4th September 2021 Civil Service Strollers 1 The Spartans 2

                        

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International break today so no match for Hearts. There were a few good games around the local area but I decided to head to Christie Gillies Park. The park is the home of Civil Service Strollers (CSS) and today they were playing host to Spartans in the ‘North Edinburgh Derby’. I had purchased an electronic ticket through the Fanbase app although surprisingly all tickets were charged at £7 with under14s admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult. I left home just after 13.00 to walk to Marine Drive. I walked down the old railway path as if I was going to Ainslie Park however at Craigleith instead of going straight on I diverged to the left heading towards Davidson's Mains. I came out at the Davidson's Mains turnoff but headed straight on down to Silverknowes Drive. From there I walk along to the roundabout near Craigroyston High School and turned left down Marin Drive. Chrsitie Gilies Park his on the left and backs on to the World of Football complex. Due to Covid restrictions the normal entry to the ground via the social club was closed and I followed a path round the building to the entrance gate. At the entry gate my e-ticket was checked and i was told I had ben first to buy an ticket for the entry. The second guy on the gate spoke to me and it turned out he had worked beside my wife some twenty year ago.There were no programmes and the Spartans side were out warming up when i arrived. As I was standing behind the goals John came into the ground accompanied by his son, also John. I have known John for a number of years and this was his first live game since he Covid restrictions eased. Young John used to play for CSS and Edinburgh City but has retired from playing due to a recurring injury issue despite calls from CSS manager Gary Jardine asking if he wanted to return! John and I took up a position on the fence near the halfway line while young John chatted to some of his former CSS friends. 

This was a top of the table clash with both sides chasing league leaders Bonnyrigg. While Rangers B are second behind the leaders they cannot be promoted to the SPFL and the two Edinburgh sides are contenders for the playoffs. CSS have moved towards a younger side these season with Jordan Fairley (on loan from His), Leeroy Makavora (formerly with Hearts) and Bulgarian Svetoslav Kosakov all still teenagers. Winger Joao Balde, signed from Livingston also provides pace upfront. Spartans fielded a more experienced side although keeper Blair Carswell, injured against East Stirling, and striker Blair Henderson, currently self-isolating were both missing. Carswell was replaced by a trials keeper who I learned later was Ali Adams. Adams, an experienced keeper, has played for a number of sides including Tranent, Musselburgh and Bonnyrigg. Aaron Murrell replaced Henderson in the main striker role although it was surprising that Scott Maxwell who scored against Cumbernauld in mike was on the bench. 

The game started slowly and the first goal attempt came from an unlikely source. Spartans trialist keeper, lining up a free-kick in his own half, saw Mac Whyte of CSS was off his goal-line. Whyte had too crumble back as the kick went narrowly past his post from sixty yards. Michael Bolochoweckyj may be entering the veteran stage but he showed his reading of the game with a perfectly times sliding tackle to prevent a break from Cole. Spartans had another effort from a  free-kick this time from about twenty-five yards but Kevin Waugh sent his attempt into the trees behind the goal. Balde was causing problems with his place for CSS but other than flapping at a cross -ball Spartans keeper remained untroubled. The opening goal came just before half-time. The Trialist keeper took a free-kick from just inside his own half and hit it towards Murrell lurking on the right hand side about twenty yards from goal. The ball should have been cut out by defender Matt Shaw but sailed over the defenders head and Murrell showed excellent control before racing into the penalty area. The striker then shot across Whyte into the far side of the net to give Spartans a half-time lead. 

The second half began much as the first with the action mainly in midfield. CSS were pressing for an equaliser but the spaartns defence was untroubled although Waugh id go down with a head knock after a collision. The defender covered after treatment. Spartans made a change on the hour mark, taking off Murrell and replacing him with maxwell. The change was slightly surprising given Murrell is always a goal threat but his lack of recent game-time probably lead to the change. CSS equalised after around seventy minutes with a strange goal. A long ball was sent in from the right by, I think, Danny Irving. The cross looked like keepers ball all the way but took a slight deflection. The Trialist appeared to get both hands to the ball but it slipped from his grasp into the net. I would give it as a keepers own goal but have been unable to ascertain the official view of the scorer. Both sides were now looking for a winner and this arrived in eight-one minutes. Jamie Dishington chased a Maxwell through ball into the penalty area on the right. He controlled it with a touch from his head he then took a step forward before shooting across Whyte into the net. It wa a similar goal to the first for Spartans but from a tighter angle. CCS then began to launch series of high balls into the Spartans area and the Trialist redeemed his earlier error by touching a strong header over his cross-bar for a corner. Spartans broke deep into injury time but conceded a free-kick on the left touchline just inside the CSS half. Allan kicked the ball away and blade expressed forcibly his opinion that this deserved a yellow card. The referee disagreed and showed Balde a card for his protest. The winger continued to berate the referee and was show a red card. This basically ended CSS hopes of an equaliser as the final whistle blew seconds later after eight minutes of injury time. 

I said my goodbyes to John and walked up to Silverknowes Drive. A 16 bus arrived in minutes and I caught that home, walking from the top of Lothian Road to get back around 18.00.

Teams

CSS: Whyte, Irving, Valentine, McConnell, Shaw, Duffy, Clapperton, Fairley. Cole, Faye, Balde.

Subs; Makavora, Kosakov

Spartans: Trialist, Herd, Allan, Bolochoweckyj, Waugh, Brown, Dishington, McFarland, Murrell, Smith, Jones.

Subs: Maxwell, Atkinson, Woods.