City start league season with victory

INVERNESS City began their league campaign with a resounding victory at the home of last season’s Second Division champions.

Parkvale are a much improved side since bouncing straight back up at the first time of asking, yet they were no match for City, who brushed them aside with ease.

Iain Young did have to make a fine reflex save to keep the scoreline blank early on, but City survived this early first half scare before going on to dominate the remainder of the first half.

Jordan Macdonald struck the woodwork for Inverness, but they were not be denied and in the 25th minute, a powerful header by Stuart Pearce from Colin Mason’s cross breaking the deadlock.

Parkvale did not help their cause when they were reduced to 10-men after a rash challenge by one of their players on City’s Keith Mason.

Inverness used their man advatage to good effect as Keith Mason won a fine challenge on the edge of his own box before releasing Gary Miller down the left. He worked a one-two with Charlie Fonweban before sending in a cross that was duly converted by the in-form Michael Mackenzie to give City a 2-0 half-time lead.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, City wasted little time in making their pressure count.

Only four minutes had passed when Stephen MacGregor sent a ball into the box and Mackenzie reacted quickest to score his second of the game.

Kevin Fraser then set up Andrew Fraser to increase City’s lead in the 65th minute before the rout was completed three minutes later, Fonweban getting his name on the scoresheet with a clinical finish following more good work by Kevin Fraser.

Parkvale were awarded a penalty 15 minutes from time following a foul by Keith Mason, but Young ensured Inverness would return home with a clean sheet as he made a fine save.

INVERNESS CITY