Match Report

Our league campaign began with a comprehensive victory against Albion Rovers on a sunny afternoon at Ainslie Park.

The early stages were scrappy with neither team able to control the play; City’s rhythm was further interrupted by an early injury to Gareth Roger who seemed to strain a hamstring, his replacement was Kieron Stewart. Shortly after the breakthrough came after the referees assistant awarded a penalty for what was a clear hand ball and Blair Henderson duly sent the keeper the wrong way to open the scoring. City huffed and puffed for the rest of the half but couldn’t add to their advantage despite having two excellent chances for Danny Handling and Allan Smith.

City upped their intensity in the second period and doubled their advantage through Blair Henderson again, as the big man matched on to an excellent through ball by Andy Black and lobbed the advancing keeper. It wasn’t long until the hat trick was complete, a cool flicked finish into the bottom corner following an old fashioned stramash in the Albion box.

With the game winding down, Allan Smith got his reward for an excellent performance by nodding in a cut back from substitute John Dunn to cap a good day at the office for City.

Albeit tougher tests lie ahead, it made a welcome change for City to open with a win and with only 35 games to play, sit top of the league!

Man of the match: Blair Henderson