Brechin entered the game in fine form, winning their last 14 Highland League matches, and their quality was on display immediately. Jordan Northcott caused the Hibs defence problems with his pacy, direct play. His shot seven minutes in proved to be an easy save for Murray Johnson.
Northcott again caused Hibs problems on the half hour mark, getting to the by-line and picking out Marc Scott with his pass, the shot from Scott rattled the bar.
The visitors would have one last chance just before the half-time whistle. A corner picked out number Euan Spark, unmarked six yards out. Thankfully for Hibs his header sailed over.
Hibs started the second half positively. A long ball from Jack Brydon allowed Josh O'Connor to give chase. O'Connor got their first and forced the ‘keeper into a save.
Dylan Tait stung the palms of Wilson in the Brechin net with a 25-yard free kick, before taking the initiative and trying to create something himself, with a pair of marauding runs.
Hibs had grown into the game, and by the 70th minute were dictating the play. Murray Aitken found O'Connor with a sublime reverse ball. The striker tried to find an angle to give his shot off, but the Brechin defence blocked the effort.
Five minutes later Brechin took the lead, a long searching ball found our opponent’s dangerman Northcott, who held off Brydon before lobbing his shot over Johnson.
Hibs ramped up the tempo in search of an equaliser, and four minutes from time they got the goal!

Aitken won the ball on the edge of the Hibs box, and drove into midfield, his through ball to Ethan Laidlaw was pinpoint, and Laidlaw then danced past two defenders and the 'keeper and slotted the ball away into the empty net.
The tie would come down to a penalty shootout. O'Connor was first to take for Hibs and he saw his penalty saved, before Hamilton sent his over the bar. Brechin scored their first three, but thankfully Laidlaw sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to keep Hibs alive. The hope would be extinguished straight after, though, as Kieran Inglis scored the winning spot kick.
Hibs: Johnson, Blaney, Oscar MacIntyre, Hanlon, McClelland, Tait, Jacob MacIntyre, Delferriere, O'Connor, Hamilton, Laidlaw.
Brechin: Wilson, Bain, McHattie, Cooney, Scott, Patrick, McGrath, Cruickshank, MacLeod, Northcott, Spark.
Photo: Maurice Dougan