Edinburgh City earned a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their League 2 playoff final against Annan Athletic, making them favourites for promotion to League 1 for the first time in their history.
Ainslie Park, City’s home for the past couple of seasons, was in a jubilant mood. Young fans from both sets of supporters were chanting prior to kick-off, banging drums and sparking a level of unease for the stewards. It’s no short distance between Annan and Scotland’s capital, but a commendable number of away fans made the journey and were certainly generating the most noise, huddled behind their team’s goal.
As the game got underway neither team came steaming out of the blocks, keeping one another at arm’s length and testing out the opposition defence. With two 2-1 scorelines in their last two meetings – with a win apiece – the conservative start was perhaps no surprise. As the game got into its groove, though, City began to get the upper hand, pushing their wingbacks high up the pitch and pinning the Annan defence back with precise diagonal balls and switches of play into the space on either flank.
The first notable chance came after around ten minutes when Handling, finding space between the lines, rattled the Annan bar with an audacious volleyed attempt from range. Annan also presented a threat, launching balls into the area for striker Goss – whose height advantage allowed him to tower over most nearby buildings, not to mention Edinburgh’s three centre-halves – to unleash himself upon. His presence was expertly managed by the City defence, though, reducing Annan to attempts from range for the most part of the first half.
Edinburgh’s wingbacks continued to bomb forward, playing more as conventional wingers. This high risk strategy nearly bore fruit when McIntyre, who had an indomitable game as skipper, sought out Logan with a long through ball, but Annan keeper Fleming came out to smother any danger.
For the remainder of the half City had the upper hand. Handling was a perennial thorn in Annan’s side, and almost opened the scoring when he found space in the penalty area after a clever short corner routine, only for Fleming to deny him with a good save from his outstretched foot, with Shanley then heading off the bar in a goal-mouth scramble.
As half time approached a rainbow appeared over the ground, the result of the turbulent weather and showers of rain that had persisted. Did this signify reason for optimism at the end of a tough campaign? Probably not, but it certainly added to the spectacle and left this reporter wondering who would claim the pot of League 2 playoff winner gold up for grabs.
Edinburgh started the second half how they finished the first, putting huge pressure on the Annan defence and almost capitalising on a short back pass, with Fleming doing well again to prevent a goal. It seemed that something special was needed to break the deadlock, or Edinburgh would be at risk of rueing missed chances. After fifty minutes, though, the visitors’ resistance was finally broken thanks to a well worked Edinburgh move. Logan played a fantastic ball behind the Annan backline for loanee Innes Murray to latch on to after running from deep. Murray then provided a fantastic finish, looping a cushioned lob over the hapless Fleming who had come out to meet him, and sending the Edinburgh faithful into raptures. Shirts were discarded and several pre-teen “ultras” climbed on to the roof – triggering further consternation for the stewards. But who can blame them? After falling short at the same stage a year earlier City had now taken a huge step towards promotion.
Things got even better for the home fans a few minutes later, when Shanley whipped a wonderful free kick into the corner of the net, giving Edinburgh a 2-0 advantage that was thoroughly deserved. After coming so close in the first half, City had provided two moments of supreme quality to separate them from the opposition.
As the second half progressed, the rain that had been threatening to pour down arrived, lashing across the turf and sending many of the fans around the pitch to gather around Ainslie Park’s solitary stand for shelter. These conditions undoubtedly had an impact on the quality of the game, which became increasingly scrappy as Annan tried to apply pressure on the Edinburgh goal. Unfortunately for them, the Edinburgh defence was able to deal with any crosses into the box and Annan were left hoping something would break their way. They forced a few routine stops from Schwake, on loan from Livingston, who had a reduced role for much of the game until drawing applause from the crowd late on when he somehow managed to tip a curling effort wide of his right post when it seemed destined for the bottom corner.
The final whistle came and the Edinburgh fans rejoiced, optimistic with the performance and no doubt the healthy margin of victory they would be taking to Annan a few days later. For the Annan fans, drenched and downhearted, they will be hoping for an improved performance on their home turf and for Edinburgh to take their foot off the gas. With only two goals in it with 90 minutes still to play, the tie could still go either way. Friday will certainly not be a relaxed occasion for either side.
Pasta Feet 