Match Report - By Steven Mew

Report by Steven Mew

City started the 2018/19 season yesterday afternoon with a goalless draw against League 2 side Peterhead, succumbing to the Blue Toon on penalties who left Glebe Park with a bonus point.

It was a new-look City side who took to the field with no fewer than 6 new signings in the starting eleven, namely Conor Brennan, Sean Burns, Dougie Hill, Jordan Tapping, Giuliano Morena and Dene Shields whilst fellow new recruits Boris Melingui and Jamie Henry had to settle for the substitutes bench.

City started the game brightly and within the opening minute won a free kick in a dangerous area. Callum Tapping produced a good save from Fleming and Euan Spark was unable to keep his effort down after the ball had rebounded out to him.

Tapping was next to threaten again just after the quarter hour mark when he made a clever run into the Peterhead box however he could only drag his effort wide of the post.

The visitors' first real effort of the game came after 20 minutes. A long ball sprayed upfield was taken down by ex-City man Rory McAllister - he cut inside before unleashing a powerful effort which deflected off Paul McLean for a corner.

Shortly before the half hour mark, City had a good spell which really should have resulted in the opening goal. Sean Burns' corner was met by the head of Dene Shields but Greg Fleming was alert to palm the ball away to safety. Barely a minute later, Shields came even closer when his low effort was cleared off the line by Jamie Stevenson.

Immediately up at the other end, a speculative long range shot from Aaron Norris nearly caught Conor Brennan out however the ball went wide of the post.

Another glorious opportunity came City's way when Callum Tapping played Kalvin Orsi in on goal, he unselfishly squared the ball back across for Tapping but he couldn't get enough power on his shot to trouble the keeper.

Tapping continued to be City's driving force from midfield - just a few minutes before the break he won a free kick 20 yards out which was taken by Sean Burns, his curling effort striking the top of the crossbar. On the stroke of half time, Willie Gibson shot straight into the arms of Brennan in the City goal.

The Blue Toon were the first to threaten in the second period when Rory McAllister's volley was deflected by Jordan Tapping for a corner. On 65 minutes Brennan was called into action when he made a strong one handed save to deny Norris.

Just a few minutes later the impressive Giuliano Morena came close - a free kick was cleared only as far as the diminutive Italian midfielder on the edge of the box but his volley was beaten away by Fleming.

Dene Shields was baring the scars of a head injury picked up earlier in the game but that didn't stop him from nearly heading City in front but Fleming did well to tip the ball over the bar.

City continued to push for a winner in the closing stages when a rasping drive from Sean Burns was kept out by Fleming whilst an ambitious overhead kick by Kalvin Orsi from Morena's cross went wide of the target.

As per competition rules, the match went straight to penalties after the stalemate. Dougie Hill, Callum Tapping and Sean Burns all converted for City before Conor Brennan tipped Willie Gibson's penalty onto the post to give City a 3-2 advantage.

Unfortunately, City skipper Paul McLean dragged his penalty wide of the post which allowed Russell McLean to level things up at 3-3. Dene Shields converted with Jamie Stevenson doing likewise to bring the penalties into sudden death.

Giuliano Morena's spot kick was tipped onto the bar by Fleming which allowed Jason Brown to step up and fire home the winning penalty to earn Peterhead the bonus point.

The next game for City in the Betfred Cup Group Stage is away to Stirling Albion on Tuesday evening with a 7:45pm kick off.

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