Brechin City made it three successive league victories yesterday afternoon as second-half goals from Brad McKay and Darren Watson secured a deserved 2-0 win over Civil Service Strollers at Christie Gillies Park.

Following last weekend’s exit from the South Challenge Cup against Pollok, Andy Kirk made five changes to his starting line-up, with Kyle Gourlay, Mitch Taylor, Darren Watson and Dale Hilson all restored to the starting 11. New loan signing Cormac Christie was also handed his first start.

City started brightly and created a number of opportunities during an entertaining opening half, although the hosts remained a threat on the counter-attack.

Just four minutes in, Fraser Macleod tested Mac Whyte in the Strollers goal with a shot which was straight at the goalkeeper before Mitch Taylor drove forward two minutes later and saw his effort again comfortably gathered.

Christie was next to go close in the ninth minute when he met a Macleod cross, but his glancing header drifted wide of the target.

City continued to apply pressure and came close again shortly before the quarter hour mark. Dale Hilson’s effort took a deflection and appeared to be looping into the net, but Whyte reacted superbly to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Ryan Blair then went close from a free kick in the 23rd minute. The City midfielder delivered a well-struck ball which appeared to catch Whyte by surprise as he anticipated a cross. The goalkeeper did well to claw the ball away, with Macleod unable to capitalise on the rebound as a last-ditch challenge denied him.

Christie saw another effort blocked inside the box in the 28th minute, while six minutes later Taylor delivered an inviting low cross which just evaded Christie in front of goal.

Despite City having the best of the chances, the home side showed they could cause problems on the break. In the 39th minute, Louis Kennedy found space and saw his strike blocked before Gourlay gathered.

City then came agonisingly close to taking the lead right on the stroke of half-time. Taylor produced an inch-perfect cross which picked out Darren Watson inside the box. Watson’s initial effort struck the post and with the goal seemingly at his mercy from the rebound, somehow screwed his follow-up effort wide.

City continued where they left off after the interval and had another opportunity in the 52nd minute when Blair’s cross to the back post found Taylor, although his effort was gathered by Whyte.

The Edinburgh side threatened briefly in the 57th minute when Kennedy’s effort took a deflection and landed comfortably in Gourlay’s arms, but City finally made their opportunities count on the hour mark.

Ryan Blair floated a corner into the box and BRAD MCKAY was left unmarked, allowing the City defender to power a header beyond Whyte to give Brechin the lead.

There wasn't long to wait for a second goal as it arrived just 3 minutes later. Macleod picked out Greig Young with a searching pass down the left - he played a low pass into the box for DARREN WATSON who produced an excellent touch to bring the ball inside and create the space for a finish and he made no mistake, firing a low effort into the far corner to double City’s advantage.

City now looked very much in the mood and substitute Euan Hamilton, who had replaced Christie after the opening goal, almost added another in the 67th minute. Hamilton collected a pass from Watson inside the box and produced a superb turn to beat his defender, only to be denied by a last-ditch challenge.

Strollers looked for a way back into the contest and a header from a corner in the 75th minute was straight at Gourlay, while two minutes later a deep cross found Tuacenio Dos Santos at the back post but his header drifted beyond the far post.

City had a chance to put the game beyond any doubt in the 80th minute when Watson unleashed a left-footed effort which looked destined for the top corner, only for Whyte to produce an excellent save to parry the ball away.

City saw out the closing stages to secure all 3 points and it was a deserved victory for Andy Kirk’s side who created numerous opportunities throughout the afternoon and could easily have had more than the two goals they eventually scored.

The result sees City climb to fourth place in the league, holding a game in hand over all three teams currently above them.

Attention now turns to next Saturday, when City return to the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park to face fellow Lowland League East new-boys Musselburgh Athletic.