Match Report - By Steven Mew

City recovered from a slow start and reclaimed top spot in the Highland League following a 5-1 victory over Deveronvale yesterday afternoon.

There wasn’t much to write home about from the first half hour from a City perspective, however they soon turned on the style to come away with a comprehensive win with 5 different scorers.

Mindful of a lengthy trip to Forres in midweek, Manager Gavin Price continued to freshen up his side with Seth Patrick, Jamie Richardson, Danny Handling and Grady McGrath all coming in to the starting 11.

The visitors, who were coming into the game off the back of an impressive 3-1 victory over Turriff United in midweek got off to the ideal start after just 3 minutes. A low ball from the right hand side found skipper HARRY NOBLE on the edge of the box and he curled a sumptuous effort beyond Wilson to open the scoring.

City retaliated immediately at the other end when Danny Handling couldn’t quite sort his feet out inside the box to get his shot away but Marc Scott was alert to the loose ball, but his effort was well blocked.

On 19 minutes City should have been level when Marc Scott got the better of his man to have a clear run at goal but he placed his effort wide.

‘Marco’ continued to be a real threat - just before the half hour mark his dinked cross into the box found Danny Handling but Vale keeper Sean McIntosh somehow clawed his header away from point blank range.

Shortly after, City were back level. Danny Handling swung in an inch perfect corner for captain EUAN SPARK who rose highest to head in his 3rd goal of the season.

It took just another five minutes for City to turn the game around. MURRAY MACKINTOSH took advantage of a fortunate deflection into his path and he burst clean through on goal before showing great composure to round McIntosh and pass into the empty net.

City were purring again and they made it 3 goals in the space of nine minutes. Marc Scott placed an inch perfect cross into the box for LEWIS MARTIN to nod home his first City goal.

Three minutes before the break, Scott played a neat pass through for Grady McGrath who was denied by the keepers’ legs, however the linesman had already flagged for offside.

On the stroke of half time, Marc Scott was unlucky not to meet a free kick from Danny Handling at the back post and shortly after, there were appeals for a penalty when Kevin McHattie’s rasping effort from range was pushed out by McCarthy and Innes McKay appeared to handle the ball when he looking to clear the danger.

After going a goal down, City will have been more than happy to go in at the break two ahead and given the manner in which they finished the first half, will have been more than confident in adding to their tally.

Within 3 minutes at the restart, Marc Scott fired straight at the keeper from the edge of the box and at the other end, there was a let off for City when a poor kick from Lenny Wilson gifted Jack Mitchell an opportunity but the City stopper redeemed himself with a good save before Euan Spark put in a crucial block on the rebound.

The goalmouth action continued to come thick and fast with Marc Scott’s shot being spilled by the keeper and Lewis Martin was denied by a block on the goal-line from the rebound.

With 57 minutes on the clock, following more last-gasp defending, City added to their advantage through SETH PATRICK who fired a 25 yard strike high into the net with the aid of a deflection.

Midway through the half, substitute Matty Wright found the net with a fine finish inside the box but the linesman had his flag up for offside and Fraser MacLeod was next to threaten with a powerful 20-yard drive which was tipped over the bar by the keeper.

On 70 minutes, City made it five when DANNY HANDLING showed some terrific footwork to make his way past two defenders inside the box before prodding beyond McIntosh in the Vale goal.

City continued to attack in numbers and Matty Wright was sent through on goal but he was denied by the keeper before the follow up from MacLeod was blocked. Just a minute later, City were in behind the visitors defence yet again, this time Grady McGrath looked destined to find the net but his effort went well wide of goal with just the keeper to beat.

Overall it proved to be a fruitful day for City with a convincing win, coupled with defeats for title challengers elsewhere giving Gavin Price and his side a real boost ahead of a tricky trip to face Forres Mechanics on Wednesday.

Other Results - Breedon Highland League

Formartine United 2 Huntly 1

Forres Mechanics 0 Brora Rangers 1

Fraserburgh 2 Banks O' Dee 1

Inverurie Locos 3 Wick Academy 1

Lossiemouth 2 Buckie Thistle 1

Rothes 3 Clachnacuddin 2

Strathspey Thistle 1 Keith 2

Turriff United 1 Nairn County 3