20th July 2019. Edinburgh City v Dunfermline 1-0
Hearts were the 'free' team in their Betfred Cup section today. They had organised a friendly against Cambridge Utd. at the Oriam but this was behind closed doors so I had to choose somewhere else to go. Decided on Edinburgh City v Dunfermline Athletic and left home at 13.30 to walk to Ainslie Park. Walked down the old North Edinburgh railway line which is now a footpath and cycle track and arrived at the ground at around 14.20. Surprisingly I had to queue to get in. I had the pay £12 admission as although City offer half-price admission to Hearts and Hibs season ticket holders this does not apply to matches where gate is shared between the two teams, as in the Befred Cup. I bought a programme for £2.50 and headed for a seat in the stand. I saw John seated amongst the City fans but that area was full so I eventually managed to find a seat amongst the Dunfermline fans. Unusually for a City match standing was being permitted behind the goals at both ends and the ground was filling up nicely.
City are in a strong group with St Mirren, East Kilbride and Albion Rovers alongside Dunfermline. Having lost their first match to St Mirren to a penalty minutes from time City need a win to get back into the qualification spots. They fielded a strong side today although last seasons top scorer, Blair Henderson, was still absent due to the effects of an injury. Long-term injured victim Danny Handling returned to a place on the bench. Dunfermline are currently top of the group having beaten St. Mirren 3-2 and Albion Rovers 6-0. Dunfermline manager Steve Crawford was previously assistant to Robbie Neilson at Hearts and looks to have built a strong squad for this seasons Championship fixtures. Dunfermline centre-half Stuart Morrison had spent time on loan at City two seasons ago.
City started well with Robbie McIntyre and Alec Harris combining well on the left. Harris had an early shot from just outside the box after a pass from Calum Crane. However his shot went just past the post. Dunfermline's first chance came minutes later when Callum Antell in the City goal held Kevin Nisbet’s shot after a pass from Lewis Martin. After half an hour a cross from McIntyre found Alan Smith sliding into the six yard box. The ball seemed to stick under his feet and Dunfermline keeper Ryan Scully was able to gather the ball. Minutes later Adam Watson got a break of the ball just outside the penalty box. He rushed into the box towards the byeline but his cutback was cleared by the Dunfermline defence. Dunfermline came more into the game as the half progressed but the City defence dealt comfortably with their efforts.
Dunfermline started the second half well and a corner from Ryan Dow was headed wide by Lee Ashcroft at the near post. After fifty-three minutes Marc Laird and Andy Ryan ran into each other in midfield. Both fell to the ground and, while Laird recovered after treatment, Ryan seemed to take a head knock as he fell and was helped from the field by the physio. Substitute Kyle Turner made an early impression and gathered the ball from some slack play by Conrad Balatoni but his shot was touched away by Antell. Dunfermline continued to press and just after the seventy minute mark another substitute, Lewis McCann, cut in from the left and his shot was touched over the bar by a leaping Antell. With about ten minutes to go City had a chance from a free-kick after keeper Scully carried the ball slightly outside the penalty box after collecting a high forward pass. Despite City fans screaming for the keeper to be sent off the referee was content with the award of a direct free-kick which Craig Thomson fired into the defensive wall. Throughout the second half I had been chatting to the guy sitting next to me who turn out to be the father of assistant referee Craig Ferguson and was also a former referee. He left with about five minutes to go to head towards the exit to take some more photo's and I said that at least he would at the right end for the penalty shout-out. However with three minutes left a shot from Marc Laird was blocked by the Dunfermline defence. The ball fell to City substitute Danny Handling who raced forward and from about eight yards out, on the left of the six yard box, chipped the ball across Scully and into the net for the only goal of the game.The Dunfermline fans were not happy and urged their side on but City held out for a good victory. The victory now puts City in with a chance of qualification with a home game with East Kilbride and an away tie at Albion Rovers to come.
After the match I walked along the railway path as far as the Crewe Toll exit. As I crossed the road after coming down the steps I saw a 38 bus coming. I took that to Balgreen and then changed to a 30, arriving home at 17.30.
City are in a strong group with St Mirren, East Kilbride and Albion Rovers alongside Dunfermline. Having lost their first match to St Mirren to a penalty minutes from time City need a win to get back into the qualification spots. They fielded a strong side today although last seasons top scorer, Blair Henderson, was still absent due to the effects of an injury. Long-term injured victim Danny Handling returned to a place on the bench. Dunfermline are currently top of the group having beaten St. Mirren 3-2 and Albion Rovers 6-0. Dunfermline manager Steve Crawford was previously assistant to Robbie Neilson at Hearts and looks to have built a strong squad for this seasons Championship fixtures. Dunfermline centre-half Stuart Morrison had spent time on loan at City two seasons ago.
City started well with Robbie McIntyre and Alec Harris combining well on the left. Harris had an early shot from just outside the box after a pass from Calum Crane. However his shot went just past the post. Dunfermline's first chance came minutes later when Callum Antell in the City goal held Kevin Nisbet’s shot after a pass from Lewis Martin. After half an hour a cross from McIntyre found Alan Smith sliding into the six yard box. The ball seemed to stick under his feet and Dunfermline keeper Ryan Scully was able to gather the ball. Minutes later Adam Watson got a break of the ball just outside the penalty box. He rushed into the box towards the byeline but his cutback was cleared by the Dunfermline defence. Dunfermline came more into the game as the half progressed but the City defence dealt comfortably with their efforts.
Dunfermline started the second half well and a corner from Ryan Dow was headed wide by Lee Ashcroft at the near post. After fifty-three minutes Marc Laird and Andy Ryan ran into each other in midfield. Both fell to the ground and, while Laird recovered after treatment, Ryan seemed to take a head knock as he fell and was helped from the field by the physio. Substitute Kyle Turner made an early impression and gathered the ball from some slack play by Conrad Balatoni but his shot was touched away by Antell. Dunfermline continued to press and just after the seventy minute mark another substitute, Lewis McCann, cut in from the left and his shot was touched over the bar by a leaping Antell. With about ten minutes to go City had a chance from a free-kick after keeper Scully carried the ball slightly outside the penalty box after collecting a high forward pass. Despite City fans screaming for the keeper to be sent off the referee was content with the award of a direct free-kick which Craig Thomson fired into the defensive wall. Throughout the second half I had been chatting to the guy sitting next to me who turn out to be the father of assistant referee Craig Ferguson and was also a former referee. He left with about five minutes to go to head towards the exit to take some more photo's and I said that at least he would at the right end for the penalty shout-out. However with three minutes left a shot from Marc Laird was blocked by the Dunfermline defence. The ball fell to City substitute Danny Handling who raced forward and from about eight yards out, on the left of the six yard box, chipped the ball across Scully and into the net for the only goal of the game.The Dunfermline fans were not happy and urged their side on but City held out for a good victory. The victory now puts City in with a chance of qualification with a home game with East Kilbride and an away tie at Albion Rovers to come.
After the match I walked along the railway path as far as the Crewe Toll exit. As I crossed the road after coming down the steps I saw a 38 bus coming. I took that to Balgreen and then changed to a 30, arriving home at 17.30.
Teams
Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, McIntyre, L. Henderson, Blatoni, Laird, Smith, Watson, Court, Crane, Harris.
Subs: Handling, Walker, Shepherd.
Dunfermline Athletic: Sully, Comrie, Martin, Ashcroft, Morrison, Paton, Dow, Beadling, Nisbet, Ryan, Coley.
Subs: Turner, McCann, McGill.
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