0 July 2023 Edinburgh City 2 Hibs 4

 

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I found it difficult today as I headed off to Meadowbank to watch Edinburgh City play a friendly against Hibs. You will note I have said Edinburgh City rather than FC Edinburgh. The new owner John Dickson has received permission from the SFA for the club to revert to its previous name. I don’t know what has happened to the supposed legal issues with the Edinburgh City social club at Restalrig but I think a number of long-standing City fans are happy with the change. I left home around 13.30 to walk to Meadowbank. Rather than go via Holyrood Park I took the direct route along Princes Street then down to London Road and on to Meadowbank. I arrived just after 14.30 and had to join a queue for entry. Thankfully three turnstiles were open and the queue moved quite quickly. I had my Fanbase ticket scanned and entered the stadium’. There were no programmes available which surprised me but I managed to get a copy of a team-sheet. I was in seat 477 of the 499 seater stand and was unfortunately in the Hibs end. However looking at those standing at the fences around the pitch at least I had a clear unobstructed view of the pitch. 

City under manger Alan Maybury have release a number of last seasons side at the end of their contracts. Players released included captain Robbie McIntyre, Robbie Mutch and top scorer John Robertson. In addition striker Ozzy See has been given leave of absence to compete in TVs Love Island, a different type of loan deal. They have not been slow in bringing in recruits with Robbie Leitch and Russel McLean both brought in along with a number of U20s given senior contracts. Hibs manager Lee Johnson has made a number of new signings over the summer and keeper Jojo Wallacott and striker Adam Le Fondre were both in the starting line-up. Reuben MacAllister, the son of assistant manager Jamie MacAllister, who signed last season from Bristol City was also given a start.

City started well and Ryan Shanley  forced a diving save from Walacott in the first minute. Hibs however then came into the game and Le Fondre was unlucky when his header bounced back off the post. Ellie Youan looked dangerous with his pace but his crossing and shooting were not at the same level. City went ahead after twenty-two minutes when Innes Murray shot across Wallacot into the far corner of the net. Hibs continued to press forward and Youan and Josh Campbell both came close to scoring an equaliser. City went two up in forty-one minutes when a through ball from Leitch 

found Shanley in the penalty area. He jinked past Lewis Stevenson and shot low beyond Walacott. Interestingly both City goalscorer had been released by Hibs. Revenge is sweet! If City could have held on till halftime things may have been different but Hibs pulled a goal back a minute later. A cross from Lewis Miller was flicked on by Le Fondre and hit the crossbar. The rebound however fell to Elias Melkersen who headed home from the six yard line. 

Hibs made eleven changes at halftime bringing on a completely different side for the second half. This meant first apppearances for new signings Jordan Obita and Jenyp Megwa. Hibs equalised after fifty-one minutes. Obita broke down the left and cut in along the bye-line. He cut the ball.back to Ewan Henderson. The midfielder’s shot was off target but landed at the feet of Christian Doidge turned the ball into the net. From where I was sitting Dodge laughed offside but the referee disagreed. Just over ten minutes later Doidge broke down the left and cut the ball back across goal for Dan MacKay to put Hibs ahead. Hibs continued to have most of the ball but with about five minutes left City almost equalised when substitute Elihah Anukam’s shot came back off the far post before being cleared to safety. Hibs scored a fourth in the last minute when Doidge bundled the ball home from close range. I cannot say much about this goal as I had moved to stand behind the goal and the far side of the pitch and the goal was obscured bu fans standing at the fence. I had moved to ensure a quick getaway at the final whistle as the exit is blocked until players and officials have left the pitch and into the dressing rooms. 

After the final whistle I left the ground and. Walked back towards where I caught a 44 bus back into town. I was meeting Natalie amend Ivan at the Shakespeare at 187.30 and was first to arrive where I got the first round in. While I said programmes were issued City did put out a message after the game and a digital version can be found at https://issuu.com/hashtagdigitalmedia/docs/edinburgh_city_fc?fr=sYWNlODU2MzU3MTk 

Teams

Edinburgh City: Ramsbottom, MacDonald, Hamilton, Mercer, Shanley, Leitch, Handling, Jacobs, Murray, Mitchell, Crane.

Subs: McLean, Arukam, Peter. 

Hibernian: Wollacott, Miller, Youan, Jeggo, Stevenson, Le Fondre,  Melkersen, Campbell, Bushiri,  McAllister, Hastie. 

Subs; Marshall, Megwa, Obita, O. McIntyre, Mackay, Kenneh, MacKay, Doidge, Molotnikov, J. McIntyre, Newell, Hanlon, Henderson, Delferriere.