Scottish Cup: Brechin City – Round 2!

Posted on Friday, October 27th, 2023

The Spartans head to Glebe Park this Saturday as the Road to Hampden gets underway for the 2023-24 season with a Round 2 tie against Brechin City, just months after the sides met in a dramatic play-off encounter.

A 160-mile round trip awaits Douglas Samuel and his Spartans squad in one of the pick-out ties this weekend against the Highland League club who have been working hard off the pitch over the last week or so following flooding that has caused carnage in the Angus town.

Spartans enter the competition this season at Round 2 and this is the club’s 72^nd outing in ‘the Scottish’, forty five years since a winning debut against East Stirlingshire in 1978. 

There have been 19 previous encounters against Highland League opposition during that time, Spartans edging it on the tale of the tape having won on nine occasions with sevens defeats along the way.

Ahead of the tie, that sees a repeat of last year’s Lowland and Highland title winners pyramid play-off nailbiter, the tourists have pieced together a five game unbeaten run, including back-to-back victories over Stranraer and Dumbarton, and currently sit third in the SPFL 2 table.

Brechin swept aside fellow Highland League outfit Rothes in the 1^st Round, with Grady McGrath bagging the match ball in a comfortable 4-0 win. McGrath has certainly shown that he can carve his way to goal on several occasions this season so far and will undoubtedly be the dangerman the Spartans defence will need to keep under close watch

Our hosts have been a fortnight without a fixture and currently sit fourth in the Highland League, three points behind leaders Formatine United however Saturday’s opponents have three games in hand as will undoubtedly be in the mix for top spot come the end of the season.

Ahead of the match, Brechin City will have collection buckets at the turnstiles for those who are able to make a donation to the town’s Flood Appeal to help those in the community who have suffered from the recent impact caused by the flooding.

Both set of fans can use the City Club at the ground which is open before and after the game for a match day refreshment.

Here is the ticketing link for Saturday’s match.  Spartans fans will of course be familiar with the Fanbase set-up.