The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Uphill struggle for City after early goals
INVERNESS CT 4 BRECHIN CITY 0
Inverness kept their faint play-off hopes alive after a brace from Joe Chalmers and goals from Coll Donaldson and George Oakley sealed a convincing win.
Brechin boss Darren Dods said: “We gave them a two-goal head start and after that it’s always going to be an uphill struggle.
“They have quality players in the middle of the park that can hurt you and they played well.”
Dods made just two changes from Saturday’s game at Falkirk with Gary Fusco and James Dale coming in for the suspended Sean Crighton and Jordan Sinclair, who dropped to the bench.
The first chance fell to Liam Polworth for the hosts after he was set up by Chalmers, but his effort was saved by Graeme Smith.
The Caley Jags, though, took the lead two minutes later through Chalmers as he finished low from six yards after Oakley flicked on a great ball by Liam Polworth.
The visitors went further behind after 22 minutes as Donaldson finished from close range after meeting Chalmers’ free-kick to score his first goal for Inverness.
Just before the break a Polworth free-kick from around 30 yards flew narrowly over.
Caley Thistle started the second half strongly as Donaldson met Polworth’s corner, but saw his header cleared off the line.
Oakley should have made it 3-0 with a header from Riccardo Calder’s cross but Chalmers then got his second after 58 minutes as he finished low from the edge of the box.
Inverness had a fourth shortly after with a free-flowing move where Polworth played in Connor Bell and his low cross was tapped in by Oakley.
Bell had a couple of late chances, but was denied by Smith, and then saw his goal-bound shot hit teammate Chalmers on the line. Attendance: 1,936. Inverness CT: Ridgers, Seedorf, Donaldson (Warren 68), McKay, Calder, Chalmers, Vigurs (Doran 61), Polworth, Trafford (Austin 67), Bell, Oakley. Subs not used: Esson, Tremarco, Mulraney, Daniel Mackay.
Brechin: Graeme Smith, Euan Smith, McLean, Fusco, Dyer, Tapping (Sinclair 81), Graham, Dale (Lynas 63), Watt (Spark 46), Orsi, Layne. Subs not used: Costello, Morrison.
Referee: Colin Steven.