19th January 2019. Edinburgh City v Annan Athletic. 1-2

Another one of these days where I was unsure which match to go to. I was originally going to going to Penicuik v Stirling University but that was called off early in the morning due to a frozen pitch. My choice was therefore between Edinburgh United v Broxburn or Edinburgh City v Annan Athletic. The result at United seemed a foregone conclusion with Broxburn second in EoS Conference C and United third from the bottom. I therefore decided to watch top of League Two, City at home to fourth placed Annan at Ainslie Park. Left the house at 1.45 and walked to the West End where I caught a 19 bus to Crewe Toll and then walked to Ainslie Park arriving around 14.35. As a Hearts season ticket holder I got half-price admission (£6) and then purchased the informative City programme for £2.50. 

Bought a coffee and as I was standing at pitch barrier drinking it John and his friend, also John, came in. We had a chat for a while mainly about the City season. John asked me if I thought City would go up and when I said I thought they would based on form to date John said it was too early and both Peterhead and Clyde were close to City in the table. They then moved into the stand and said they would keep a seat for me if I wanted it. Then met Jim who used to run newsagents where I picked up a weekly speedway magazine when I was working. Turns out he was brought up in Annan although when he moved to Edinburgh became a Hearts fan although he still watches Annan when he can. He was telling me he was at the Scotland v Austria game as a teenager in 1963. The game was abandoned after 79 minutes due to persistent foul play with Scotland 4-1 in the lead and two Austrians sent off. Scotland had Hearts Davie Holt in the side. Holt holds the record as the Hearts player making the highest number of appearances without scoring a goal. Then I  received a text from Jim, the Inverness fan who I see a lot at football, saying he was going to game. We met up behind the goals that City were attacking just before kickoff.

City fielded an unchanged side with new signing Jack Breen, on loan from Hamilton, on the bench. With John Dunn, Josh Walker and Danny Handling still injured City were down to the bare bones of their squad. On the Annan side Lewis Strapp had played for Montrose on loan last season and I also recognised Tommy Muir's name from his time with Dalbeattie Star. Annan have also signed goalkeeper Aidan McAdams on loan from Rangers. While he did not play I saw him  play for Rangers reserves against Hearts reserves a few weeks ago.

The game started well with Annan’s Scott Hooper clearing a Scott Shepherd off the line in the early minutes. However Annan were still in the game and missed a couple of good opportunities before they lost midfielder Ayrton Sonkur through injury after fifteen minutes. Peter Watson came on in his place before Shepherd collected a through ball rounded keeper Alex Mitchell and slid the ball into the net. The assistant referee however flagged for offside and the effort was disallowed. The game was end to end with City taking the lead after forty minutes. Shepherd was running towards goal along the byeline when he went down after a challenge from Watson. It looked a good challenge albeit Shepherd went down but the referee awarded a penalty. Blair Henderson took the kick and shot low into the corner of the net for his twenty-ninth goal of the season. The assistant referee who was standing on the byeline while the kick was taken heard us talking about it being a soft award. He commented 'penalties are like eggs. Soft or hard they are penalties if the referee gives them".

Anna started the second half strongly and equalised in the second minute of the half. A corner was cleared by the City defence to David Wilson around twenty-two yards from goal. He hit the ball first time on the volley into the net with Callum Antell in the City goal helpless. Annan’s Tommy Muir was booked after chasing a through ball and colliding with City keeper Antell just inside the box. I thought it was one the forward had to go for although Antell seemed to be making the most of the collision. After Antell had treatment he took the free-kick from outside the penalty box. Surely if the offence had been there Antell should have been sent off for deliberate hand ball. City had a chance when Annan keeper Alex Mitchell dropped a cross ball but Henderson had turned his back on ball and was unable to take advantage of the mistake. Annan went ahead after seventy-four minutes from another corner. The ball was hit high into the penalty box and City (and ex-Annan) striker Henderson made headed contact but the ball flew towards his own net. Craig Thomson made a vain attempt to clear off the line but the goal was awarded despite City’s protests. City pressed for an equaliser and an effort from Robbie Mcintyre was blocked by Hooper with minutes to go. Annan held on for a victory to knock City off the top of the league behind peterhead on goal difference.

After the game I walked up to Ferry Road and caught a 27 bus. I arrived home in time to see Arsenal go 1-0 up against Chelsea. I watched the rest of this game but I thought it was not as enjoyable as the game at Ainslie Park.

Teams

Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, Balatoni, L. Henderson, McIntyre, Galbraith, Black, Laird, Taylor, Shepherd, B. Henderson.

Subs: Watson, Smith, Breen.

Annan Athletic: Mitchell, Hooper, Wilson, Swinglehurst, Creaney, Johnston, Cinnamon, Soonkur, Moxon, Smith, Muir.

Subs: Watson.