MATCH REPORTS

V BISHOPMILL UTD FRIDAY 22ND MAY 2009 V FOCHABERS 16TH MAY 2009 V NAIRN ST NINIAN 9TH MAY 2009 V DEVERONSIDE 2ND MAY 2009 V BURGHEAD 25TH APRIL 2009 Index

V DEVERONSIDE 20TH DECEMBER 2008

by Duncan McKenzie - 23:13 on 23 December 2008

Inverness City 4 Deveronside 0

Young, MacDonald, Mapplebeck, Allan, K Fraser, J Fraser, Miller, K Mason, McNiven, McCraw, Turner

Subs (49) Fraser off Pearce on; (80) Turner off Murdoch on; Mason off MacLennan on

Scotscoup Division 2

Both sides struggled to get to grips with the heavy pitch in the opening exchanges, but it was City who drew first blood with their first meaningful attack. With the ball heading out for a goal kick Gary Miller somehow managed to get his foot around it and send it into the box. Jamie Fraser headed the ball down for Michael Turner who belted a half volley into the roof of the net.

A purposeful run by Keith Mason in 15 minutes set up Bruce McCraw, but the Deveronside keeper did just enough to block his effort.

But two minutes later the home side extended their lead. McCraw's shot was blocked by the keeper, but he could do nothing to stop Nile McNiven 's follow up.

Turner almost extended City's lead on the 20 minute mark, but his curling effort from the edge of the area flew inches wide of the top right corner. On the half hour mark McCraw was again denied, this time by the crossbar.

The home side's dominance was underlined in 35 minutes when City netted their third. The ball found Mason on the right edge of the box and with a carbon copy of Turner's goal he fired home on the half volley.

Clearly still smarting from two previous hammerings at the hands of the Banff-shire outfit City were in no mood to take their foot off the gas and added a fourth just before the break. It was a classic counter attack from City. McCraw raced down the right, centred for Turner and he kept his cool to slot past the Deveronside keeper.

Defender Jamie Fraser picked up a knock at the end of the first half and was replaced just after the interval by Stuart Pearce.

City rarely looked in danger as the second half progressed and Turner had two more chances to further extend City's lead in 57 and 71 minutes.

Had the home side been as clinical in the second half they could have doubled their goal tally. However, the move of the half came in 73 minutes. Miller raced down the right and swung in an inch perfect cross for McCraw, but his diving header shaved the right post.

So dominant were City that the visitors had to wait until 75 minutes to register their first goal threat and even then Miller was there to clear a goalbound shot off the line.

Pearce also passed up a gilt edged chance to add number six ten minutes from time, but with the goal gaping he scaffled his shot well wide.

Managers thoughts:

Absolutely over the moon with the result this week, not only did we need the 3 points, but we needed to get a result against one of the top teams. Even though this was a great result, there is still a lot of work to be done - but we've put ourselves back in to the frame. We hope we delivered a christmas cracker to our loyal support like we promised. No game next saturday, next game away to Fochabers on 3rd January.

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