Match Report - By Steven Mew

City maintained their 100% start to the Highland League campaign with a deserved victory over Formartine United at Glebe Park yesterday afternoon.

All goals came in the opening 45 minutes, with City seeing out the game comfortably in the second half to record the win over United who had gone into the match top of the league.

Manager Andy Kirk opted to make 2 changes from the side that defeated Forres Mechanics last week as Jordan Northcott and Ewan Loudon came in for Cammie Ross who dropped to the bench, with the injured Hamish Thomson also missing out.

With 7 minutes on the clock City got off to the ideal start as they opened the scoring. A fine passing move resulted in Grady McGrath teeing up MARC SCOTT on the right hand side of the box, with ‘Marco’ confidently firing a low shot beyond MacDonald at the near post.

It could have easily been two for City on 13 minutes. Marc Scott did well to get a low cross into the box which Ewan Loudon met with a rasping effort which cannoned off the outside of the post.

Former City striker JULIAN WADE returned to the Glebe for the first time in opposition colours and predictably the Dominican came back to haunt City with a spectacular equaliser just before the quarter hour mark. Wade let fly with a tremendous strike from 30 yards which flew into the top corner, giving Lenny Wilson absolutely no chance. It was a very much subdued celebration from Wade against his former club.

The goal certainly gave the visitors a boost as they came more into the game but City would get their noses back in front just after the half hour mark. Jamie Bain swung in a corner which was met by GRADY MCGRATH who glanced a header into the corner for his first competitive City goal.

Chances were few and far between for either side, with former Aberdeen youth Tyler Mykyta shooting wide for Formartine before City gave themselves a two goal cushion six minutes before the break.

Again Marc Scott was the architect. He made his way down the right hand side of the box before pulling the ball back for Jordan Northcott - his strike came off the post and rebounded off goalkeeper EWEN MACDONALD before crossing the line.

Just a few minutes into the second half, Grady McGrath very nearly squeezed a shot in from a tight angle before Jamie Bain fired over from range two minutes later.

City came close from a corner straight from the training ground after 53 minutes. Jamie Bain fired a low pass to the near post for McHattie but his strike was deflected narrowly wide.

The remainder of the second half was entirely forgettable and as the game started to slip away from the visitors, they adopted a physical approach with Mark Gallagher, Jonathan Crawford, Ryan Spink and Daniel Park all seeing yellow for some poor challenges.

Cammie Ross and Iain Davidson were both introduced midway through the second half as they replaced Ewan Loudon and Jordan Northcott respectively. Manager Andy Kirk also cast his eye over a trialist who came on for Grady McGrath for the final 5 minutes.

City saw the game out comfortably to ensure they continued their winning start to the season, with attention now turning to an SPFL Trust Trophy tie against Hibernian B in midweek.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Banks O' Dee 5 Huntly 2

Clachnacuddin 0 Brora Rangers 4

Fraserburgh 3 Wick Academy 0

Lossiemouth 0 Buckie Thistle 6

Nairn County 0 Forres Mechanics 5

Rothes 0 Inverurie Locos 5

Strathspey Thistle 2 Deveronvale 2

Turriff United 1 Keith 1