15th February 2022 Edinburgh City 1 Albion Rovers 2

Another trip to Ainslie Park with Edinburgh City playing Albion Rovers. This match would have been played at New Year but was postponed due to Covid outbreaks at City and now finally being played. I left home at 18.30 and walked to Tollcross where I caught a 27 to Ferry Road. Surprisingly there were two other City fans on the bus. We all got off at Ferry Road Morrisons and walked down the hill to the ground. I had purchased my ticket through Fanbase and made sure I showed my ticket rather than my Tesco Clubcard when i went through the turnstile. Disappointingly no paper programmes were available tonight although a digital download was available. I resent paying for ink to print a download so will wait util a paper version is available. I met Jim at the Pilton end perimeter fence and Alex joined us just before the match kicked off. 

City have already played Albion Rovers twice this season and I have been at both matches. Rovers won 3-0 at Cliftonhill in August and 4-0 at Ainslie Park in November. City made two changes from their team against Stirling Albion in mid-week. Ciaran Brian and Ryan Shanley came in for Lee Hamilton and Ouzy See. Rovers have been in a poor run of form since they won against Cityin November. They are now second bottom in the league and lost to bottom side Cowdenbeath recently. With the bottom side at the end of the season going into the playoffs to retain there league status Rovers need to pick up points quickly. Hearts loanee Harry Stone was included as Rovers goal-keeper tonight. 

Rovers had an early chance when Blair Malcolm sent a cross from the left which hit the bar before rebounding and cleared by the City defence. Danny Handling was looking dangerous for City and his cross into the box was just missed by the onrushing Canmy Logan at the back post. Logan probably had a nose bleed as he is the last player you would expect to find in the opposition penalty box. .Brian Schwake in the City goal did well to get down to save a free-kicjk from David Wilson just before half-time.

The second half started out as a midfield struggle until around the hour mark when Schwake again made an excellent save. This time from a Declan Byrne header after a corner was flicked on by Sean Fagan. Minutes later Schwake  got down well to stop a shot from Charlie Wright rom the edge of the box. The opening goal came with just under twenty minutes to go. Michael Travis passed to ball back towards Schwake from the edge of the penalty area. The pass went horribly wrong and went into the City net of the far post to give Rovers the lead. Travis and Schwake were blaming each other for the goal although my sympathies were with the keeper as the passbook was poorly judged by Travis. City equalised shortly after when John Robertson ran on to through ball from substitute Dany Jardine in the Rovers penalty area and chipped the  ball over Stone for a probably undeserved equaliser given Rovers had probably been in control of the match since halftime. Rovers however grabbed a winner with five minutes to go. Substitute Kyle Doherty picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and sent an unstoppable shot into Schwake's top right hand corner for what was an excellent goal.

After the final whistle I headed up to Ferry Road for a 27 bus home. There was going to be a twelve minute wait so I walked to the Crewe Toll roundabout and caught a  37 to the West End. After crossing to Lothian Road I had three minutes to wait for a 22 home arriving back at 22.15. 

Team

Edinburgh City: Schwake, Logan, Brydon, Travis, Brian, McDonald, Stirling, Murray, Handling, Robertson, Shanley 

Subs: Jardine, See.

Albion Rovers:Stone, Lynas, Malcolm, McGowan, Fagan, Leslie, C Wilson, D Wilson, Wright, Byrne, Reilly  

Subs: Roberts , Doherty, Jack.