Match Report - By Steven Mew

City continued their impressive winning run in the Highland League, moving 3 points clear at the summit with a crucial victory over Inverurie Locos at Harlaw Park yesterday afternoon.

Despite the narrow scoreline, City never really looked in danger with Lenny Wilson only having to make a couple of routine saves over the course of the game.

Manager Andy Kirk made two changes from the side that performed superbly well at Inverness last weekend, with Jamie Bain and Anthony McDonald coming in for Michael Cruickshank and the injured Michael McArthur.

On a pleasant Autumn afternoon, it was a fairly scrappy start to the match with Jamie Bain the first to threaten on 20 minutes when his deflected strike went straight into the arms of Andy Reid.

With half an hour gone, City came within inches of opening the scoring. Fraser MacLeod found McGrath with a low cross into the box and his effort came back off the far post.

However four minutes later GRADY MCGRATH managed to get himself on the scoresheet as he broke clear of the home defence to latch onto a through ball and he showed great composure to slot beyond the advancing keeper.

Eight minutes before the break, a corner swung in from Jamie Bain found Nathan Cooney in the box but he could only glance his header wide.

City started the second half brightly with Aaron Arnott stinging the hands of Reid in the Inverurie goal, whilst Anthony McDonald had a shot pushed round the post for a corner.

The Loco’s first real effort came shortly before the hour mark when Calum Dingwall lashed a volley well wide from a Logan Johnstone cross.

At the other end, City continued to search for a second goal to give them some breathing space. Jamie Bain had a left footed strike palmed away before Marc Scott also forced Reid into a save after he came inside from the right.

Dingwall looked the most likely to get the home side back into it as his volley flew straight into the arms of Lenny Wilson on 73 minutes and the City stopper had another comfortable save from Dingwall ten minutes later.

With just a minute of regulation time remaining, Euan Spark headed over from a Jamie Bain corner.

As we approached stoppage time, Ewan Loudon came on for goalscorer Grady McGrath as City saw the game out comfortably to move 3 points clear at the top of the Highland League.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

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Deveronvale 4 Keith 3

Forres Mechanics 4 Rothes 3

Huntly 2 Strathspey Thistle 0