22nd July 2023 Edinburgh University 3 Civil Service Strollers 4

 

A full Lowland League programme today and with Hearts not starting their competitive fixtures I decided to go to Peffermill to watch Edinburgh University at home to Civil Service Strollers. With the weather being fine I decided to walk to the ground and left around 13.40 to give me plenty time. I arrived at the ground around 14.40 and paid my £5 admission charge. The Uni no longer do programmmes by a four page fold over team sheet was available in the cafe.I was tempted to have a coffee and some of the delicious looking cakes available but after walking to the ground for exercise decided that cake and coffee was not a good idea.I took a seat in the stand and then saw Graham and his brother in law outside the stand area. I wandered across to chat to them and they asked about team sheets. They went into the cafe and returned to sit with me in the stand.

After twenty three years with Edinburgh University FC Dorian Ogurno left the club at the end of last season. He had been a player, coach and manager (for fifteen years) over that period but felt his time was now over. Sean McAuley was appointed as new first team coach and as with all the university sides had the difficult task of building a new side to start the campaign before the majority of students return to the University. Looking at the team sheet I only recognised two names from players I recollected seeing before and it will be interesting to see how they blend as a team. CSS under former Edinburgh City manager Gary Jardine are probably punching above their weight in the Lowland League. They finished sixth last season despite what I think will be a low budget. Jardine has a number of ex-City players in his side including Mark McConnell, Marc Laird and Ross Guthrie along experienced man of many clubs Conrad Balatoni. CSS have recently recruited goalkeeper Jacob Pazikas on loan from Rangers for this season although Rangers have a recall option during the January transfer window.

I had thought the result would be a nap for CSS but my view changed two minutes into the match. The Uni were awarded a free kick on the right wing fifteen yards out. David Maskery floated the ball into the penalty area were it was headed against the bar by I think Jacob Taylor. The rebound was blocked a defender before Lewis Hendry knocked ball into the net to give the Uni the lead. CSS equalised after around fifteen minutes. Again it came from a free-kick on the right  taken by Marc Laird . The cross got a touch from Conrad Balatoni’s head at the near post and was I thought turned in by Mark McConnell sliding in at the far post. CSS Twitter account however awarded the goal to Balatoni. CSS went ahead just after the half hour mark. This time there was not confusion about the scorer as Balatoni head home a corner from the edge of the six yard box.

Just as the players were leaving the pitch at halftime I received a phone call from Natalie, my wife. She had left home before me to go and watch the new Barbie movie. She had just returned home and discovered she did not have her keys. We have left a spare key with our next door neighbours , as have they with us, to cover for this type of situation. However they were away for the weekend. I left the ground and luckily got a 2 bus within minutes. The journey home was around twenty-five minutes and by then Natalie had been able to get through the front door. She was sitting outside the flat watching television on her IPad when I arrived to let her in. I saw on social media that CSS had won the match 4-3 with a late goal from Matty Cunningham. I found out later that the other goals came from a penalty from Marc Laird from CSS while the Uni had another Lewis Hendry goal and a second from David Maskery. 

Teams

Edinburgh University: Samuel, Reid, McGinley, Mail, Taylor, Mair, Maskery, MacLean, Hendry, Maurice, Anderson.

Subs: No idea if any were used.

Civil Service Strollers: Pazikas, Duffy, Valentine, Balatoni, McConnell, Yeats, Mbewe, Laird, Girdwood, Cunningham, Cole.

Subs: No idea if any were used.