5th July 2019. Civil Service Strollers v Dunfermline Athletic. 4-0
An early start to get to Christie Gillies Park for a 19.15 kick-off. The park is named after Bill Christie and Ken Gillies who played for Civil Service Strollers (CSS) for a number of years after they were founded in 1957. I left the house at 18.00 and walked to Tollcross where I caught a 27 bus at around 18.15. Arrived at the stop nearest the ground around 18.45 and then walked down the hill to the ground. I walked round to the previous entrance of the playing fields, which was open although there was no-one on the gate. Walked in and then saw that I should have entered through the clubhouse were a guy was sitting at a table collecting entrance money from those coming in. Wandered across and paid my £6 admission and £2 for a programme as the gate at the playing fields was closed by club staff to prevent people getting in free. Met Jim who was already in the ground and Alex joined us later, having had difficulty also in finding his way into the park.
CSS finished fifth in the Lowland League last season. Their manager is former Edinburgh City boss, Gary Jardine, and he has put together a good squad. While they have lost a few players from last season they have added Chris McKee (formerly with East Stirling), Scott Main (Gala Fairydean) and Jack Blaikie (Vale of Leithen) and look to have another good year. The Dunfermline side was mainly composed of young reserve players with no names I recognised.
The game started with Dunfermline attacking the clubhouse end aided by a strong wind blowing in that direction. However CSS looked the better side and had the first attempt after around ten minutes when Andy Mair hit a shot from the edge of the box which was easily held by Dunfermline keeper Ben Swinton. Mair, who normally plays at left-back, was playing in left midfield today and had another long range attempt just before the half hour which went narrowly past the post. Centre forward Cammy Muirhead broke into the box on the right. Hs shot from around six yards out hit the side netting when he may have been better to have squared the ball into the middle of the goal. Just before half time Dunfermline lost full-back Josh Robertson who was carried from the field by keeper Swinton and the physio after an accidental collision with CSS’s Jack Downie. The full-back appeared on the bench in the second half walking with the aid of crutches. CSS took the lead two minutes into injury time when a corner from the right was headed powerfully into the net by centre-half Fraser Patterson.
Strangely Dunfrmline did not go back to the dressing rooms at halftime but had their half-time team talk from coach Greg Shields sitting on the park and aided by a tactics board. Whatever was said did not have much effect as almost straight from the restart Swinton saved another shot from Mair from the edge of the penalty area. Three minutes into the half Main and Mair worked the ball down the left. Mair’s final ball found Muirhead in the box around fifteen yards out and he shot past Swinton to put CSS two nil ahead. Muirhead scored his second and a third for CSS a minute later. The Dunfermline defence stood still as a through ball found the scorer twelve yards out on the left hand side of the box. He shot across Swinton into the net to give CSS what looked like an unassailable lead. Dunfermline tried to get back into the match but CSS stood firm although Gregor Jordan had a header from a corner cleared from the CSS goal-line. Dunfermline captain Paul Brown did not endear himself to the CSS fans when he fell to the ground clutching his face after an accidental collision Alieu Faye in midfield. The referee rightly waved play on. with As the game moved into injury team CSS scored a fourth after a quick break following a Dunfermline corner. Dorian Nkashana brought the ball forward and found substitute Alivin racing into the box. Keeper Swinton dived at his feet but the forward took the ball past him and shot into an empty net despite defenders rushing back in a vain attempt to clear. A good win for CSS which should set them up well for the new season.
After the game I walked up to the main road with Alex and caught a 27 bus home. Jim had given me a complimentary copy of the Football Weekends magazine as he had three articles printed. i started to read this on the journey home.CSS finished fifth in the Lowland League last season. Their manager is former Edinburgh City boss, Gary Jardine, and he has put together a good squad. While they have lost a few players from last season they have added Chris McKee (formerly with East Stirling), Scott Main (Gala Fairydean) and Jack Blaikie (Vale of Leithen) and look to have another good year. The Dunfermline side was mainly composed of young reserve players with no names I recognised.
The game started with Dunfermline attacking the clubhouse end aided by a strong wind blowing in that direction. However CSS looked the better side and had the first attempt after around ten minutes when Andy Mair hit a shot from the edge of the box which was easily held by Dunfermline keeper Ben Swinton. Mair, who normally plays at left-back, was playing in left midfield today and had another long range attempt just before the half hour which went narrowly past the post. Centre forward Cammy Muirhead broke into the box on the right. Hs shot from around six yards out hit the side netting when he may have been better to have squared the ball into the middle of the goal. Just before half time Dunfermline lost full-back Josh Robertson who was carried from the field by keeper Swinton and the physio after an accidental collision with CSS’s Jack Downie. The full-back appeared on the bench in the second half walking with the aid of crutches. CSS took the lead two minutes into injury time when a corner from the right was headed powerfully into the net by centre-half Fraser Patterson.
Strangely Dunfrmline did not go back to the dressing rooms at halftime but had their half-time team talk from coach Greg Shields sitting on the park and aided by a tactics board. Whatever was said did not have much effect as almost straight from the restart Swinton saved another shot from Mair from the edge of the penalty area. Three minutes into the half Main and Mair worked the ball down the left. Mair’s final ball found Muirhead in the box around fifteen yards out and he shot past Swinton to put CSS two nil ahead. Muirhead scored his second and a third for CSS a minute later. The Dunfermline defence stood still as a through ball found the scorer twelve yards out on the left hand side of the box. He shot across Swinton into the net to give CSS what looked like an unassailable lead. Dunfermline tried to get back into the match but CSS stood firm although Gregor Jordan had a header from a corner cleared from the CSS goal-line. Dunfermline captain Paul Brown did not endear himself to the CSS fans when he fell to the ground clutching his face after an accidental collision Alieu Faye in midfield. The referee rightly waved play on. with As the game moved into injury team CSS scored a fourth after a quick break following a Dunfermline corner. Dorian Nkashana brought the ball forward and found substitute Alivin racing into the box. Keeper Swinton dived at his feet but the forward took the ball past him and shot into an empty net despite defenders rushing back in a vain attempt to clear. A good win for CSS which should set them up well for the new season.
Teams
Civil Service Strollers: J. Donaldson, C. Donaldson, Fee, Patterson, Main, Nkashana, Faye, Downie, McConnell, Mair, Muirhead.
Subs: Alivin, Devers, Newall, Bilell, Guillanne.
Dunfermline: Swinton, Robertson, Jordan, Bragg,Brown, Crosbie, Trailist, Newton, Berry, Sawers, Trialist.
Subs: Arnott, Coulston.
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