Match Report - By Grant Hood

As the players powered North up the A90 towards Peterhead in Bobby Black's bus, they knew that, whilst avoiding defeat would see the setting of a much-publicised Club record, of greater consequence was the 3 points up for grabs. With fellow play-off challengers Forfar Athletic and Stranraer facing each other at Station Park, a points haul today would go a long way to determine how the league run in would ultimately pan out.

The players and management knew that a difficult afternoon lay ahead. As had been the case going into last weekend's clash with Airdrieonians, City were facing a side who had remained undefeated against City in 3 previous meetings this season. Indeed, the Blue Toon had recorded an impressive 3-2 victory over The Loons only four days prior and, sitting only 7 points adrift, harboured realistic play-off ambitions themselves.

Manager Ray McKinnon knew he had to contend with enforced changes to City's starting XI, due to one game suspensions to both skipper Craig Molloy and defender Paul McLean, and a match-day call off through illness from midfield powerhouse Gary Fusco.

This saw Ewan McNeil slot in as a replacement for 'Pabs' and a first start for Falkirk loanee Ollie Durojaiye. Not for the first time, it left City a little short of numbers on the bench but the remainder of the team was unchanged from last weekend's Club record-equalling draw against The Diamonds.

On a crisp sunny afternoon, City kicked off in their traditional red colours with a brisk wind behind them.

City started brightly, with a forward burst from Craig Storie leading to a passage of play which culminated in a long diagonal ball into the box. Robert Thomson won his aerial duel only to see the home keeper gather comfortably. Moments later Bobby Barr guided a pass into Andy Jackson 12 yards out, but his shot was smothered by a sliding home rearguard.

The next meaningful action saw keeper Graeme Smith (the City version) pull off an outstanding save. From a free-kick wide on the homester's right the initial clearance fell to Cammy Kerr who, from 20 yards, connected beautifully to power a quite stunning strike towards the top left corner. Buzz demonstrated his supreme shot stopping talent as he reacted outrageously well to divert the ball on to the face of the crossbar. Immediately after, a clever ball into the City box saw a headed knock-down by former Glebe Park favourite Rory McAllister to Andy Rogers, whose low drive was deflected wide after a sliding block from Darren McCormack.

The game was 18 minutes old when City forced their first corner, notably a 24th in the last 3 games, but sadly for the sizeable and noisy travelling support, it came to nothing. At the other end a home corner fell to Jamie Stevenson 25 yards out and his pile driver effort was touched over the bar by City's keeper.

Shortly after, Gerry McLauchlan failed to get the direction he was looking for as he latched on to a long range shooting chance. His mis-hit shot fell for Robert Thomson in the box, but he also failed to get a meaningful connection.

Back at the other end, Cammy Kerr pushed forward and, following a cute pass from Andy Rogers, shot tamely into the side netting when he had a great chance to test the City custodian.

Peterhead took a deserved lead in 32 minutes. After a short period of sustained pressure Andy Rogers crossed to the far post where ball was touched back low across goal, leaving GARY McDONALD with the easy task of side footing home unchallenged from well inside the 6 yard box.

It was a setback for City as, despite some severe pressure, Gerry McLauchlan and Darren McCormack were continuing to perform well at the fulcrum of the Glebe Parker's defence.

Almost directly from the restart, Rory McAllister blazed over the bar from inside the box with a clear sight of goal. And moments later he shot into the side net as the normally frugal City defence rocked.

In the last action of the first half, with the Peterhead defence struggling to clear another Bobby Barr corner, Colin Hamilton slammed the ball against the post from close range.

The first attempt on goal in the second half was a 20 yard driven free kick from Jamie Stevenson which fizzed low past the City upright, and shortly afterwards 'Buzz' was off his line at pace to thwart McAllister he sought to latch on to a threatening through ball.

The ultimate outcome of the game was pretty well determined in a 10 minute spell mid-way through the second half. A key moment arrived in 63 minutes when City full-back Colin Hamilton - who had been yellow carded in the first half - lost out in a midfield tussle with Cammy Kerr and was deemed to have fouled his opponent as he sought to recover. City fans braced themselves for the inevitable red card and saw a disconsolate 'Hammy' trudge off to the dressing rooms.

In 71 minutes, a second goal arrived for Peterhead. Although it wasn't entirely unexpected, the manner of it certainly was. Following the award of a soft free-kick on Peterhead's left, a long high ball was played into the City penalty box and, carried by a somewhat unpredictable wind, Buzz found himself too far underneath the dropping ball and struggling to catch it. His resultant attempt to divert it away from goal, saw it drop kindly to substitute DAVID COX who gleefully volleyed home from just inside the 6-yard box. It was cruel on Buzz who has had an outstanding season for City - but with a 2 goal cushion and a man advantage, the Blue Toon were most certainly in the driving seat.

In what had been a game where frustration and niggles were never far away, it almost boiled over shortly after the goal. It required the assistant referee to enter the field of play to aid referee Brian Colvin, as a series of midfield challenges evolved into something of a squalid melee, resulting yellow cards for both Bobby Barr and David Cox. It appeared that the Peterhead substitute and goal scorer was particularly fortunate to remain on the field after appearing to knee City's live-wire winger in the face as he was prone on the ground.

And that - quite frankly - was just about that. For the final 20 minutes there was no lack of effort from The Glebe Parkers as they battled manfully to get back into the game and defend their proud 17-game unbeaten record. However, the home side defended comfortably, albeit without creating too much in the way of danger themselves. The only bright spot for City during the latter stages was the brief but welcome appearance of long-term injury victim Callum Tapping from the substitutes bench. This was tempered though by a worryingly lengthy stoppage for treatment to Alan Trouten who remained grounded after a meaty midfield challenge from Rory McAllister.

The remaining action of note took place after the 90 minutes had come and gone. Firstly, the homesters had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside, and then Jamie Stevenson shot narrowly over from 25 yards.

To compound City's misery, the home side added to their tally with the last kick of the ball. An in-swinging corner from Peterhead's right was met unchallenged in the 6-yard box by another substitute - this time JORDON BROWN - who, lurking unmarked at the far post, was delighted to stroke home a third goal for The Blue Toon. This was not the first late goal Jordon, or his Peterhead team-mates, had scored against City this season, although it remains to be seen just how consequential this one proves to be.

So, on a disappointing day for City, the home side deservedly secured a what is undoubtedly a welcome 3 points. Any additional pressure that comes with a long unbeaten run has now dissipated and, with a tasty local derby against Forfar Athletic now looming, attention can now turn to resurrecting the fine form which has seen progression into the play-off places.

Other Results - Scottish League One

Airdrieonians 2 Morton 1

Second Successive Defeat for League Leaders

Ayr United 0 Stenhousemuir 0

Somerset Stalemate

Dunfermline Athletic 1 Stirling Albion 1

Pars Slip to Seventh

Forfar Athletic 1 Stranraer 0

Loons Shade Crucial Blues Clash