Report

City progress to next round

Inverness City won 4-1 against Dufftown in the 2^nd round of the regional cup at Westburn Park, Dufftown. Goals from Ross Thomson, Andrew Fraser and a double from Steven Sanderson paved the way for the Inverness side.

The visitors may have been sent home to lick their wounds on the last visit to Westburn Park but the Inverness side started with purpose as they took the game to the home side and took the lead on the 14^th minute after Ross Thomson ran on to a flick from Kelvin Mackenzie and Thomson slotted past the onrushing Riddoch in the home goal. The Inverness side almost doubled the lead on the 17^th minute after Kevin Fraser collected a ball at the edge of the box before releasing Gary Miller who span his marker before firing a shot low to the left hand side of Riddoch who produced a fantastic fingertip save to deny Miller. It was all one way traffic at this stage and City had the ball in the net on the 25^th minute after Riddoch had saved a Sanderson header Kelvin Mackenzie pounced to lash the ball home but the far side assistant referee flagged as he had deemed Mackenzie to have been in an offside position. The home side were defending valiantly but they had to make an early change as keeper Riddoch and Citys Jamie Fraser collided after a free kick into the home box which resulted in both players requiring treatment, Riddoch tried to carry on but was substituted minutes later and the replacement Dufftown keeper Sean Mcintosh was called straight into action keeping the visitors at bay with some fine saves and just before the interval produced a tremendous stop to prevent City captain Colin Mason from opening his account for the season as Mason rose highest in a crowded 6 yard box to head goalbound only to see the young custodian block his effort.

Half time Dufftown 0 Inverness City 1

The home side started the 2^nd half brightly and on the 48^th minute had the 1^st opportunity of the half after a free kick was sent into the visitors box and it was a Dufftown head that sent the ball goal ward but Young in the City goal was on hand to deny the homesters.  The visitors added to their tally on the 50^th minute when a quick breakaway saw Kelvin Mackenzie charging forward before squaring the ball to Steve Sanderson who smashed the ball into the top left hand corner from 16 yards out. It was Kelvin Mackenzie who instigated the move for City’s 3^rd as he broke up play on the halfway line before releasing an inch perfect ball cross field to Gary Miller who in turn quickly released the onrushing Sanderson who finished with aplomb from 12 yards to give the visitors a 3 goal cushion on the 60^th minute. The visitors were dominating proceedings and they scored again on the 65^th minute with a contender for goal of the season as Andrew Fraser broke free at the right hand edge of the box before collecting a pin point pass from Danny Murdoch, Fraser with his back to goal span his marker before producing an exquisite chip which sailed into to the far left top corner. The Inverness side almost notched another when Michael Turner broke free on the 85^th minute but his shot from the edge of the box was parried and cleared to safety. The home side battled away and forced the Inverness side back and their perservance was rewarded in the final minute after a corner forced a goalmouth scramble and Kelvin Main was the man who got the final touch as the home side notched a consolation goal.

City squad

Young,Macdonald,J.Fraser(Murdoch),K.Mason,K.Fraser,Thomson,|C.Mason,A.Fraser,Miller(Ferguson),Mackenzie(Turner),Sanderson

Unused subs:

Taylor,Mulligan,Hughes