Match Report - By Steven Mew

Report by Steven Mew

An excruciating wait of 470 days for a regular league win came to a welcome end for City yesterday afternoon with a thoroughly deserved victory over East Fife at Glebe Park.

The joy and relief from the players, management and supporters was clear to see at the full time whistle as City finally got the monkey off the back.

The City faithful will have been heartened by the addition of Ryan McGeever and Andy Jackson to the starting lineup following lengthy injury lay-offs and given their respective performances, it was hard to believe that they had been sidelined for so long.

Also coming into the side was Callum Tapping who made a welcome return from suspension and Boris Melingui, who took his place alongside Andy Jackson upfront in an attack minded lineup.

Former City midfielder Liam Watt was first to threaten for the visitors when he worked some space for himself on the edge of the box, his curling effort had to be tipped over the bar by Brennan. At the other end, a corner floated in from Callum Tapping was met by the towering McGeever who headed just over the bar.

A couple of minutes later Darryl Meggatt got to the byline for the visitors before firing a dangerous low cross along the face of goal but there were no takers.

The lively start to the game continued as Andy Jackson dribbled past several players as he worked his way into the penalty box and just as he was about to pull the trigger, Brett Long was off his line quickly to avert the danger.

Liam Watt tried his luck again from range for the Fifers but his shot curled harmlessly wide. Meanwhile, Jordan Sinclair's 25 yard free kick was saved comfortably by Long.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring shortly after the half hour mark. Scott Agnew's lob over Brennan to the back post found Watt however he could only find the side netting.

Towards the end of the first half, City could consider themselves unfortunate not to be ahead. A splendid through ball from Tapping sent Melingui through on goal - he held off the challenge of a defender but his effort was straight at Long. On the stroke of half time, a rasping long range effort from Sinclair dipped just over the bar.

It was a fairly unspectacular start to the second half but it sparked to life just after the hour mark as City broke the deadlock. A long ball upfield was collected by JORDAN SINCLAIR and from just inside the box, he arrowed a low shot into the far corner to give City a deserved lead.

Several minutes later City came close to doubling their advantage. A cross into the box was knocked down by McGeever to Kalvin Orsi - his rising volley produced a fine acrobatic save from Long who tipped the wall over the bar.

Despite having a real hold on the game, City were still susceptible to the counter attack and in particular the left foot of Scott Agnew. The midfielder is renowned for goals from distance and he wasn't far away with a volley from the edge of the box which fizzed over the crossbar.

The tireless Boris Melingui upfront didn't give the visitors defence a moments peace and he nearly grabbed the goal that his performance merited when his snapshot inside of the box just flashed wide.

With eight minutes remaining, the goalscorer almost turned provider when Sinclair teed up Orsi inside the box but he couldn't keep his effort down. As the game entered stoppage time, Callum Tapping struck just wide of the target after some clever play from Melingui.

City saw the game out with relative ease to record a real confidence boosting 3 points ahead of the local derby against Montrose at Links Park next weekend. Before then, however, is the matter of an Irn Bru Cup tie against Peterhead at Balmoor on Tuesday.

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