Match Report - By Steven Mew

Second half goals from Grady McGrath and Murray Mackintosh gave City a hard-earned 3 points against a stubborn Clachnacuddin side at Grant Street Park yesterday afternoon.

Gavin Price made 4 changes from midweek with Seth Patrick, Danny Handling, Jamie Richardson and Grady McGrath coming into the starting 11. Fraser Macleod, Murray Mackintosh and Matthew Wright dropped to the bench whilst Marc Scott missed out through injury.

On a pleasant spring afternoon in Inverness, it was a slack start from City as Kevin McHattie mis-controlled a long ball upfield which allowed Lewis McKenzie a run in on goal however McHattie managed to recover and put the Clach man under pressure to blaze over.

Barely a minute later, City again gift-wrapped an opportunity to the home side when Seth Patrick gave the ball away cheaply to Lewis Mackenzie again but he could only drag his shot wide of goal.

The visitors certainly needed to waken up and shortly before the quarter hour mark, Luke Strachan’s long throw was flicked on by Ewan Loudon into the feet of Danny Handling just 6 yards out but with his back to goal, he was unable to get his shot away.

Midway through the half Lewis Martin managed to get a 20-yard shot away which was palmed away by Michael Miele but only as far as Luke Strachan who headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Two minutes later, Ewan Loudon cut inside from the left before firing a curling effort from the edge of the box which cannoned off the inside of the far post before being scrambled to safety.

Loudon was again bemoaning his luck in front of goal when Seth Patrick slipped a neat pass in for the City forward but he saw his strike come back off the crossbar before Danny Handling curled an effort straight at the keeper.

Kevin McHattie was next to threaten for City when he exchanged passes with Handling on the edge of the box before firing a shot just inches wide of goal.

Four minutes before the break, Euan Spark conceded a free kick 20 yard-out but the set piece from Connor Bunce was straight at the defensive wall whilst at the other end, Loudon was denied by the feet of Miele in the Clach goal.

Manager Gavin Price made a change at the break with Luke Strachan making way for Murray Mackintosh.

Five minutes into the second period, Grady McGrath had a shot saved down low by Miele whilst McHattie and Richardson both fired shots wide of goal.

Midway through the half there were two claims for a penalty within two minutes of each other on Grady McGrath however these were waved away by referee Gordon Morrison.

With 72 minutes on the clock, City made the all-important breakthrough. Kevin McHattie’s corner went through a ruck of bodies inside the penalty area and GRADY MCGRATH was in the right place to knock the ball home at the back post.

With quarter of an hour remaining, Danny Handling and Ewan Loudon made way for Craig Tosh and Matthew Wright. The latter very nearly made an immediate impact when he flicked over from Jamie Richardson’s cross from the left.

City didn’t have to wait too much longer to wrap up the 3 points by doubling the advantage with 77 minutes on the clock. MURRAY MACKINTOSH played a ball out to Grady McGrath out on the right hand side and ‘Muz’ continued his run into the box to collect the return pass from McGrath and although he was initially denied by the on-rushing keeper, he prodded the rebound into the net.

The goal proved to be the last meaningful piece of action at either end as City saw the game out to stay 4 points clear at the Highland League summit. No action City in midweek, with our next fixture coming against Turriff United at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park next Saturday.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Banks O' Dee 4 Forres Mechanics 0

Brora Rangers 1 Formartine United 4

Buckie Thistle 1 Inverurie Locos 1

Deveronvale 0 Strathspey Thistle 3

Huntly 2 Wick Academy 1

Keith 1 Lossiemouth 0

Nairn County 0 Fraserburgh 3

Rothes 1 Turriff United 3