25th February 2020 Edinburgh City 1 Cowdenbeath 0

After a disappointing week football wise it was another Friday, another trip to Ainslie Park. I had intended going to Bonnyrigg on Tuesday but that was rained off at lunchtime. Hearts U18 side was playing in the SFA Youth Cup semi-final at Tynecastle on Thursday but again I could not go due to a long-standing engagement. As I had done quite a bit of walking during the day I decided to catch a bus to Ainslie Park. I walked to Tollcross and caught a 27 around 18.45. After walking from Ferry Road I arrived at the ground around 19.20. I showed my electronic Fanbase ticket for entry and purchased a programme inside the ground. The programme is an excellent read and I also purchased the issued for the games again Kelty Hearts and Albion Rovers at the souvenir hut. I had attended the later two games but programmes had not been available on the night. The Kelty programme was a short issue and was available for £1 rather than the normal £3. I met Jim and we took up position against the fence at the Ferry Road end of the ground. Our normal stance at the Pilton end was unavailable as it had been fenced off beyond the stand. I think this may have been due to the trouble caused by the ‘young team’ at the Albion Rovers game. It was all verbal with no violence but the kids involved have been banned from attending matches by the club. Alex joined us and when he checked his Futbology app was pleased to see a number of Borussia Dortmund (BVB) fans were at the game. BVD had played Rangers in the Europa League last night and it looked like some fans were having an extended stay in Scotland. 

This promised to be an interesting game. City are fourth in the league table, the final playoff place, three points ahead of Stenhousemuir who have a game in hand.  Cowdenbeath however are bottom of the table, six points, behind Elgin City, although the Fife side have two games in hand over Elgin. After a spate of injuries City seem now have settled their defensive link with Jack Brydon and Derek Travis in the centre flanked by Hearts loanee Cammy Logan and Callum Crane. Up front Ryan Shanley continued in place of Ouzy See. Cowdenbeath have been in a good run of form recently. They have won three of their last five games and the two they lost were as the result of late penalties awarded to the opposition. Cowdenbeath included farmer Hearts, and City, fullback Craig Thomson with another former Hearts player Robbie Buchanan on the beach.

To be honest this was another awful footballing experience. I have enjoyed watching  City over the past view seasons but this season quality has been sadly lacking. City who were attacking the goal at the Pilton end had most of the first half possession but Cammy Gill in the Cowdenbeath goal was rarely troubled. The closest to a goal was a direct free-kick from just outside the penalty area just after the half hour mark. Danny Handling’s attempt however was hit over the crossbar. City finally  took the lead after forty-two minutes. A corner from the left from Innes Murray was headed back across goal by Travis from beyond the far post. Shanley, in the centre of the penalty box, hit the ball in the volley from about seven yards and gave Gill no chance as the ball flew into the top of the net. 

The second half started with an early chance for Murray. His shot from outside the box on the right was just too high and flaw over the bar. Cowdenbeath were trying hard for an equaliser and a shot from Thomson was just wide of the goal before Craig  Barr’s header from a corner hit the City crossbar. Thomson came close again with a free kick from around twenty yards but City held out for the three points.

After the final whistle I walked up to Ferry Road to find it was a twelve minute wait for the next bus. I walked along to Crewe Toll but just missed two buses before catching the delayed 27 and arrived home around 22.20. 

Teams 

City: Schwake, Logan, Crane, Brydon, Stirling, Travis, McDonald, Jardine, Shanley, Handling, Murray.

Subs: See, Farrell, Berry, Brian. 

Cowdenbeath: Gill, Thomson, Murray, Todd, Barr, Denholm, Ferguson, Miller, Carty, R. Buchanan, Barrowman.

Subs: Coulson, L. Buchanan, Swann, Moore