Match Report - By Steven Mew

It was the proverbial game of two halves with City doing enough in the opening 45 to earn all 3 points against Huntly yesterday afternoon.

Another relentless performance in the first half had City two goals to the good at the break and unfortunate not to be further in front. However they were unable to match those levels in the second half.

Manager Patrick Cregg named an unchanged side from the one that started against Fraserburgh last weekend as they aimed to continue their unbeaten league start.

City looked up for it from the off, with keeper Jack Robertson pulling off a fantastic reflex save to deny Sparks header from Scott’s cross and from the corner that followed, Brad McKay saw his header blocked at the back post.

On 13 minutes MacLeod saw his strike charged down inside the box after being set up by Moreland, and shortly after a low driven cross by McHattie found Scott but again he was denied by another block as Huntly put bodies on the line.

City deservedly got their noses in front on the quarter hour mark. Yet another effort was deflected wide for a corner, this time from Robertson’s shot and from the resulting corner by Moreland, the ball fell kindly for LEWIS MARTIN to sweep home from 8 yards.

Just a minute after the goal, Loudon drove forward with the ball from midfield and threaded a ball in behind the defence for Robertson, but he couldn’t quite sort his feet out in front of goal and again the Huntly defence were there to block.

Midway through the half, Scott saw a strike deflected wide at the near post and from the resulting corner, Martin headed goalwards but the keeper got down well to gather.

City certainly had their fair share of corners in the first half and another delivery from Moreland was headed wide by Martin.

The home side kept pressing and they doubled the advantage two minutes before the break. A shot by Robertson deflected into the path of MARC SCOTT who kept his composure and drilled a low shot in at the near post.

Two goals to the good at the break and having put Huntly under considerable pressure, the home support were optimistic of adding more in the second half, however it didn’t quite play out that way.

Although City’s performance levels certainly dropped, credit must go to Huntly who continued to dig in and make it difficult in the second 45.

Shortly after the restart, a low cross by Loudon on the left found Macleod lurking inside the box but his flick was gathered by Robertson.

Loudon’s direct running from the left flank was causing problems for the Huntly defence and he beat two players on his way into the box before being denied by a fine save.

Five minutes later Loudon would be denied again when a cross from Marc Scott found him lurking at the back post, but the keeper did well to keep out the strike from close range.

On 71 minutes, substitute Craig Tosh showed excellent control to bring down a long ball from Spark before his fired a shot into the side netting.

The visitors started to step things up in the final quarter of an hour, with Angus Grant shooting over from range and two minutes from time, their first real effort on target saw Wilson hold on to an effort from Arran Smith.

As the game entered stoppage time, Loudon made a great run which saw him beat three players before laying the ball off for Tosh who looked set to strike, but the referee halted play for a head knock earlier in the move which saw James Connelly stretchered off.

City’s last opportunity fell to Robertson when he fired over from the edge of the box and just as it looked like the home side were heading towards a 4th consecutive clean sheet, Huntly managed to pull a goal back 6 minutes into stoppage time. A ball was slipped through for substitute ANGUS GRANT who passed the ball into the far corner to give the visitors hope, but it proved to be the last real action of the game.

Although Manager Patrick Cregg was disappointed with the second half showing after a positive first, the most important thing was the 3 points ahead of a tricky trip to face Wick Academy next weekend.