11th February 2022. Edinburgh City. 1 Stirling Albion 0

 


Friday and another game at Ainslie Park with Edinburgh City against Stirling Albion. City were meant to have moved back to their old stadium at the redeveloped Meadowbank by now. However the contracts have not yet handed the building over to City of Edinburgh Council and it now looks unlikely City will be playing there this season. I left home at 18.30 to catch a bus to Ainslie Park.the bus was early and I got off at Goldenacre and walked along Ferry Road arriving at the ground at around 19.15. There was a queue at the turnstiles and I searched on my phone for my electronic Fanbase ticket while waiting. The stewards then split into three for tickets, cash and card payments going to different turnstiles. I showed my phone to be scanned at the turnstiles but my ticket did not register. It was then I realised I was showing my Tesco Clubcard for entry ! I switched my phone to show the correct ticket and got into the ground. After issues earlier in the season there was a programme on sale and I paid £3 for a copy. I stood at the fence near the entrance for a few minutes scanning the programme before moving to the embankment at the Pilton end of the ground where I met Jim and Alex joined us just before the match kicked off. 

City manager Gary Naysmith has made major changes to his squad during the January transfer window. He has brought in Jack Leighfield (Lancaster City, Ben Stirling (on loan from Hamilton), Anthony McDonald (Inverness), Cammy Logan (on loan from Hearts), Jack Brydon (on loan from Hibs) and Michael Travis (Forfar). In addition Lucas Berry and James Farrell have stepped up from the under twenty squad to the first team squad. As a consequence of these incoming players a number of player have been released from their contracts with some yet to find new clubs. Those departing are Chris Kane, Ryan Godfellow, James Hilton (Stranraer), Lewis Kidd, Scott Reekie, Steven Bronsky (Dumbarton), Michael McFarlane (Cumbernauld Colts), Alex Ferguson (loan ended returned to St Johnstone) and Dave McKay (loan ended returned to Raith Rovers). Stirling started the season well and were second in the table at the end of October. A run of bad results saw them fall to fourth and manager Kevin Rutkiewicz resigned. The poor form continued and when Darren Young hwas appointed as new manager in mid December they had fallen to eleventh. Results have improved since then and they are now seventh in the league. The squad includes two former Hearts players Dale Carrick and Nathan Flanagan.

To be honest the was not the best of matches. City full-back Callum Crane had the first attempt at goal with shot from outside the penalty area which was saved by Lee Currie in the Stirling goal at the expense of a corner. Michael Travis then also had a shot saved by Currie after a corner when he tried to score from the left of the six yard box. The wind was blowing towards the Pilton end which Stirling were defending and this gave an advantage to City. However Brian Schwake did well to save a shot from Stirlings Ray Grant by diving to the right hand corner of his goal.  

The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first but this time Stirling ad the wind behind them and did most of the attacking. Mason Hancock fired an early attempt just over the bar from outside the penalty area before Dylan Mackin narrowly missed connection with a cross from the right. City broke away and opened the scoring after fifty-none. After a good run from Ouzy See City forced a throw-in on the right about six yards from goal. The throw was flicked on by See at the near post for Lee Hamilton to force the ball home into the left hand corner of the goal from the edge of the six yard box.The game was then dominated by Stirling but they could not force an equaliser with Schwake saving well from both Hancock and Mackin.  

After the final whistle I walked along to Crewe Toll and caught a 27 bus home arriving around 22.15.


Teams

Edinburgh City: Schwake, Logan, Crane, Hamilton, Brydon, Travis, Robertson, Stirling, See, Handling, Murray.
Subs: Shanley, Berry, Jardine

Stirling Albion: Currie, Moore, Hancock, Banner, McGregor, Grant, Roberts, Leitch, Flanagan, Francis, Mackin
Subs: Carrick, Paterson.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

27th April 2024 The Spartans 2 Peterhead 2

Image
  I was not sure where to go today as I did not fancy going to Kilmarnock for the Hearts game. I final,y decided to head to Ainslie Park for Spartans SPFL match against. I walked to Tollcross to catch a 27 bus which was fine until we got to the Mound  where the police were stopping all traffic to allow a Gaza protest march to walk up the Mound and then done the High Street to the parliament building. After a fifteen minute delay the bus finally got moving again and I got off at Morrisons before walking down to the ground arriving at around 14.50. The cafe bare was just shut when I arrived so I took up a position against the fence at the bar end. Spartans were sitting in fourth place in SPFL League Two and were now guaranteed a sport in the end of season playoffs. There side was unchanged from last weeks win a Bonnyrigg. Under twenties players Josh Laing and Archie Wylie were included amongst the substitutes. Peterhead were now second in the league and also guaranteed a playoff spot. To
Read more

23rd March 2024 Musselburgh Athletic 1 Jeanfield Swifts 0

Image
  We  are on Saturday in the international break and I not sure where  to go today as choice either Penicuik v Glenrothes or Musselburgh v  Jeanfield. Given Penicuik have been awful this season I decided to head to Musselburgh. I walked down to Haymarket around 13.00 and caught a 26 bus to Musselburgh. Arrived there about 14.15 and walked the short distance to the ground. Paid my £5 admission bought a £2 programme. After a wander around the ground I met Jim and we took about a stance at the cafe end against the fence. It looked like being a goood game today with Musselburgh second on the EoS Premier League and Jeanfield third. Broxburn are however twelve points cleated at the top of the league and look Tati be champions at the end of the season. Musselburgh have probably the best three strikers in the league with Nathan Evans, Jordan Smith and recent signing Nicky Reid. Evans was not include in todays starting eleven due to injury while Smith was on the bench replaced by Jonnny Court.
Read more

27th January. 2024. Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0

Image
At last back to Tynecastle. After a spell of illness back to watch a home game for the first time since late November. I would have been back for the Dundee game on Tuesday but I fell out of bed overnight on Monday and was a mess of bruises so stayed at home. Today however I was feeling a lot better and left home to walk to Tynecastle. I arrived around 14.20 and scanned my season ticket for entry. Went to my seat in the Main Stand and it felt great to be back again. 2024 is 150 years since Hearts were founded and a special 150 year flag was raised on the pitch before the kickoff. The flag will be flown above the stand for the remainder of the year. The ceremony made me feel old as I remember being at the 100th anniversary match against Spurs in 1974. Steven Naismith starting lineup included both Dexter Lembikiska and Yutaro Oda who both came on as substitutes against Dundee and scored. Craig Halkett and Kenneth Vargas dropped to the bench to replace them Aberdeen under mamager Barry Ro
Read more