Match Report - By Steven Mew

City continued their positive start to the league season with a clinical showing to rack up an 8-1 victory over Rothes at Mackessack Park yesterday afternoon.

It was a game in which the visitors dominated from start to finish and it certainly wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it could have easily been double figures on the day.

On a blustery afternoon, it took until the 17th minute for City to conjure up the first real opportunity when a powerful 25 yard strike from Watson was tipped wide by the goalkeeper and following the corner, McGrath sidestepped his man before firing straight at Robertson.

Just a minute later Findlay did well to dispossess a Rothes defender and played a one-two with McGrath before firing a vicious strike over. Shortly after, McGrath himself came close when he headed wide from Spark’s cross.

With 24 minutes on the clock City were awarded a penalty when Taylor when down under the challenge of the goalkeeper inside the box and GRADY MCGRATH confidently fired the spot kick into the corner to give City the lead.

Five minutes later City’s doubled the advantage when Taylor did well to beat McConachie down the left hand side before providing a low cross into the box which was turned into his own net by TAYLOR THAIN.

Just before the half hour mark the home side came close when Fraser attempted an audacious effort from 30 yards which crashed off the top of the crossbar.

City didn’t heed the warning as the Speysiders halved the deficit a minute later when a neat passing move saw a ball threaded in behind the defence for THOMAS BRADY to slot beyond Hepburn.

It wouldn’t be long before City restored their two-goal advantage however, as Mitchell Findlay found MITCH TAYLOR in acres of space on the left hand side of the box and he kept his composure to slot in at the near post.

Three minutes before the break it was 4-1 as a deep cross from Watson was headed back down by Sheridan for MITCHELL FINDLAY to sweep a volley into the corner.

Ray McKinnon’s side continued in the second half where they had left off with Macleod firing a shot wide whilst an in-swinging cross from Watson had to be tipped away by Robertson. The resulting corner from Macleod found BRAD MCKAY who rose above the defence to head home.

Just a couple of minutes later City made it 6-1. This time a corner from Watson was met with a downwards header by CILLIAN SHERIDAN for his second of the season.

With the game completely over as a contest and perhaps with one eye on the midweek fixture against Banks O’ Dee, Ray McKinnon made a triple substitution following the goal as Ferguson, Moreland and Tosh came on for Spark, Watson & Taylor.

The opportunities continued to flow with Moreland having two half-chances – the first volleying wide from the edge of the box before he met a right-sided cross from Tosh but headed straight at the keeper.

Shortly after the hour mark it was 7 as GRADY MCGRATH weaved his way towards the end of the box before lashing an excellent strike in off the post.

On 69 minutes Robertson made a good stop with his feet to deny Findlay his second whilst the home custodian was called into action again to keep out a header from Tosh. Shortly after, Ferguson played a defence-splitting pass through for Macleod but his effort was well blocked by the Rothes defence.

With quarter of an hour remaining, substitute Ben Armour had the ball in the net as he collected a pass from McGrath before lashing high beyond Robertson but he was denied his first City goal by the linesman’s flag.

Nine minutes from time City completed the scoring as GRADY MCGRATH grabbed his hat-trick with a well-struck free kick from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

To give credit to City they didn’t take their foot off the gas and Findlay came close when Tosh found him with a right-sided cross but Robertson was down well to gather his shot. With a minute remaining substitute Ross Milne tried his luck from range but his strike arrowed just over.

Overall it was an impressive showing from City who recorded their biggest victory since the 10-0 win over Wick Academy in March 2023.

The unbeaten start will face a real test on Wednesday evening as we make the short journey up the A90 to face a Banks O’ Dee side that were widely tipped to be challenging at the top of the table.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Brora Rangers 2 Inverurie Locos 0

Formartine United 2 Nairn County 0

Forres Mechanics 4 Fraserburgh 1

Huntly 1 Wick Academy 2

Keith 0 Buckie Thistle 2

Lossiemouth 1 Deveronvale 3

Strathspey Thistle 0 Banks O' Dee 3

Turriff United 2 Clachnacuddin 2