Match Report - By Steven Mew

Hamish Thomson’s first City goal, sandwiched by a double from substitute Marc Scott proved to be the difference as City made the long journey back from Wick with all 3 points yesterday afternoon.

Manager Andy Kirk made one change from the side that defeated Huntly last weekend with Ewan Loudon coming in for Marc Scott who dropped to the bench.

The home side were the first to threaten on 6 minutes when Jack Wills got down well keep out an effort from Steven Anderson.

City grabbed control of the game with Ewan Loudon, playing upfront alongside David Cox, got in behind the defence to latch on to a ball from Milne but saw his effort blocked.

Skipper Iain Davidson volleyed wide from a corner and shortly after, the lively Murray Mackintosh did well to get to the byline before cutting back for Kucheriavyi who forced a save from home custodian James More.

Playing down the slope, City continued to dominate with Cox heading wide from a Booth cross before Thomson headed wide from a Kucheriavyi corner.

Midway through the half the hosts nearly opened the scoring against the run of play. A low cross from the left side found Jack Halliday who was denied by Wills.

Shortly before the half hour mark City really should have been ahead when Jamie Bain broke forward and provided the perfect ball across the face of goal for Cox who somehow blazed over.

The Bain-Cox combination would come close again when a free kick into the box was met by a downwards header by Cox which the keeper was equal to.

There was a real scare for City five minutes before the break when Andrew Hardwick headed onto the crossbar from Ross Allan’s set piece.

Andy Kirk made a change at the break with MARC SCOTT replacing Jack Milne and the substitution paid dividends almost immediately. Scott raced away from the home defence to latch onto a through ball and he clipped the ball past the advancing keeper to open the scoring.

Scott continued to cause problems as his strike from the edge of the box was deflected wide, before City gave themselves a two-goal cushion on 50 minutes. HAMISH THOMSON netted his first goal for the club as he showed great bravery to overpower the keeper and a defender to head home a cross.

Ten minutes into the second half City were forced into a change as Jamie Bain limped off to be replaced by Kieran Inglis.

The visitors chased a third goal which would have effectively ended the game as a contest and Loudon came close with an arrowed shot from the edge of the box which More got down well to save.

Midway through the second period the Scorries started to get back into it with DAVID ALLAN latching onto a ball over the top before forcing Wills into a fine save at his near post. Allan was not be denied shortly after as he pulled a goal back, converting a low cross from a few yards out.

Ewan Loudon was denied by a save at the near post following some good work by Scott down the left flank before Sam Denham headed over from the resulting corner.

With seven minutes remaining Wick very nearly grabbed an equaliser through Brandon Sinclair – the substitute shook the crossbar with a rasping effort inside the box.

The home side continued to press for an equaliser but it was City who put the game beyond doubt with a third goal deep into stoppage time. MARC SCOTT burst through on goal after beating the offside trap and although he was initially forced out wide by the outrushing keeper, City’s top scorer came back inside on his left foot to loft into the net.

The win saw City move into 4th place in the table, level on points with Buckie Thistle in 2nd place with a game in hand. Attention now to turns to the Scottish Cup as we welcome Haddington Athletic to Glebe Park in the second round next weekend.