16th July 2022 FC Edinburgh 1 Arboath 3
A first today with a new team and a new ground but maybe not. During the close season Edinburgh City changed their name to FC Edinburgh due to copyright problem with the Edinburgh City FC name still owned by the former City Social Club at Restalrig. In addition the football club have now moved back to their old stamping ground at Meadowbank. The Council demolish old Meadowbank after the ten Edinburgh City FC moved out and have now built a new athletics ground and football pitch on the old site. FC Edinburgh who have been tenants at Spartans Ainslie Park have now back to Meadowbank after leaving in 2017. Having been at the first game at the 'old' Meadowbank when Meadowbank Thistle met Albion Rovers in 1974 I was now missing Hearts v Crawley Town to attend the first match at the new stadium. The Meadowbank Thistle had halftime entertainment in the shape of a gogo dancer but I was not expecting similar in these more politically correct times. I left home just after 13.00 to walk down to Meadowbank. I walked through the Grassmarket and the Cowgate before cutting through Holyrood Park onto London Road.I arrived at what used to be the Golden Gates pub but now an office occupied by a consultancy firm. I crossed London Road and walked back past the stadium as the entrance torte stand was at the other end of the stadium.
I arrived at the turnstiles at around 14.05 to find they we’re not yet open. However previous the Edinburgh chairman appeared seconds later and told the security guards that the turnstiles could be opened. There were only two turnstiles and the queue I joined did not ove as the turnstile operator could not read the electronic tickets. He went away to have his device sorted and I nipped across to the other queue for entry and my Fanbase ticket was scanned. Programmes we’re on sale at a table in entry and I bought two, one for myself and on for Jim. There was a large burger van on the left for those requiring sustinence. On entry I was to.d I could sit anywhere but as I wandered down the front of the stand I was told by a steward that this was as farasI could go. As the area was almost on the halfway line I was happpy to take a seat in the second row of the three row stand. The stand holds 499 bodies and all tickets for today had been sold. There is talk of the Council allowing a further 800 capacity standing area but I am not sure where this would be in the ground,
Edinburgh have had to make a few changes to there squad since promotion to league after last seasons play-off victory. Their four loanees had to return to their parent clubs with Brian Schwake (Livingston), Callum Logan (Hearts) and Jack Brydon long with Innes Murray(both Hibs) all initially leaving. Murray's Hibs contract expired and Edinburgh have signed him again despite interest from other clubs while a partnership agreement with Hibs has allowed Brydon to return on a season long loan. Goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom, formerly with Morton and Dumbarton,, among others replaces Schwake in goal on a one year deal with Kieran MacDonald joining from Ratih Rovers replaces Logan. Liam Fontaine (formerly Hibs and Ross County) and Mark Doherty (Clyde) have also joined Edinburgh in addition to Nicky Reid and Kieran Watson (both Penicuik) who signed pre-contracts earlier in the year. The changes to the squad should strengthen Edinburgh for what will be a strong league One this season. Arbroath finished second in the Championship last season but missed out on promotion to the SPL in the playoffs.hile loanees Chris Hamilton (Hearts) and Craig Wighton (Dunfermline) have left the club as manager Dick Campbell has looked to improve his side for this years Championship campaign. New signings include Sammy Gill (Cowdenbeath), Keghan Jacobs (Livingston), Daniel Fosu (Thatham Town) and Kieran Shanks (Inverurie Locos).
The match started slowly with both sides seeming to be searching for each others strengths and weaknesses in the early stages. Murray had the first shot at goal for Edinburgh from outside the penalty box but his shot was slightly wide to the right of the goal. Luke Donnelly of Arbroath then had a shot saved by rams bottom leaping to his left before Edinburgh took the lead in twenty-four minutes. Ryan Stanley broke on the left and fed the ball forward to onrushing wing-back Callum Crane. He held off a defender and fired a shot across Derek Gaston into he right hand corner of the goal from just inside the Arbroath penalty area. On the half hour mark Shanley broke down the right and was fouled from behind by Thomas O’Brien. Shanley was not happy and got up to confront O’Brien. Other players moved in to join the fracas which was really a case of "handbags". The referee agreed and yellow card to both O’Brien, for the dangerous challenge and Shanley, for his reaction. Fontaine had a chance to incase Edinburgh's lead but screwed his six yard shot following a corner wide of the goal. Arbroath lost Ricky Little due to an injury in thirty-six minutes and he was replaced by Nicky Low. Low’s first touch three minutes later sent Michael McKenna free in the Arbroath penalty area only for the forward to be fouled from behind by Crane. The referee correctly awarded a penalty and booked Crane despite the Arbroath fans screaming from him to be sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. The double jeopardy ruling has obviously not yet reached Arbroath. Low took the penalty and comfortably beat the diving Ramsbottom for the equaliser. the game continued to half-time with no other major incidents.
Dick Campbell was clearly not happy with the Arbroath first half performance and brought on Bobby Linn and Shanks for Donnelly and James Craigen for the second half. The changes certainly improved Arbroath as an attacking force although the first attempt of the second half came fro Edinburgh's Murray. From outside the penalty area he fired shot towards the top left hand corner of the goal which was pushed over the bar by goalkeeper Gaston at the expense of a corne. Low then had an attempt for Arbroath from outside the box and Ramsbottom did well to push the ball away for a corner. Both sides made further substitutions in an attempt to force a winning goal and Colin Hamilton brought another good save from Ramsbottom with a low shot from around fifteen yards. Arbroath finally took the lead in seventy-five minutes. Hamilton and Low linked up well on the right allowing Low to send in a cross towards the far post. Linn coming running in from the left and hit the ball into the net on the volley giving Ramsbottom no chance of making a save. If Linns first goal was excellent his second after eighty-one minutes was even better. He received the ball from Hamilton on the left wing and cut inside. From around twenty-five yards he hit a right footed shot into the top right corner of the Edinburgh goal. Edinburgh had another chance as the game moved into injury time when substitute John Robertson cut into the penalty box on the left. His shot however flew high ever the bar.
after the final whistle there was a delay in getting out of the ground. The players dressing rooms are just round the corner from the entrance/exit and barriers were erected to stop fans leaving while the players and officials left the pitch. Eventually the barriers were removed but this maybe something the club need to review going forward. On leaving the ground there was a queue at the bus stop opposite geadibg back into town so I decided to walk to the top of Easter Road for a better choice of buses. A bad move as nothing was due for twenty minutes. I walked up to Waverley Steps and caught a 25 along with thirty foreign students. After getting off at Atholl Crescent I eventually arrived home around 18.00. I enjoyed the game but think that some work still has to be done to make Meadowbank a home for football again.
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