Veteran Brechin midfielder Charlie King got a rousing ovation when he took to the Glebe Park pitch on crutches to greet the Rangers XI for his testimonial match.
City’s longest-serving player, who joined the club in 2001, is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season after breaking his right ankle, but the side sent from Ibrox featuring a number of first-team players marked the respect with which he is held in Scottish football.
City got off to a cracking start and opened the scoring in five minutes when Craig Molloy knocked the ball in after it took a deflection off the kneecap of a defender.
Two minutes later Calum Booth had a chance to double their lead after a great solo run down the left flank but his sharp-angled drive was well stopped by the Rangers keeper Grant Adam.
The visitors levelled on 16 minutes when Rory Loy headed home from a John Fleck corner.
Five minutes later Rory McAllister was given an opportunity to restore the home side’s lead when he took a free-kick from the edge of the box but another great save from Adam thwarted him.
Just after the half-hour City keeper Craig Nelson prevented the visitors going ahead when he blocked a Ross Perry header from a Sarin Kerkar corner.
Rangers fought hard for the winner in the second half but the City defence proved unbreachable.
City came close to breaking the deadlock in the last 10 minutes when Gary Fusco’s cracking shot from 25 yards hit the outside of the far post.
Attendance619.
BrechinNelson (Scott 46), McLean, Cook (White 46), McLauchlan (McKenna 46), Moyes (Johnson), Janczyk (Byres 46), Redman (Fotheringham), B Smith, McAllister (Millar 82), Molloy (Fusco 46), Booth (D Smith). Subs not usedDocherty.
Rangers XIAdam, McMillan, Wylde: Perry, Webster, Stirling (Naismith 81), Campbell (Wiktorski), Hutton, Loy, Fleck, Kerkar (Dick 81). Subs not usedSmith, Little.