19th July 2023 Edinburgh City 3 Kelty Hearts 5

 

After the disappointment of the match at Murrayfield this afternoon I headed home for something to eat. After I had eaten I headed off to  Meadowbank  as I had bought a ticket for tonight’s match between Edinburgh City and Kelty Hearts. I walked down to Princes Street and caught a 44 bus. I got off at Abbeyhill as I thought I was a bit early and then walked to Meadowbank p, arriving at the turnstiles around 17.15 for the 17.45 kickoff. My Fanbase electronic ticket was scanned for entry. No paper programmes were available at the ground as City decided to move to electronic versions, a.copy of the digital cover is attached. However paper versions can be purchased through the Bathgate Programme Shop. I had been in contact with Alex during the week and he had kept me a seat in the stand alongside himself, Jimmy and Graham. It seemed like a good decision for City to play tonight as the crowd was boosted by a number of fans who had travelled to watch Manchester Utd. earlier today.

This was rhe first competitive match of the season as they were the free team in their group on Saturday. Striker Ozzy See had been granted two weeks leave in absence to compete in the TV show Love Island. Radio Forth announced this morning that he had been kicked out and he was there tonight as a spectator. Goal-scorer Ryan Shanley was missing for City and he was replaced by former Hearts youth player Russell McLean. He is one one these players who looks taller on the ground than when he is jumping for a header but has been a consistent scorer in the lower leagues since leaving Hearts. Kelty now managed by David Tidser have done well since moving into the SPL. This season they now have former Bo’ness Athletic striker Tiwi Daramola as a permanent signing after signing him in January and then loaning him back to Bo’ness After scoring over eighty goals last season he looks like a good signing. Former Hearts winger Lewis Moore was among the Kelty substitutes.

The match started at a furious pace and City went ahead after four minutes. A free-kick from Innes Murray was headed home by Scott Mercer from around eight yards. Three minutes later McLean doubled the lead. Dany Handling broke down the left and pass to McLean who was on  the edge of the penalty area in the centre of the goal. His low shot into the left hand corner gave Kyle Gourlay in the Kelty goal no chance of making a save. Kelty were trying to attack but strong defensive work from City allowed them no clear chances. City grabbed a third goal after twenty minutes. Innes Murray had a run down the right and cut in to the edge of the penalty box. He jinked past a defender and fired a low shot at goal which Gourlay did well to get down and block. The rebound flew up into the air and McLean had easy chance to head the ball past the grounded goal-keeper for what seemed at the time to have clinched the match. Kelty pulled a goal back after twenty-seven minutes when Daramola hit the bar with a shot from just inside the City penalty area. The rebound fell to Craig Johnstone who shot back across goal into the net. Kelty were coming back into the game and Sam Ramsbottom did well to save a shot from Daramola from around fifteen yards. Kelty scored a third after forty-two minutes when Daramola made a run down the left from his on half with Ben Stirling desperately trying to stop him. On the edge of the penalty area Daramola cut inside and shot low past Ramsbottom for a superb individual goal. Unfortunately Stirling suffered an injury as a result on his attempt to catch Daramola and required treatment before being substituted and replaced by Ciaran Brian. The match moved into injury time and Daramola scored a third for Kelty in the third minute of injury. This was another good finish as he lashed home a low cross from the centre of the penalty box around fifteen yards from goal. 

After the excitement of the first half we all wondered if the second half would be as good. Well it as if you were a Kelty fan and after fifty minutes the Fife side took the lead. A long ball found Johnstone racing though on goal with no defenders near him. He shot past Ramsbottom from the centre of the penalty area as he rushed into the box. Kelty were on a high now and scored a fifth after fifty-four minutes. Ross Cunningham spotted Ramsbottom of his line and fired a high shot from his own half over the stranded keeper for another excellent goal. The pace of the game slowed now and City did not seem to be able to make any chances. Robbie Mahon came closest with one shot blocked by the Kelty defence and another fired across goal but past the far post. The final whistle blew giving Kelty the three match points with the game being the perfect football tonic after the events at Murrayfield in the afternoon.

After the game I walked out of the ground and headed up towards Holyrood Park where I caught a 44 bus to Haymarket. I walked up through the colonies and arrived home around 22.15 after some great entertainment.

Teams

Edinburgh City: Ramsbottom, Mercer, MacDonald, Hamilton,Stirling, Jacobs, Mahon, Mitchell, McLean, Handling, Murray

Subs: Brian, Mair, McNamara

Kelty Hearts: Gourlay, Corbett, Owens, O'Ware, Thomson, Tidser, Daramola, Lyon, Johntone, Cunningham, McCluskey.

Subs: Moore, Biabi.