Derby days blues as City sneak late win at Meadowbank

Posted on Sunday, October 11th, 2015

Ten man City stole the spoils in the first Edinburgh Derby of the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League campaign with a late Ousman See header enough to separate the sides.

The first half, played in fine autumnal conditions at the concrete vacuum that is Meadowbank Stadium, had the hallmarks of a traditional derby encounter with robust challenges, near misses and much harrumphing from the paying public in the stand.

Spartans had an early opportunity to test the league leaders after a David Greenhill corner found Jamie Dishington at the back post.  The youngster headed the ball towards the plethora of bodies sardine-tinned inside the six yard box however after a spell of header tennis, it was hoofed behind for a corner.

Ally MacKinnon was close with a looping header that forced Andrew Scobie into poking the ball over the crossbar then Eddie Malone’s free-kick from the edge of the box clipped the corner of the post / bar as Spartans maintained their first half pressure.

Malone was involved in the next piece of play that endeared him to the vocal home support after his robust challenge on Jordan Caddow tight on the stand-side touchline saw the Spartans man earn a caution after handbags were exchanged at dawn between a melee of players.   The feisty feeling of the derby leaving some wondering if both sides would end up with a full compliment come the end of the match.

Shaun Harrison tried his luck for the home side with a 25 yard free-kick however Spartans wall stood firm and both sides headed for the huts with the game finely balanced at the break.

Half Time: Edinburgh City 0-0 Spartans

With just five minutes gone in the second stanza, the Mystic Megs amongst the crowd were proved correct when Ross Allum received his marching orders after being offered his second yellow of the afternoon for a foul on Ally MacKinnon.

Spartans then made a substitution on the hour mark when Conner Duthie replaced Paul Thomson.

It was another close call in the City box, this time a stramash ensued as the ball pinged off legs like a pinball before David Greenhill was denied by a last gasp tackle as he look set to pull the trigger.

A counter attack almost came to fruition for City as the swept from defence to attack in one swift move.  Jamie Dishington tracking back to deny Ousman See.

Then, with nine minutes left, City took the lead.  With the oval ball’s Rugby World Cup in full flow – and news reaching the crowd of Scotland’s win to reach the Quarter Final – an old fashioned rugby-style ‘Garry Owen’ by Shaun Harrison was latched upon by Ousman See who out-jumped Blair Carswell on the edge of the penalty box to head into the empty net despite MacKinnon’s despairing efforts to race back to prevent the likely outcome.

With time running out, Dougie Samuel replaced Aaron Murrell with former City hitman Robbie Ross however it wasn’t to be a happy return as City held on to their narrowest of winning margins.

Full Time: Edinburgh City 1-0 Spartans