City's return to competitive action ended in a difficult afternoon at Firhill as Championship outfit Partick Thistle ran out convincing 6-0 winners in the opening fixture of the Premier Sports Cup.

Facing a side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premiership last season, Andy Kirk's men were given a stern test by a full-time Thistle side managed by former City boss Mark Wilson. The hosts' quality ultimately told over the 90 minutes as they punished City to begin their Group E campaign with three points.

There was a fresh look to the Brechin starting line-up, with four summer signings making their competitive debuts. Goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay started between the posts, while Greig Young, Darren Watson and Michael McQueen also made their first appearances from the outset. Fellow new arrivals Kyle Bell and experienced striker Dale Hilson were named among the substitutes.

City's hopes of keeping things tight in the early stages suffered an immediate setback after just seven minutes. A dangerous low delivery from the left found Gary Mackay-Steven inside the six-yard box, with the former Scotland international making no mistake from close range to give the hosts an early advantage.

City's afternoon became even more difficult just before the quarter hour mark when Spencer Moreland was forced off through injury after stretching to reach a cross. Kyle Bell was introduced in his place.

Partick continued to threaten and almost doubled their advantage shortly afterwards when Lee Ashcroft fired over from a corner, only to send his effort over the crossbar.

City responded with their best attacking moment of the first half on 19 minutes. Michael McQueen did well to hold the ball up before laying it into the path of Darren Watson, whose goal-bound effort was bravely blocked by the Thistle defence.

The hosts doubled their lead on 22 minutes after being awarded a soft penalty. Tony Watt went to ground under a challenge from Brad McKay inside the area, with the referee pointing to the spot. Oisin Smyth stepped up and confidently dispatched the resulting penalty beyond Gourlay.

Thistle added a third six minutes later from another set-piece. A corner from the left found Gary Mackay-Steven unmarked at the back post and he volleyed home despite the best efforts of Gourlay in the City goal.

The home side almost extended their lead further ten minutes before the break as Mackay-Steven chased his hat-trick, but Gourlay produced an excellent fingertip save to divert his powerful strike over the crossbar.

Brechin battled on and nearly pulled one back just before half-time when Brad McKay met Greig Young's corner with a firm header, but the Partick keeper was well placed to gather. At the other end, Tony Watt flashed a snapshot narrowly over the bar as the hosts went into the interval with a commanding three-goal advantage.

City started the second half brightly and enjoyed a spell of pressure which resulted in successive corners. From the second delivery, McKay once again found space to head towards goal, only for Budinauckas to produce another comfortable save.

Shortly before the hour mark, the home side made it four. A slick passing move carved open the Brechin defence and although Gourlay produced an excellent save to deny Logan, Aidan Fitzpatrick reacted quickest to nod home the rebound.

Substitute Euan Henderson almost made an immediate impact just three minutes later, forcing Gourlay into another impressive save from distance as the City goalkeeper continued to keep the scoreline respectable.

Brechin created another encouraging opportunity on 64 minutes. Kyle Bell showed determination to reach the by-line before pulling the ball back into the path of Inglis, whose effort was blocked by recovering defenders.

The hosts then added two goals in as many minutes as the scoreline threatened to get ugly for City. On 66 minutes, substitute Seb Drozd advanced down the right before curling a superb strike into the far corner from the edge of the area. Just a minute after the restart, Euan Henderson completed another flowing Thistle move to make it 6-0 despite the best efforts of Brad McKay on the line.

Gourlay was called into action several more times in the closing stages, producing fine saves to deny Henderson, Smyth and Samuel to prevent the margin becoming even greater.

Ultimately, it was a difficult afternoon against quality opposition who demonstrated exactly why they came so close to securing promotion to the Premiership last season. While few would have expected City to come away from Firhill with a positive result, Andy Kirk will undoubtedly be disappointed by both the final scoreline and the manner of several of the goals conceded.

The attention now quickly turns to another tough Group E encounter as Brechin welcome fellow Championship side Livingston to the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park on Tuesday evening. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.