8th September 2021 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 2 Crossgates Primrose 2

 

After a really warm day I decided to head to Ainslie park again this evening to watch Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (LTHV) against Crossgates Primrose in the East of Scotland league Premier Division. As I had already walked twelve miles today I decided to be lazy and catch a bus to the ground. I walked to Tollcross and caught a 27 arriving at Morrisons in Ferry Road around 19.10 in plenty time for the 19.45 kickoff. I walked down to the ground and having bought my ticket on Fanbase was quickly through the turnstile where I also bought a programme for £2. The turnstile operator said 'on you go young man" and when I told him how old I was he said that he was 82. I suppose that does make me a young man in his eyes ! I hung around at the entrance and Jim arrived shortly after. He had been on a recent Highland League trip and was telling me about the games he had seen. Alex arrived just before kick-off and we moved along to take seats in the stand for the first half. 

LTHV had a poor start to the season. However with wins in their last three games they have now moved up to 11th place in the 15 club league. With four clubs going down they need to keep this run going to avoid being in a relegation position at the end of the season. It was surprising to hear the LTHV have released long-serving Darren Smith who scored my goal of the season so far against Musselburgh in their first league match. Crossgtes, from the village of the same name in Fife, are currently 10th in the table with 14 points and have games in hand against most of the clubs around them in mid-table. I have seen Crossgates twice before and have yet to see them win a match. Striker and captain Scott Lawrie is the man to watch in their side. Crossgates main claim to fame is that they were the first club of Jim Baxter who later went on to play for Rangers and Scotland among others. Unfortunately I only saw Baxter play once, towards the end of his career when his lifestyle had dulled his skills. By all accounts however he was a great player at his peak. 

The match began with Crossgates on top and they opened the scoring after ten minutes. Ross Graham was fouled just outside the penalty area by LHTV’s Paul Crawford. Scott lawirie took the kick from just inside the ‘D’ on the penalty area. With the aid of a slight deflection the shot beat Jack Stewart in the LTHV gaol to put he visitors ahead. LHTV equalised in twenty-eight minutes. A corner bounced around in the Crossgates penalty area with two attempts at goal being blocked by defenders.  Eventually a rebound fell to Joe Murray on the edge of the six yard box. His low shott found the back of the net. While LHTV had come back into the game Crossgates were making the better chances and Lawrie hit the bar with a header from a Cameron Muirhead cross before halftime. 

At halftime I was chatting to the guy sitting in front of us in the stand. Derek is a former referee and now reports on matches for Black Diamond FM in addition to writing reports on matches he has attended for the "Scottish Non-League Football Page" on Facebook. Before the second half started Jim, Alex and I moved out of the stand to take up position against the fence at the dressing room end of Ainslie Park. We met Jamie there who joined us. Jamie is involving in producing programmes for both Bonnyrigg and Edinburgh United but also watches a number of other lower league matches in addition to following Liverpool when he can.

The second half continued much as in the first but this time LTHV were having most of the possession. They had a clear chance around the hour mark Neil Doherty put a pass through to the onrushing Foster. The forward took the ball past Crossgates keeper Shaun Hunter but an excellent tackle by Andy McDonald prevented a goal at the expense of a corner. Crossgates went ahead again in eighty minutes. Mark McKenzie was fouled out wide on the left about twenty yards from goal. The free-kick was launched into the penalty area where Brian Ritchie headed home from about ten yards out. LTHV were now pressing for an equaliser however with about a minute remaining Crossgates full-back Dougie Swan fell awkwardly after a challenge. He limped off after treatment which continued at the side of the pitch. With three substitutes used Crossgates had to play the match out with ten men. LTHV equalised as the game moved into injury time. Full-back Michael Deland had a shot from just outside the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty for handball. From were I was standing I could not see any offence as there was a group of players in the centre of the penalty box obscuring my view. The LTHV squad were claiming for a penalty although the Crossgates defenders were querying the referee’s decision. Errol Douglas stepped up and sent keeper Hunter the wrong way to equalise. The game ended shortly after with Crossgates still unhappy about the equalising goal. 

After the final whistle I walked up to Ferry Road with Alex while Jim headed in the opposite direction. All headed along Ferry Road as I walked to the bus stop. It was twelve minutes until the next bus so I walked to Crewe Toll where I caught a 37 to Queensferry Street. After crossing Prices Street I caught a 22 home and was back in the house by 22.10 after an excellent match. 

Teams

LTHV: Stewart, Daniel, Moore, Crawford, Deland, Signorini, Doherty, Cunningham, Douglas, Murray, Foster.

Subs: Watson, Penker, Laver

Crossgates Promrose: Hunter, Swan, N. Lawrie, McDonald, Ritchie, Aitken, S. Lawrie, Sawers, Paterson, Muirhead, F. Graham.

Subs: McAteer, McKenzie, R. Graham.