Match Report - By Steven Mew

City ensured that the chase for the Highland League Championship goes down the final day following a comfortable 3-0 win over Nairn County yesterday afternoon.

The victory, coupled with Brora also picking up a 2-0 win at home to Huntly, means City continue to trail the Cattachs on goal difference.

With the league leaders finishing the campaign at home to bottom placed Rothes next Saturday, the odds are stacked against City who will be looking to finish their season off with a win over Lossiemouth whilst hoping for the result at Dudgeon Park to go their way.

Interim Manager Ray McKinnon unsurprisingly named an unchanged side for this one after an impressive 4-1 win over Formartine United last weekend.

Tyler Eadie fired over for the visitors early on, with City creating their first opening on 8 minutes when a drive from Lewis Martin was pushed out before Fraser Macleod lobbed back into the box for Cillian Sheridan who headed goalwards but Dylan Maclean was equal to it.

A few minutes later, Macleod himself got on the end of a cross from Martin’s cross but he could only guide his header straight at the goalkeeper whilst a cross from Liam Callaghan found Brad McKay at the back post but his effort was also straight at Maclean.

Shortly after the quarter hour work, the wee County threatened through striker Ben Barron when he latched onto a long ball and side-stepped Brad McKay but he lashed his effort well over the bar.

On 20 minutes, a low cross into the box from Martin found Sheridan lurking in the box but he couldn’t quite get his shot away and the ball was gathered by Maclean.

The pressure continued as City pressed for an opener with Martin firing a shot wide whilst a corner from Macleod struck the top of the crossbar.

The deadlock was eventually broken on the half hour mark when a corner from Macleod was flicked on by Sheridan into the path of BRAD MCKAY who had the easy task of stabbing the ball home from a couple of yards out for his 9th goal of the season.

The advantage was doubled just a couple of minutes later when a deep cross from Loudon found CILLIAN SHERIDAN inside the box and the experienced frontman timed his leap to perfection as he guided his header into the far corner.

City were running riot at this point and they made it 3 goals in 6 minutes. Again Loudon was the architect as he played a low ball across the face of goal for CILLIAN SHERIDAN to rifle high into the net.

Home supporters will have been hoping for another deluge of goals in the second half given the way City had finished the first, but truth be told the second period went by with little to write about with the game already beyond doubt.

Early on, Seth Patrick knocked wide of the far post following a Liam Callaghan corner and shortly after, Sheridan very nearly glanced home for his hat-trick but the linesman already had his flag up for offside.

On the hour mark, Loudon fired a strike into the side netting whilst Sheridan attempted to chip Maclean from 30 yards but the Nairn keeper managed to backtrack to comfortably gather.

With 20 minutes remaining, substitute Lewis Milne fired a volley straight at the keeper whilst the last real effort of the game came from Loudon who managed to bring down a long ball from McKay before drilling a volley inches wide of goal.

That would be Loudon’s last contribution of the match as he was replaced by Craig Tosh who returned to the field for the first time in over 2 months.

Overall it was a thoroughly professional performance for City who continue to keep the pressure on leaders Brora Rangers at the top as we head into the final week of the season.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Brora Rangers 2 Huntly 0

Forres Mechanics 4 Keith 1

Lossiemouth 1 Banks O' Dee 2

Rothes 2 Deveronvale 3

Strathspey Thistle 2 Wick Academy 3

Turriff United 1 Inverurie Locos 2