Match Report - By Steven Mew

Despite being reduced to ten men early in the second half, City came away with another valuable win on the road against Nairn County yesterday afternoon.

New signing Cammie Ross went straight into the starting 11 as he led the line, whilst there was also the welcome return of David Cox and Jamie Bain to the side.

City started brightly at Station Park and could have been ahead within two minutes when Kucheriavyi was played through on goal and although he lifted the ball over the keeper, there wasn’t quite enough on it to take it goalwards.

With 19 minutes on the clock, Kucheriavyi collected a pass on the right and cut inside before firing a deflected effort which flew just wide of the post.

The Ukranian was not to be denied a minute later. The ball fell for the playmaker 25 yards from goal and his strike took a wicked deflection which flew past the wrong-footed keeper to open the scoring.

Hamish Thomson then headed wide from a Kucheriavyi corner before Michael Paton’s 30 yard effort was held comfortably by MacLean.

City continued to put pressure on the home side and on the half hour mark Marc Scott played a ball inside for Cammie Ross who fired straight at the keeper.

The advantage was doubled on 32 minutes with Marc Scott again involved. He did supremely well down the left flank before firing a low cross into the box for MURRAY MACKINTOSH to rifle high into the net for his first City goal.

City looked to be cruising and it could have easily been 3 shortly after when Marc Scott’s deflected strike looked to be looping into the net but came off the underside of the bar before being cleared to safely.

New signing Cammie Ross came close to a debut goal when he was sent clear on goal however keeper Dylan MacLean did well to race off his line and deny the striker with a save on the edge of the area.

On the stroke of half time, Ross tried his luck with a volley from the edge of the box which was deflected wide for a corner.

City went in at the break with a comfortable lead, however their hopes of an equally comfortable second half suffered a blow a few minutes after the restart after Hamish Thomson was given a straight red card.

Scott Davidson broke clear of the City defence and was clipped by Thomson 20 yards from goal and although the referee initially waved away the claims, he was advised by the linesman to produce a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Despite the man disadvantage, City still looked relatively comfortable with Iain Davidson and Cammie Ross both heading over from deliveries from Kucheriavyi.

Midway through the half, Jack Wills had to be alert from push away an effort from experienced frontman Conor Gethins.

Julian Wade, who came on for David Cox earlier in the half got in behind the home rearguard on 68 minutes but MacLean spread himself out well to deny him.

At the other end, Wills did well to parry away a powerful long range strike from Liam Shewan before smothering the ball at the second attempt.

With eight minutes remaining, the home side gave themselves a fighting chance as CIARAN YOUNG rose highest to head home a Conor Gethins cross to pull one back.

In the pouring rain, Nairn pushed forward in search of an equaliser but instead it was City who wrapped up the points in the closing stages thanks to a terrific individual goal from JULIAN WADE. The Dominican international took full advantage of a slip from keeper MacLean who take the ball to the by-line and he skipped past the challenge of Fyffe before stroking home at the near post.

City have another break from league action next weekend as we host Vale of Leithen in the first round of the Scottish Cup.