change, City showed little sign of rust in what was their first competitive outing in four weeks – and also the first match back in the dugout for returning manager Andy Kirk.

Kirk made three changes from City’s last outing against Banks O’ Dee. On loan Dundee goalkeeper Ruaridh Lynch was handed the gloves, while Spencer Moreland and Mitchell Taylor came into the starting 11. The bench was boosted by U20 development players Michael Gray and Jordan Harris.

Brechin started brightly and almost made the perfect opening inside two minutes. Finlay Allan timed his run well to get in behind the Nairn defence and latch onto Ethan Crombie’s through ball before squaring across goal for Cillian Sheridan, only for Nairn goalkeeper Maclean to react sharply and claw the ball away.

The early pressure continued, with Taylor’s whipped free-kick flashing just past the far post on five minutes. City’s neat passing play was causing problems and on 12 minutes Fraser Macleod found space inside the box after a slick move, but a last-ditch tackle denied him a clear sight of goal.

Despite Brechin’s dominance, it was Nairn who struck first against the run of play on 18 minutes. A cross into the box was fumbled by Lynch and FRASER DINGWALL was quickest to react, bundling the loose ball home from close range.

Nairn briefly threatened again on 23 minutes when Andrew Greig fired wide, but Brechin soon re-established control. Their pressure was rewarded just after the half-hour mark when Macleod was brought down inside the penalty area. GRADY MCGRATH stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the left corner to level the tie.

Before the break, City went close to taking the lead. On 41 minutes Sheridan unleashed a rasping low drive from around 20 yards, but Maclean was well positioned to gather. City carried that momentum into the second half and immediately went on the front foot.

Within two minutes of the restart, Allan’s clever ball over the top picked out Taylor, only for another last-ditch Nairn tackle to intervene. Moments later, Crombie fired wide after a corner was only partially cleared.

Chances continued to come. Brad McKay glanced a header wide from a cross on 53 minutes, while at the other end Nairn had a brief spell of pressure – a header straight at Lynch from a corner and a Jamie Carnihan effort over from a tight angle.

City finally edged in front just after the hour mark. Spencer Moreland drove forward and delivered a low, inviting cross into the box where CILLIAN SHERIDAN was perfectly placed to convert from close range.

City looked the more likely to add to their lead. A dangerous cross from Euan Spark on 65 minutes was almost turned into his own net by a Nairn defender, while Allan twice went close – first denied at his near post on 73 minutes and then firing over six minutes later. Taylor also tested Maclean with a shot straight at the keeper a minute later.

Just as Brechin seemed in control, Nairn produced a moment of quality to level the match again. With just less than quarter of an hour remaining ANDREW GREIG let fly from distance, his dipping effort clipping the underside of the bar before finding the net.

The goal set up a tense finale, but City kept pushing. Sheridan glanced a header wide from a superb Taylor cross on 85 minutes, before the decisive moment arrived as the game approached stoppage time. Substitute MITCHELL FINDLAY pounced on some hesitant Nairn defending, bursting into the box before lashing a superb strike into the far corner to seal a deserved victory.

The final whistle confirmed City’s progression to the semi-finals, where they will face Turriff United at The Haughs on 28 February. Overall, it was a performance full of encouragement in Andy Kirk’s first game back in charge – plenty of attacking intent and character on show, alongside a few areas to refine ahead of a hugely important Highland League clash at home to table-toppers Formartine United next week.