Contested territory very difficult at city level 30, can't set up good economy in time

[PurplFedora]

I recently hit city level 30, and tried contested territory to make enough money for the really expensive upgrades (temples, RoD's, ZOMG's, etc.). The first thing I notice is that I get a MOAB on round 15. I don't know how to get a good economy while also set up defenses for the ceramic and MOAB rushes that come very soon. I just can't make it in time. This, of course, was on a mountain terrain, so I tried using the ice/sniper strategy to actually have good eco. Someone else got to round 50 though somehow. Does anybody know why this is happening and how I can get an economy set up time while still being able to defend? The highest I can get is round 20 before being overwhelmed.