So that’s one down – Stirling Albion go with Darren Young, who last managed East Fife before being sacked at the end of 2018 after 18 months at the helm. Good luck to him.
Also if I’m offered East Stirlingshire I’m likely to turn them down – They really gave no resistance in our game against them in the last episode and I worry about only having 13 games to try and stop them getting relegated.
Unchanged lineup from the 3-0 v East Stirlingshire, amended the tactics a little bit (Early Crosses, Overlaps as opposed to Underlaps) and swapped Churchill & Balfour side-wise. We know Kelty are a useful side, they go with a 4-4-2 Narrow Diamond. This will be tough.
HT Civil Service 0 Kelty Hearts 1 (Beattie 38)
So. Much. Rain. Really surprised Edinburgh isn’t underwater. A useful start, looking dangerous going forward versus the narrow formation. Kelty were very much in the game as well though. Lumsden’s heading stats are going to be mad in this formation. Really good work on the right in the 29th minute nearly led to a goal for Lumsden, but out of nothing in the 38th minute Kelty took the lead – a free kick swung in finding Beattie who headed home – a pretty soft goal. And the half finished 1-0. The player ratings on both side are pretty low which seems quite strange – especially from the highlights as we definitely had the lion’s share of the half.
Changes – Balfour always flatters to deceive – his ratings this year have been pretty poor TBH, though his last two games have been his best of the season. I might leave it 15 minutes then McVitie may be coming on. Burbidge & Andrew Mackay may be asked to push on a bit as well, we will see.
FT Civil Service 3 (Glasgow 66, Burbidge 71, Lumsden 90+1) Kelty Hearts 1 (Beattie 38) Att 110 (18 Away)
I turned underlaps back on, and moved the attacking play wider at half time. McVitie on for Balfour, Mair for Andrew Mackay, wingers moved up to Attacking Midfield. Glasgow on for Scott Mackay, 2 up top. And the breakthrough – a lovely cross from Burbidge finding Glasgow at the back post with the header – 1-1 in the 66th minute. And he should have scored again just after from an identikit pass but missed the target. And it was 2-1 in the 71st, a Lumsden header slamming against the crossbar, coming out to Burbidge who thumped it home. A brilliant comeback. Kelty still looked dangerous on the break, but Civil Service finished it off in the 1st minute of injury time, a superb cross from Mair headed home powerfully by Lumsden. 3-1. And that’s how it finished – a superb half of football from the boys!! 4-4-2 is the way to go 🙂 Another 4 key headers for Lumsden, Burbidge MotM with a goal, an assist and 2 key passes.
So 3rd, 3 points off of 1st and 2nd (Queen’s Park dropping points v our next opponents Vale of Leithen). BSC Glasgow and Edusport have a game in hand so will possibly have one of them pulling up behind us, or BSC will go ahead with a big win. 12 games left, amazingly tight, See you in 7 days for our trip to Tweeddale & Innerleithen.