MATCH REPORTS

V RAF Lossiemouth 2nd August 2008

by Duncan McKenzie - 20:50 on 03 August 2008

Venue: North Kessock    Kick off: 2.30pm

INVERNESS City's first flight in the junior ranks saw them soar to an opening day victory over RAF Lossiemouth. 

The Scottish Junior Football Association new boys shocked the experienced Moray outfit, and sounded a warning to the others that they mean business.

Despite being without a number of key players City looked far from overawed by their new level of opponent. The opening eight minutes of the game was clearly a learning curve for both sides as they attempted to test the water in terms of the opposition. As a result the game began with a fierce battle in the middle of the park.

After a bright start by City it was the visitors who carved out the first opening. Seaman was picked out with a free kick from the edge of the area, but Jamie Fraser superbly blocked his close-range effort. 

After that City picked up the pace and in 13 minutes their pressure paid off. The ball came in from the right and was controlled instantly by Michael TURNER who rifled a shot low past the despairing Caldwell in the RAF goal.  City continued to dominate play and in 24 minutes the ball found its way to Kevin Fraser on the edge of the area. His right foot drive had the keeper beaten, but just missed the top left corner. 

Two minutes later City had keeper Michael Kerr to thank when he just did enough to put off RAF's Alick, who almost connected with a free kick from the left.

On the half hour mark Miller guided a sublime pass through the inside channel for Colin Mason, whose rifled shot beat Caldwell and the bar by inches. The RAF keeper had to look sharp twice in the space of a minute to parry two Andy Bannerman rockets. 

The second half started brightly again for City with Bannerman again involved in 50 minutes. His clever turn resulted in a free kick on the right corner of the box, but Miller's curling effort lacked the power to trouble Caldwell.  In 68 minutes City won another corner out on the far left which was floated goal ward by Colin Mason. After a scramble inside the area the keeper pounced on at the second time of asking. Kevin Mapplebeck came on for Kevin Fraser in 70 minutes. 

City took their foot off the gas a little for a short spell after that and in 72 minutes they paid for some slack defending. A harmless looking ball was played over the top, but it was misjudged by Fraser allowing the Lossie striker to lob the ball over the exposed Kerr in the City goal.

That goal initially shocked the hosts but they sparked back into life just three minutes later when they regained the lead. Turner turned the Lossie defence inside out, worked the ball into the box for MASON who picked his spot low to the keeper's right.

Gavin Nicholson replaced Graham Stewart in 77 minutes and had a couple of half chances in front of goal.  Despite some late pressure from RAF Lossie City held on comfortably to secure their first win of the season.

Squad: Kerr, P Beaton, J Fraser, D Beaton, McGuiness, Stewart, Miller, Bannerman, K Fraser, C Mason, Turner

Subs: Mapplebeck, Murdoch, Irvine, Nicolson, Davidson

Managers thoughts - by Mike Pollard, Co-manager: 

I was absolutely delighted with the first half performance by the boys.  With us entering this new league and not knowing what to expect, I was pleased to see the boys adapt and exceed expectations.  The only thing I could be picky about was the lack of concentration which crept in during parts of the second half.  Some lovely football was played against a challenging opponent.  Now the boys have had their heads wet in the junior league, we look forward to welcoming first division Forres Thistle on Tuesday night (5th August), which will give us a good indication on what we need to do to compete against a first division side.

 

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