Match Report - By Steven Mew

City extended their lead at the top of the Highland League to seven points following victory over Rothes at the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park yesterday afternoon.

The home side completely dominated proceedings in the first half and should have gone in at the break further than two goals in front, yet they were made to sweat ever so slightly for the 3 points in the end with Rothes converting their only meaningful shot on goal midway through the second half.

Patrick Cregg made two changes from the side that put in an impressive performance against Banks O’ Dee in midweek. Lenny Wilson made way for Isaac Carmody between the sticks whilst Craig Tosh came in for Dayle Robertson who was still nursing an ankle knock.

On a warm Autumn afternoon at Glebe Park, City came flying out the traps with Marc Scott heading over from a left sided cross before EWAN LOUDON opened the scoring after just 3 minutes. Fraser Macleod flighted a ball forward for Loudon who outpaced the Rothes defence before smashing a shot in off the underside of the crossbar from a tight angle.

On 7 minutes Fraser Macleod collected a pass from Seth Patrick on the edge of the box before shooting straight at the keeper, whilst an inviting cross from Craig Tosh flashed right across the face of goal with Loudon just unable to connect.

City had the opportunity to double the advantage on 12 minutes when Craig Tosh was fouled inside the box to win a penalty. Ewan Loudon stepped up and placed his penalty to the left of McCarthy, but the Rothes keeper got down well to tip round the post.

Not to be disheartened by the penalty miss, City managed to get the second goal just before the quarter hour mark in spectacular fashion. Fraser Macleod teed up SETH PATRICK 25 yards from goal and his curling strike found the top corner for his first goal of the season.

City smelt blood and McCarthy made a fine save with his feet to deny Loudon before he kept out an effort from Tosh at his near post.

It was wave after wave of attack with Tosh heading into the box and MacLeod nipped in ahead of the keeper to nod towards goal but was thwarted for a corner.

On the half hour mark, Marc Scott stung the hands of McCarthy following a cutback from Tosh and shortly after, Macleod fired a left footed shot just wide of goal.

Ten minutes before the break, an error from Carmody very nearly gifted Rothes a goal back. The City keeper rushed well out of his box to intercept a long ball before he lost his balance near the touchline. Ross Logan came forward with the ball but just as he went for goal, Euan Spark came in with an excellent sliding challenge to deny.

At the other end, Tosh played a neat one-two with Loudon before his shot was pushed out by McCarthy and a few minutes before the break, Loudon shot over from the edge of the box after sidestepping a couple of challenges.

Such was City’s dominance, Patrick Cregg took off a defender at half time as Brad McKay was replaced by an attacking option in Ruari Henry.

Four minutes into the second half, Euan Spark will feel he should have done better as he headed straight at the keeper from Macleod’s corner.

Although City didn’t create as many chances as they did during the first half, they were still in complete control. Spark’s deflected effort ended up on the roof of the net and shortly after the corner, Loudon fired a shot inches wide of the post before Moreland was next to threaten with a strike from the edge of the box which flew over.

Out of nowhere, the visitors halved the deficit on 69 minutes. A long ball upfield found ROSS LOGAN who saw Carmody well off his line and he let fly with an audacious effort which looped over the top of the City keeper and into the corner.

City went out in search of a third goal to give themselves some breathing space again. A deflected strike from Macleod was gathered by the keeper before Henry was denied by the feet of the goalkeeper following a cutback from Moreland.

Henry would come close again, this time from Scott’s pass on the right hand side of the box but McCarthy managed to smother the ball on the line to deny him.

City were growing increasingly frustrated with Loudon flashing another shot wide of the target and there was a scare at the other end when a sliced clearance from Spark was punched in the air by Carmody, but fortunately Thomas Brady was unable to connect with the volley just a few yards out.

A couple minutes from time, Craig Tosh guided a header wide of goal from substitute Daniel Johnston’s free kick.

That proved to be the last action of the game, with City supporters breathing a sigh of relief at the final whistle. Although the scoreline wasn’t as convincing as many would have expected following the first half, the most important thing was the 3 points particularly with our nearest rivals Brora Rangers dropping points.

City have a break from league action next weekend as we welcome East of Scotland 1st Division side Newtongrange Star to the Carnegie Fuels Stadium at Glebe Park for the 1st round of the Scottish Cup.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Buckie Thistle 4 Turriff United 1

Clachnacuddin 0 Banks O' Dee 3

Deveronvale 3 Brora Rangers 2

Formartine United 3 Huntly 1

Forres Mechanics 4 Wick Academy 3

Keith 0 Inverurie Locos 3

Lossiemouth 3 Fraserburgh 1

Nairn County 3 Strathspey Thistle 3