Today we make our shortest trip in League 1 – Just the 62 miles – to face bottom-placed Edinburgh City, a team who first played league football in the 2016/17 season and were promoted in-game to League 1 at the end of the 2018/19 season. IRL they finished 3rd, but failed to get promotion through the playoffs, so they remain in League 2 (They ‘finished’ 2nd in 19/20 IRL).
They are another team with a tiny first-team squad, and have struggled so far this season, their only win being v Queen’s Park in the Betfred.
Before the Wednesday game we had both U18 and Reserves matches.
Our U18’s lost 4-1 to East Kilbride U18’s, 16yo STC James Christie with the goal.
Our Ressies beat Edinburgh United Res 2-0, Daryl Healy & 18yo STC Paul McCarthy with the goals.
Keeper Ross SInclair, Big Rod & Seany-Boy made team of the week for League 1.
So we wend our merry way to Western Edinburgh to play on a drizzly August evening. Our scouts show a few of the Edinburgh players being at 3* CA, bookies have us favourites etc. etc., but as they are bottom expect a hard game.
Lewis Barr is in on the left of a midfield 3 today (forsaking a ball winner for this one) and Allison is back inbetween the sticks (Don’t want to pressure Sinclair with game after game this season, just a nice transfer to Sinclair over the course of the season as Allison becomes the back-up. Another defensive formation, Edinburgh going 4-5-1.
HT Edinburgh City 0 Berwick 1 (Mackie Pen 22)
Edinburgh quick off on the squarest of square pitches…
Edinburgh have the best of the opening moments as we get our footing. Quite an odd game so far, Edinburgh looking to play wide so I shift wider to compensate. And we get a Penalty in the 22nd minute – Slaven going down like a sack of spuds as a corner is floated in by Mackie. Mackie with the penalty… 1-0, beautifully placed in the far left side netting. An interesting half overall – 1-0 at HT to Berwick, Edinburgh with more shots, Berwick with far more possesion.
FT Edinburgh City 1 (Savoury 85) Berwick 1 (Mackie Pen 22) Att 373 (87 Away)
Turner on for Barr at HT as we go with CM’s as opposed to Mezzala’s. Lots of offside decisions on both sides at the start of the half. 56 gone – Sean’s not having a good day so a bit of a change – Leitch on to play BWM in centre Mid, Turner drops to a supportive DM, Davidson up to AM just behind Mitchell as the poacher. Need to take some of the sting out of their possession when they have it. 10 left, McManus off, McIntosh on as a BWM, trying to take control in Centre Mid. A bit squeaky bum TBH. And it was I thought – 1-1 in the 85th, a deep cross headed in by right winger Grant Savoury. Going attacking for the last 5. It finished 1-1, a bit disappointing but we really struggled to adapt to the pitch.
Still early days but we need to push on in the next few games otherwise face being 10 points behind if we’re not careful.
Next up is Montrose at home in just 3 in-game days. See you then.