Edinburgh City vs Stenhousemuir

Match Report

Edinburgh City v Stenhousemuir at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh on 27.03.21

SPFL League Two

Edinburgh City 3 [De Vita 16,61, Handling 90] Stenhousemuir 1 [McGuigan 73]

Edinburgh City – Antell, Thomson, Hamilton [b31][Denham h/t], L.Henderson [b90], McIntyre, Black, Brown [Handling], Crane, De Vita [Harris 77], Jardine and See [b38][B.Henderson 80].

Subs not used – Smith, Beveridge, Newman and Goodfellow

Stenhousemuir – Martin, Tiffoney [b90], Kane, Little [so90], Brown [Corbett 69], Blair, Tapping, Hopkirk [Fairley 81], Biabi, Muir [Docherty 66] and McGuigan .

Subs not used – Erskine, Halleran, Hodge, Spence, Collins and Grigor

Referee – Graham Grainger    Assistants – Sean Carr and Andrew Craven

After the long journey to Peterhead on Tuesday the Warriors on the road but on a far shorter trip with Edinburgh being the destination. It was the same starting eleven from the game at Balmoor but there were changes on the bench with the most notable being Alan Docherty who had signed from Camelon on loan for the rest of the season. Alan is an ex-Warrior who played in the 2016-17 season albeit from the bench before moving to Camelon after an initial loan period there.

For the Citizens this was the first home game in charge for Gary Naymith after James McDonaugh had moved upstairs to become director of football.

The first real chance fell to Liam Brown who blasted over after Paddy Martin did well to punch a Craig Thomson free-kick out of the danger area in blustery conditions. In the 13^th minute Ousy See created an opening for Robbie McIntryre but shot was well wide.  Although the Warriors had a couple of corners by this stage they hadn’t really threatened. The home side took the lead in the 16^th minute when a ball was played behind the home defence by Liam Brown and Rafa De Vita tucked the ball home though Stenhousemuir appealed for offside.

See booked 38 minutes when caught Tiffoney on the head with his boot when both going for the ball in the Warriors box. The best chance for the visitors came in the 41^st minute when Mark McGuigan made room for himself before curling a shot just wide from the edge of the box.

History repeated itself when Edinburgh City extended their lead in the 16^th minute of the second half with De Vita once again the scorer when this time he made room before tucking the ball into the corner of the net from 20 yards out. Callum Antell was called into action a minute later to save a David Hopkirk effort that was effectively a pass back as it lacked any resemblance of power. Eventually though the Warriors did get on the score sheet when Botti Biabi played a ball to the back post for Mark McGuigan to head home.

With four minutes left McGuigan had a half chance when a reverse pass by Callum Tapping was met by Ryan Blair who played it into the strikers path but the shot was hit well over the bar. A couple of minutes later Docherty laid the ball off to Blair but he dragged the ball wide. McGuigan then headed wide from six yards out as they strived to get back on level terms.

It was not too be though as Danny Handing scored the third goal for the home side in the 90^th minute when he struck from the edge of the box. Things got even in stoppage time following a rash tackle by Liam Henderson on Creag Little. Henderson was cautioned and Little was dismissed for his reaction whilst Tiffoney was also booked in a sour end to the game.