FC Edinburgh 1 – 3 Arbroath
Arbroath made it 3 wins out of 3 on Saturday, in their first visit to at Meadowbank since 2017 and to be the only team in Scotland to have 9 points in the Premier Sports Cup.
Arbroath Manager Dick Campbell made 5 changes as in came Derek Gaston, Scott Stewart, Keaghan Jacobs, David Gold and Luke Donnelly.
Arbroath lined up with Gaston in goal, Thomson, Little, O’Brien (c), Hamilton in defence, then Stewart, Jacobs, Gold and Craigen in midfield with McKenna sitting behind Donnelly up front.
It was a beautiful summer’s afternoon in the capital but Arbroath’s afternoon didn’t get off to the best start as Ricky Little went down after just 2 minutes clinching his groin. After receiving treatment, Little returned to the field and play continued.
The game had a slow start with Innes Murray firing wide from distance in the 9th minute before Luke Donnelly tried to connect to a Jason Thomson cross in the 6 yard box 4 minutes later.
Ricky Little headed over as he connected with a Michael McKenna corner as Arbroath looked for an opener in the 19th minute.
The best move of the game came just one minute later when a beautiful passing move down the Arbroath left started with Hamilton to Donnelly to Craigen to McKenna whose little back pass found Donnelly but his curling shot was directly at Ramsbottom.
FC Edinburgh took the lead with their first shot on goal in the 24th minute when a Shanley flick found Murray who played a ball over the top to Crane. Crane was able to get away from the Arbroath defence and unleashed a shot past Derek Gaston.
David Gold and Luke Donnelly had shots blocked as Arbroath tried to get back on terms immediately.
Thomas O’Brien fouled Ryan Shanley on the half hour mark with Shanley raising both hands to O’Brien before Hamilton ran in with Crane getting involved. Both O’Brien and SHanley were shown the yellow card.
Liam Fontaine wasted a great opportunity in the 34th minute as he shot wide as the ball fell to him from the corner kick.
Ricky Little’s afternoon was over in the 36th minute, with his groin strain forcing him off as Nicky Low came on to replace him, with Jason Thomson taking over from Ricky and David Gold moving to right back.
Arbroath drew level just 3 minutes after Low’s arrival. A short pass from Gaston to Hamilton was played over the top. Low’s vision seen the run of McKenna and his pass sent McKenna running in on goal but he was taken out by Crane who was lucky not to be sent off as the last man.
Low stepped up and took the penalty to make it 1-1 in the 39th minute, with Crane getting a yellow card for his troubles.
FC Edinburgh had their best passing move of the game in the 40th minute but as the ball was passed to Shanley he fired over from 14 yards out.
Callum Tapping was next to be booked as his arms wrestled Jacobs to the ground in the 42 minute.
Half Time Stats – FC Edinburgh 1 – 1 Arbroath
Possession – FC Edinburgh 44% – 56% Arbroath
Total Shots – FC Edinburgh 4 – 4 Arbroath
On Target – FC Edinburgh 1 – 2 Arbroath
Off Target – FC Edinburgh 3 – 2 Arbroath
Blocked – FC Edinburgh 0 – 0 Arbroath
Corners – FC Edinburgh 2 – 0 Arbroath
Saves – FC Edinburgh 1 – 0 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – FC Edinburgh 6 – 3 Arbroath
At half time Bobby Linn and Kieran Shanks came on for James Craigen and Luke Donnelly.
Innes Murray had the first chance of the second half but his shot was wide as he connected to Tapping’s cross.
Colin Hamilton fired a long range effort over the bar after a lovely passing move from Arbroath which seen the original shot blocked.
Derek Gaston tipped a 20 yard Murray shot over his bar as the home side looked for another goal.
On the hour mark Nicky Low hit a 30 yard drive which Ramsbottom got a hand too, Shanks ran in to try and net the rebound but the ball looped onto the roof of the net.
Arbroath introduced Daniel Fosu and Dale Hilson for Scott Stewart and Keaghan Jacobs in the 63rd minute.
A surging run forward by Colin Hamilton seen the ball come back out to the 18 yard line but McKenna’s low drive was blocked on the 6 yard line.
Nicky Low’s vision again was outstanding as he picked out Colin Hamilton who had made a great run into the box. Hamilton controlled the ball then laid it into the path of Daniel Fosu smashed it first time striking the bar as Arbroath got closer and closer to getting another goal.
In the 75th minute, David Gold picked up the ball up on the wing, before rolling it back out to Nicky Low. After one touch, Low picked out Linn at the back post, and Linn struck the ball on the volley first time to sweep it past Ramsbottom. It was an incredible finish from Linn, and a stunning pass from Low, which was almost a carbon copy for his pass to Colin Hamilton against Cowdenbeath on Wednesday night.
Just 6 minutes later and Linn scored again, this time it could be classed as an even better goal. Low played the ball to McKenna down the wing, who then found Hamilton. As Hamilton passed to Linn, he ran in from the wing and from some 35 yards from goal he let fly with his right foot unleashing a powerful strike which landed in the top right postage stamp corner of the goal, again leaving Ramsbottom absolutely no chance. Two incredible goals from Linn, which surely must rank in his top 5 best ever Arbroath goals.
Arbroath went looking for a 4th with Shanks curling just wide from the 18 yard box.
FC Edinburgh substitute Robertson had one final chance but his shot was over from a tight angle.
Full Time Stats – FC Edinburgh 1 – 3 Arbroath
Possession – FC Edinburgh 42% – 58% Arbroath
Total Shots – FC Edinburgh 8 – 14 Arbroath
On Target – FC Edinburgh 2 – 6 Arbroath
Off Target – FC Edinburgh 6 – 6 Arbroath
Blocked – FC Edinburgh 0 – 2 Arbroath
Corners – FC Edinburgh 3 – 5 Arbroath
Saves – FC Edinburgh 2 – 1 Arbroath
Fouls Committed – FC Edinburgh 11 – 6 Arbroath
3 wins out of 3, 9 points, 7 goals scored, one conceded and one game left to play as we welcome Airdrieonians to Gayfield next Saturday!
C’mon the Lichties!
FC Edinburgh
1 – Sam Ramsbottom
5 – Michael Travis
6 – Danny Jardine (see 78)
7 – Ryan Shanley (MacDonald 56)
8 – Callum Tapping (Robertson 56)
10 – Danny Handling (Watson 78)
16 – Jack Brydon
17 – Liam Fontaine (c)
22 – Ciaran Brian (McIntryre 74)
23 – Innes Murray
30 – Callum Crane
FC Edinburgh Substitutes
2 – Kieran MacDonald – 7; 56th
3 – Robbie McIntrye – 22; 74th
4 – Lee Hamilton
9 – Ozzy See – 6; 78th
11 – John Robertson – 8; 56th
14 – Kieran Watson – 10; 78th
24 – Quinn Mitchell
21 – Cameron Quate (GK)
Yellow Cards – Shanley 30, Crane 39, Handling 42
Goal – Crane 24
Arbroath
1 – Derek Gaston
2 – Jason Thomson
3 – Colin Hamilton
4 – Ricky Little (Low 36)
5 – Thomas O’Brien (c)
12 – Scott Stewart (Fosu 63)
7 – David Gold
28 – James Craigen (Linn 45)
10 – Keaghan Jacobs (Hilson 63)
8 – Michael McKenna
15 – Luke Donnelly (Shanks 45)
Arbroath Substitutes
6 – Nicky Low – 4; 36th
9 – Dale Hilson – 10; 63rd
11 – Bobby Linn – 28; 45th
14 – Dylan Paterson
16 – Kieran Shanks – 14; 45th
27 – Daniel Fosu – 12; 63rd
21 – Cammy Gill (GK)
Yellow Card – O’Brien 30
Goals – Low 39 pen, Linn 75, 81
Attendance: 499
Officials;
Referee – Gavin Duncan
Assistant Referee 1 – John Stewart
Assistant Referee 2 – Chris Newman
