Match Report - By Steven Mew

City picked up a creditable point on the road and a third consecutive clean sheet yesterday afternoon following a stalemate against Fraserburgh at Bellslea.

City have always had it tough away from home against the Broch and this game proved to be no exception, with both sides struggling to create much in the way of clear cut opportunities in a hard-fought encounter.

Manager Patrick Cregg made two changes from the side that defeated Inverurie Locos in midweek, with Seth Patrick and Spencer Moreland coming in for Anthony McDonald and the injured Ryan Ferguson.

The home side were first to threaten early on with Greg Buchan having a go from range but his strike was comfortably saved by Wilson in the City goal.

On 11 minutes, Ewan Loudon had a shot deflected wide and from the resulting corner from Spencer Moreland, Dayle Robertson headed over.

Aidan Sopel picked up a booking for a full-blooded tackle on Robertson on 20 minutes, with City players calling for a red card.

Just before the half hour mark, City themselves could consider themselves fortunate to still have 11 men on the field when Brad McKay brought down Scott Barbour on the edge of the box. For what may have been deemed as denying a goalscoring opportunity, McKay was only issued with a yellow by referee Kevin Murray. The resulting free kick from Sopel was blasted straight at the wall.

Fraserburgh’s best chance of the half fell to Connor Wood on 33 minutes when he somehow headed Barbour’s cross over the bar from just a couple of yards out with the goal gaping.

At the other end, McHattie dragged a shot wide from 20 yards and shortly after, Scott had a shot blocked and on the stroke of half time, McKay headed straight at the keeper from a floated free kick by Wilson.

Just a few minutes after the restart, City should have taken the lead when a corner fell kindly for Robertson just a few yards out, but he screwed his shot wide of the target.

The Broch came close on 55 minutes when Logan Watt threaded a ball through for Connor Wood however Wilson did well to come off his line quickly to block, before McHattie cleared the danger.

Ten minutes from time, substitute Anthony McDonald showed some great footwork on the edge of the box before producing a strike that required a fingertip save from Joe Barbour. Shortly after, another sub in the shape of Ruari Henry was next to threaten as he dragged a shot wide after a corner hadn’t been properly cleared.

City kept pushing and another period of pressure inside a packed home penalty box eventually saw McDonald having a shot blocked.

As the game approached the final minute, a strike from Paul Young was charged down and the ball fell for Liam Strachan who fired a shot straight at Wilson.

Overall it would be hard to argue that a point apiece wasn’t a fair result with both sides having their moments, but neither keeper was called into action often.

Following a gruelling schedule since the start of the season which has seen City play 9 games in the space of 28 days, Patrick Cregg’s side will now have a week to prepare for the next fixture against Huntly next Saturday at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Banks O' Dee 4 Nairn County 0

Brora Rangers 6 Formartine United 2

Huntly 0 Buckie Thistle 1

Inverurie Locos 2 Clachnacuddin 0

Rothes 0 Keith 1

Strathspey Thistle 1 Forres Mechanics 6

Turriff United 1 Lossiemouth 0

Wick Academy 0 Deveronvale 1