Match Report - By Steven Mew

City exited the Highland League Cup yesterday evening, with hosts Banks O’ Dee coming out on top in difficult conditions at Spain Park.

The strong winds and rain certainly didn’t make for a great spectacle, however the Aberdeen outfit simply dealt with the conditions better to progress to the semi finals.

In a similar fashion to the 1st round, Manager Patrick Cregg called the changes and gave minutes to a number of fringe players as he made a mammoth 8 changes from the side that defeated Cowdenbeath on Saturday. There was also a place in the matchday squad for new signing Cillian Sheridan, with his clearance coming through just hours earlier to take his place on the bench.

It was the home side that were first to threaten after 3 minutes when Iain Vigurs fired a 20 yard free kick straight at Carmody and two minutes later, a poor clearance from the City keeper gave Vigurs another opportunity but his shot from range trickled inches wide of the open goal.

City came close on 6 minutes when Marc Scott teed up Scott Logan 8 yards out but he blazed his effort over.

Midway through the half, a right sided cross found the unmarked Andrew Hunter inside the box, but he could only guide his header straight at Carmody.

A minute later at the other end, Craig Tosh intercepted a slack back-pass and beat the goalkeeper to the ball but he prodded inches wide.

Lewis Milne had a shot blocked on the edge of the box before the home side took the lead in fortuitous circumstances in the 36th minute. An in-swinging cross from MAX ALEXANDER managed to evade everyone inside the box and snuck in via the far post.

A couple of minutes later, Alexander very nearly had his second when he lashed a shot just wide of the near post.

With the advantage of the wind behind them, City started the second half brightly with Lewis Milne firing a volley wide following a long throw into the box and a minute later, a 30 yard strike from Scott Bright took a slight defection but goalkeeper Daniel Hoban did well to push away.

The hosts grabbed the all-important second goal on 57 minutes following some slack play from City. A misplaced pass from Lewis Milne saw Banks O’ Dee attack down the right hand side of the box and the ball was crossed in for MICHAEL PHILLIPSON who guided a volley into the corner of the net.

With City looking for a way back into the game, Patrick Cregg made a double substitution with Fraser MacLeod and Ewan Loudon replacing Scott Logan and Daniel Johnston. Unfortunately for Loudon, his stay on the field lasted just 9 minutes as he hobbled off with a knee injury, with Spencer Moreland taking his place.

With 69 minutes on the clock, there were appeals for a City penalty when a strike from Euan Spark inside the box appeared to come off the arm of home skipper Mark Reynolds, however referee Joel Kennedy was not interested in the claims.

City suffered another blow in the 73rd minute when Marc Scott also came off injured, with Cillian Sheridan replacing him to make his debut. The big striker was in the thick of things straight away as he blasted a strike over the bar.

City huffed and puffed in search of a goal back, but it was Banks O’ Dee who sealed progression to the next round with a third goal 13 minutes from time. A low cross into the box was spilled by Carmody and although he kept out the follow-up from Andrew Hunter, the ball bobbled agonisingly off LEWIS MARTIN and into the net.

A disappointing evening for City, however they can now turn their full focus on a crucial Highland League fixture against Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park next weekend.