Match Report - By Steven Mew

City advanced to the 3rd round of the Scottish Cup but were made to sweat by a Huntly side in a pulsating action-packed encounter yesterday afternoon.

The visitors had a numerical disadvantage for much after the game with Sam Robertson seeing red in the first half whilst Ross Still was also given his marching orders for violent conduct late on.

Despite this, City still had to survive a few scary moments but did enough to put their name into the hat for tonight's third round draw.

City welcomed back Ewan Loudon and Dayle Robertson in attack, whilst Lenny Wilson returned between the sticks at the other end as Patrick Cregg made 3 changes from the side that suffered their first league defeat of the season at Forres last weekend.

With just two minutes on the clock City came close when Spencer Moreland burst through the heart of the Huntly defence but saw his low shot saved by Brodie at his near post. From the corner, Euan Spark prodded the ball goalwards but Ewan Loudon got in the way of the effort.

On 12 minutes Huntly had their first real opening when Angus Grant burst forward and played a dangerous ball into the box where Lewis Martin had to be alert to cut out the danger.

Spencer Moreland fired a shot over the from the edge of the box and midway through the half City opened the scoring. A low cross into the box from Marc Scott found EWAN LOUDON lurking on the edge of the area and he curled an excellent strike into the far corner.

City were a whisker away from doubling the advantage when a through ball from Spencer Moreland very nearly found Fraser MacLeod and a sliding challenge from visiting skipper Michael Clark saw the ball roll inches past the post.

Shortly before the half hour mark the visitors equalised in spectacular fashion. In-form striker ANGUS GRANT intercepted a poor pass from Lewis Martin and attempted an audacious effort from 40 yards which flew over the helpless Lenny Wilson and into the net.

City needed a reaction with Kevin McHattie’s deflected strike whistling wide of the post and from the resulting corner, Brad McKay’s header was cleared off the line. Huntly immediately burst forward on the counter attack which saw Sam Robertson played clean through on goal with just Wilson to beat, but he fired into the side netting.

With 37 minutes on the clock, the Black & Golds were reduced to 10 men as Sam Robertson was shown a straight red following an altercation with Brad McKay, with the City defender also receiving a yellow card.

Two minutes before half time City restored their advantage. DAYLE ROBERTSON was clipped by Ross Still on the right hand side of the penalty box and he dusted himself off to convert the spot kick himself, firing low into the corner.

Just before the break, Lewis Martin headed over from Spencer Moreland’s corner as City looked to give themselves some breathing space.

Nine minutes into the second half, City were a lick of paint away from doubling the advantage as Ewan Loudon cracked the underside of the bar with a rasping strike from a difficult angle.

Shortly after, a neat passing move inside the box gave Fraser Macleod the opportunity but his effort was blocked by the feet of Brodie in the Huntly goal before a powerful 25 yard strike from Kevin McHattie was superbly tipped away from the top corner.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Lewis Martin headed a corner down for Dayle Robertson who somehow hooked over from a few yards out.

With 77 minutes on the clock, City were made to pay for their missed opportunities as Huntly netted an equaliser on the on the counter attack. A low cross into the danger area found the on-rushing CALLUM MURRAY who sweeped into the net from 12 yards.

With renewed confidence, Ross Still had a volley headed away by McHattie however City were back in front just 4 minutes later.

Dayle Robertson had a spectacular overhead kick saved by the keeper and the aftermath saw Ross Still appear to stamp on the City striker whilst on the ground. Referee Michael McCart showed a straight red to the Huntly defender and awarded City another spot kick which was duly despatched by DAYLE ROBERTSON into the bottom left corner.

Despite the two-man advantage, City still looked susceptible at the back with substitute Lewis Crosbie shooting straight at Wilson and there was another let-off for City two minutes later when Angus Grant looked to be sent clear through, however the City keeper was alert to race off his line and smother at the strikers’ feet.

In the closing stages, Ewan Loudon fired a shot over whilst substitute Michael Hunter dragged a shot wide of goal following a corner.

The referee called time on an eventful cup tie and one where City certainly weren’t at their best, however all that matters is progression into the next round of the competition.