Edinburgh City 0
(0)
Gretna FC (2008) 0 (0)
Lowland League
Meadowbank Stadium
28th March 2015
When Edinburgh City visited Raydale in September as league
leaders, we were left scratching our heads wondering how on Earth Gretna
managed to lose the match. Gretna were
that dominant in the first half they should have been four or five goals ahead at
half time. Instead they lost the match
2-0. We all thought that City were not
good enough to stay at the top of the league. They proved all the doubters
wrong by being the most consistent team in the league and Gretna visited
Meadowbank to participate in the Edinburgh City championship party. City were indeed in party mood as they were
due to be presented with their championship trophy after the match. Gretna were
out to play the role of party poopers but everyone’s day was spoiled by the
strong winds blowing around the big athletics venue.
The match turned out to be the proverbial game of two
halves. The first half was almost
exclusively played in the City half of the park while the second half took
place in the visitors’ side of the field.
Gretna formed a guard of honour for the new Lowland League
champions as they welcomed City to the field. Right from the kick-off the wind
showed that it was going to be a major factor in the day’s proceedings. In the first attack of the day Longcake
slipped through a pass to the onrushing Anderson but the wind got a hold of the
ball and carried it over the bye line.
This was to set the pattern of the day’s events as both teams struggled
to master the blustery conditions.
With the strong wind at their backs, chance after chance
fell for Gretna forwards as they put the City defence under sustained
pressure. However Stobie in the City
goal was rarely troubled as most of the Gretna shots on goal missed the
target. It took half on hour of play
before City had their first shot on goal as they began to come to terms with
the conditions. The first half ended with City pressing on the Gretna goal but
to no avail, the half ended goalless.
The second half began much the same way as the first,
however this time it was the team from the capital that were on top with Gretna having to defend
deep in their own territory. Just as
City did in the first half Gretna did create chances with Anderson and Milligan
working tirelessly against the wind.
However it was Murray in the Gretna goal who made sure that that a share
of the points went back down south. He
produced a series of saves which frustrated the City attack.
However it was deep into injury time that the best chance of
the day fell to Gretna only to be frustrated by an early whistle by the
referee. An inch perfect cross from
Anderson on the edge of the City box found Milligan free at the back post with
the goal at his mercy, however as Anderson crossed the ball he was fouled, the
referee failed to see the advantage and blew for a free kick for Gretna.
Overall a draw was a fair result with the wind being the
winner on the day.
Edinburgh City: Stobie, Caddow, Donaldson, Harrison,
Paterson, McKee, McFarland, Gair, Allum, Dunn, McConnell.
Subs: Deniran, Guthrie, Osborne, Torrance, McDonald, Wilson,
Mackintosh.
Gretna: Murray, D
Graham, Thorburn, Wood, Inglis, Addison, Longcake, Main, Anderson, Milligan, C
Graham.
Subs: Cassidy, MacAnespe, Wallace, Halliday, Cowper, White.
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