Team: O'Donnell, Mackenzie, Gray(Nairne), Nyadu, Dunsire, Weare(Foley), Smith, Fearn(c), Alexander, Osborne(Ayiku), Fleming
Subs not used: Waddell

Our match against the “Foreign Legion” led to a tough defeat, and a scoreline that didn’t really do the game any justice. After watching them against Gorgie we knew what to expect - a strong powerful team with some large players to cope with.

We changed formation to 4-4-2 in order to get them thinking about our attack rather than swamping our midfield, and to begin with it was working perfectly. Both John Gray and Kofi Nyadu made numerous last gasp tackles to prevent direct shots on goal, and despite them winning about a dozen corners we defended them well. As we thought, their big centre back was content to just shell bombs up field for their strikers to work with, and there was a couple of near misses when the flight of the ball was poorly judged by our back four. Barry O'Donnell in goal made a couple of very decent blocks, until the breakthrough on around 30 minutes. A throw in from the left was sent into the box and their tall second striker met it with a peach of header from about 8 yards which bulleted into the top corner, leaving Barry no chance for 1-0. We didn’t let out heads go down and minutes later John sent Ian Fleming down the wing and from his ball in Barry Fearn lofted a rising drive over the keeper and agonisingly past the far post. The referee was very poor throughout, and when Laurie Dunsire banged heads with their number 9 in an aerial challenge the Ref gave a free kick for a push! John questioned the decision too much and was given a yellow card for dissent, even though when he asked the Ref why it was a foul, the reply he got was “because it is”! Yeah thanks for that explanation Ref.

Half time 1-0 United Edinburgh

Two enforced changes were made at the interval, with Matty Osborne coming off through injury and Steve Weare having to come off through the effects of the flu. Both Isaac Ayiku and Cameron Foley came on in their places.

With the sun in their eyes it was a very difficult start to the second period for the defence and the opposition started to play the ball through their midfield rather than high balls all the time. A quick throw in on the right got past John and from the resultant ball put in their other striker scuffed a misskick into the opposite corner for 2-0. It was so lucky it had to be seen, but worse was to come when a third goal was lashed in from the left after a couple of weak challenges were put in for 3-0. We really weren’t producing anything up field, and their keeper had nothing to do for most of the opening period of the second half. Another bread and butter chip through the middle saw Laurie struggle to stay with their no 11 and he ran on into the box and brought out another good block from Barry. Seconds later another cross from the left was too high for Laurie to clear and their number 9 had a headed chance from only 6 yards in the centre of the goal, but under pressure from a sliding challenge from John he put it past the post.

Their 4th goal was not long coming and again it was poor defending to allow their number 7 to stride through the left side of the box past two defenders and slot a side footed finish past Barry for 4-0.
After a surging run down the right past two players, John let fly from all of 35 yards and although the connection was sweet the keeper was able to catch it high to his left. This was John’s last action in the game as he aggravated his thigh strain from last week and had to come off with Alex taking his place. Johnny Mackenzie moved over to right back, Cameron Foley went into left back and Alex Nairne moved into the left midfield slot. Cammy and Alex were struggling to get to grips with the right sided players and when their right midfielder got in behind them there was another close shave for the Bridge goal. At the other end, Barry Fearn came close again with another powerful shot from outside the area which only just cleared the bar, then Keith went on a wee mazy run only for the Rob Jones twin to slide in at the last minute as he was about to shoot.

Laurie was struggling badly with a leg knock but couldn’t get subbed as all 3 Bridge changes had been made, so instead he went up front and Isaac slotted into the centre back area next to Kofi.

With only 10 minutes or so left, Ian broke away and after going past a couple of players he was brought down on the edge of the box. Keith fired in a strong drive which was adjudged to have struck the arm of one of the players in the wall. The Ref pointed to the spot and Keith calmly knocked it past the keepers dive to his right for a consolation goal.

The Polski 5th and final goal came down their left and our right, when Johnny slipped and allowed their winger to get in on goal and knock a finish past the stranded Barry. It was a tough one to take as the centre backs really should have gone over and covered for the right back. Their defenders were guilty of a few meaty challenges, none more so than the two footed lunge on Keith that could have been nasty. Amazingly however the Ref chose not to even speak to the player let alone book him, probably due to the fact he couldn’t spell his name or speak Polski .

FINAL SCORE – 5 - 1 Utd Edin’

Managers Comment:
This was always going to be a tough match against the league leaders, who are unbeaten in their opening 5 games. We knew from their game against Gorgie that they were a strong physical team, but fair at the same time, so our main aim was to match up to them in all areas, and to make sure they knew they had been in a game.
For the 1st half we did this perfectly, with the back 4 clearing any danger on most of the occasions, and Barry making 2 good blocks to keep it to only 1-0 at half time. The 2 enforced changes at the break didn’t help, as it broke up the formation and tactics that we had set out, and the back 4 went to sleep a little in the dazzling sunshine for the 1st 15 mins of the second half. As ever our will to continue was evident right to the final whistle, but we need everyone in the team willing to get stuck into challenges early in periods of possession for the other team, we are standing off them and allowing passes to be made far too often.
As per usual, the Ref was rank rotten, but we are getting used to that now! Although if we could actually get a Ref that moves out of the centre circle then it would be a start at least.

Best in the tangerine yesterday were : Barry in goal with several good blocks, Johnny performed well in the left back slot, John got stuck in with several good challenges in the 1st half, as did Mark in the 2nd, and Barry tried to drive the team forward at all times.
M.O.T.M however goes to Ian Fleming, who worked tirelessly in the RM slot, he got up and down the pitch all game and took the game to them whenever possible, and also won the free kick that led to our penalty.

M.O.T.M. – Ian Fleming

(Man of the Match)

J.


Player Ratings:
GK – Barry O’Donnell (8 out of 10)
RB – John Gray (7) (Alex Nairne 75 (6) )
CB – Laurie Dunsire (6)
CB – Kofi Nyadu (6)
LB – Johnny Mackenzie (8)
RM – Ian Fleming (8)
CM – Barry Fearn © (7)
CM – Steven Weare (6) (Cammy Foley 45 (6) )
LM – Mark Smith (7)
STK – Keith Alexander (7)
STK – Matty Osborne (6) (Isaac Ayiku 45 (7) )