Match Report - By Steven Mew

A hat-trick from Grady McGrath on his return and a first City goal for Mitchell Findlay gave City the ideal start to the league campaign against Lossiemouth yesterday afternoon.

It was almost a carbon copy of the final Highland League game of last season, but this time City managed to bag a very welcome clean sheet following a difficult Premier Sports Cup group stage.

Manager Ray McKinnon continued to be without the services of no fewer than 4 players, with Dayle Robertson and Ben Armour continuing to miss out through injury, whilst Adam Hutchinson was unavailable and Brad McKay sitting out having suffered concussion in midweek.

Having just been registered for the Club on Saturday morning, Grady McGrath was straight into the starting 11 whilst Fraser Macleod returned to the side after missing the last 3 fixtures with concussion.

Cillian Sheridan was the first to threaten for City after 5 minutes when his looping volley struck the top of the crossbar and shortly after, his flick at the back post was kept out by the goalkeeper before Paul Watson fired over.

McGrath’s first glimpse of goal came just after the quarter hour mark when his strike from 12 yards rolled just wide.

City were dominating possession but the visitors very nearly took the lead against the run of play when an audacious volley from Liam Harvey was superbly tipped over the bar by Hepburn.

The home side continued in search of an opener with McGrath heading over from Ferguson’s cross but the on-loan forward didn’t have to wait too much longer to open his account for the season as he got himself on the scoresheet after 27 minutes. Mitch Taylor did well to shrug off his man down the left hand side and he cut the ball back for GRADY MCGRATH to rifle a strike beyond Anderson from 10 yards.

On the half hour mark McGrath fired wide following a neat passing move before Macleod came close when he connected with a low cross from Taylor however Anderson made a fine save with his feet to deny him.

Shortly before the break, McGrath managed to engineer some space for himself on the edge of the box but his strike was straight at the keeper.

City went in at half time with just the one goal to show for their efforts and Ray McKinnon would have been keen for his side to grab another early in the second half to calm any potential opening day nerves.

Three minutes into the second half, the impressive Farquhar delivered a dangerous ball into the box which somehow went across the face of goal with no takers.

The visitors were quite content just to clear their lines and City had been struggling to create any further openings until just after the hour mark when Cillian Sheridan was clipped inside the box and referee Ewan Pow had little hesitation in pointing to the spot. GRADY MCGRATH took on the responsibility and he confidently dispatched his penalty into the corner, sending Anderson the wrong way to double the advantage.

Mitchell Findlay and Craig Tosh had both been introduced to the action for Paul Watson and Dugald Farquhar and the pair would cause plenty of problems for the Lossie rearguard.

On 66 minutes Findlay flashed a shot wide of goal following Taylor’s ball into the box and just moments later, Findlay threaded an inch perfect ball in behind the defence for Tosh to latch onto but Anderson denied him with a fine save at his near post.

It was written in the stars that GRADY MCGRATH would bag a hat-trick on his return and it arrived with 73 minutes on the clock. A fine passing move saw Macleod dink a ball over the top for Moreland who knocked the ball into the box for McGrath and he produced an excellent touch before guiding a volley into the corner.

City really had the bit between their teeth now and from Macleod’s free kick, Sweeney somehow headed over from a couple of yards out and a minute later, Lossiemouth defenders were putting their bodies on the line to block strikes from Macleod and McGrath.

Three minutes from time McGrath played a great pass in behind the defence for Taylor but his low strike was saved by the feet of Anderson.

City kept pushing and they came close again when Macleod got to the byline and his cross-cum-shot clipped the post and from the rebound, McGrath blazed over from 6 yards.

A minute into stoppage time, City added gloss to the win with a well-deserved 4th goal. Some good build up play down the right hand side resulted in Ferguson cutting the ball back for Moreland who saw his shot blocked, however MITCHELL FINDLAY was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range for his first City goal.

That proved to be the last of the action as City got their season off to a positive start and they will look to continue where they left off against Keith at Kynoch Park on Wednesday evening (8pm KO).

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Banks O' Dee 2 Turriff United 2

Brora Rangers 6 Rothes 2

Buckie Thistle 1 Nairn County 0

Deveronvale 3 Wick Academy 2

Forres Mechanics 1 Huntly 1

Fraserburgh 2 Formartine United 2

Inverurie Locos 0 Clachnacuddin 5

Strathspey Thistle 3 Keith 1