City ensured they signed off their final home league fixture of the season in perfect fashion as a commanding 3-0 victory over Nairn County kept them top of the Highland League.

With nearest challengers Brora Rangers held to a draw at home by Formartine United, Andy Kirk’s side extended their advantage at the summit to three points, setting up a huge midweek showdown at Dudgeon Park.

For the third match in succession, Andy Kirk named an unchanged starting lineup, while there was a welcome boost on the bench with Ethan Crombie returning to the matchday squad.

City started with the urgency and purpose expected of a side chasing the league title and they were inches away from taking the lead inside the opening three minutes.  A clever pass from Callum Hannah split the Nairn defence and sent Grady McGrath through on goal. The striker’s first touch was excellent as he shifted the ball into his stride, but his curling effort drifted just wide of the far post.

Euan Spark battles for the ball early on

On 14 minutes, City went close again from a dead-ball delivery as Kieran Inglis whipped a dangerous corner into the area which just evaded Dugald Farquhar arriving at the back post.

Nairn’s best chance of the opening half then arrived two minutes later and it required a moment of quality from Andy McNeil to keep the scoreline level. A powerful effort from Ben Barron looked destined for the top corner, but the City goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to produce a superb one-handed save and tip the ball over the bar.  It was an important intervention in what was otherwise a half City controlled for long spells.

As the first half wore on, City’s pressure began to build and it came as little surprise when they eventually found the breakthrough on 32 minutes. It was almost a carbon copy of the opener against Forres in midweek - Kieran Inglis once again delivered an inviting corner and DUGALD FARQUHAR powered a header goalwards, the ball crashing in via the underside of the bar to send the Cemetery End into raptures.

Farquhar celebrates the opener in front of the Cemetery End

It was a deserved reward for City’s dominance and another timely contribution from Farquhar at a crucial stage of the season.

The hosts looked keen to build on that momentum before the interval and nearly doubled their lead three minutes before the break. A dangerous cross from Fraser Macleod found Scott Fraser at the back post, but under pressure he was unable to force the ball home and City had to settle for another corner.

There was a let-off for the home side shortly before half-time when a poor kick-out from McNeil fell straight to Calum Mackay, but Nairn were unable to capitalise as the midfielder blazed well over the bar.

City then finished the half strongly and almost made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time. Another excellent delivery from Inglis caused problems in the box and Euan Spark directed a header on target, only for the goalkeeper to get down well and parry clear before the danger was eventually scrambled away.

The home side began the second half in positive fashion and were quickly back on the front foot.  Three minutes after the restart, Fraser Macleod did well down the left-hand side of the penalty area before cutting the ball back into a dangerous position for Calvin Beattie, but the on-loan midfielder could only screw his effort wide.

City were now beginning to ask more and more questions of the Nairn defence and they came within inches of a second goal on 58 minutes. A teasing cross from Spencer Moreland caused real problems in the box and when the loose ball eventually dropped for Callum Hannah, his close-range flick beat the goalkeeper but came back off the post.

Thankfully for City, they only had to wait a matter of seconds to get the reward their play deserved.  A superb passing move sliced Nairn open just before the hour mark with City working the ball sharply through midfield before Kieran Inglis slid a perfectly weighted pass in behind the defence for GRADY MCGRATH. The striker kept his composure brilliantly, taking his moment before firing confidently into the corner to give City the all-important second goal.  It was a fine goal, both in its construction and execution and it gave City the breathing space they had been threatening to earn.

Grady McGrath is congratulated after making it 2-0

The hosts smelled blood and almost struck again immediately. Just a minute later, Inglis tried his luck himself from 20 yards but dragged his shot wide of the target.

On 61 minutes, another dangerous ball from Spencer Moreland flashed right across the face of goal with Mitchell Findlay agonisingly close to applying the finishing touch.  Two minutes later, Callum Hannah forced another save, his shot at the near post well stopped by the Nairn goalkeeper.

At the other end, Callum Maclean volleyed over after a corner had been partially cleared into his path, before Ben Barron tested McNeil again two minutes later with a strike on the turn that was comfortably gathered by the City keeper.

City went on to make it 3-0 with 72 minutes on the clock.  Following a corner, skipper Euan Spark was dragged down inside the penalty area and referee Scott Leslie had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.  Up stepped GRADY MCGRATH, who showed great composure to confidently dispatch the penalty and score his second of the afternoon, putting City firmly out of sight.

McGrath was looking for his hat-trick and on 83 minutes he collected another pass from Spencer Moreland, but this time he fired wide of the target.  Mitchell Findlay then tried his luck from the edge of the box two minutes later but was unable to keep his effort down.

Ethan Crombie impressed as a second half substitute

In the closing stages, Dugald Farquhar got on the end of an Ethan Crombie free kick with a glancing header which drifted just wide of the far post.

Overall, City will be thoroughly satisfied with their afternoon’s work. With Brora Rangers held at home by Formartine United, City now hold a three-point advantage at the top of the Highland League table with just two games remaining.

The equation is now simple for City: win on Wednesday night and they will be crowned Highland League champions. Any other result means the title race will go right to the final day once again.