FC Edinburgh 0 Dunfermline 3

Saturday, 6th Aug 2022

cinch League One: one change Craig Wighton starts in place of Kyle Macdonald. Lewis McCann (14) 0-1: Lewis McCann (41) 0-2: Chris Mochrie (72) 0-3:

Dunfermline made the journey to the Festival City to face newly promoted FC Edinburgh in this the Pars first away league fixture of the season. The capital side had not only changed their name but also their home ground since their time in League Two last season. The newly refurbished Meadowbank Stadium was the venue and the pitch was in the centre of an athletics running track and the away fans lined the perimeter barriers on the west and north sides of the ground.

James McPake made one change from his starting eleven against Alloa Athletic with Craig Wighton preferred to Kyle Macdonald who was joined on the bench by just four others including previous day signing, Chris Mochrie on loan from Dundee United.

The home side under the charge of Alan Maybury made one change from their starting eleven at Kelty the previous Saturday with Kyle Jacobs taking the place of Calum Tapping who he subbed for in the last match.

John Robertson got the game underway attacking the goal at the west end of the ground but it was the Fifers who were on the attack from the word go forcing four corners within the first five minutes. Then a Paul Allan free kick in seventh minute flashed through Edinburgh’s box and when the home side got their first opportunity from a free kick 25 yards out the offside flag went up as the ball hit the sidenetting.

The pressure was maintained with two attempts by Lewis McCann but the Edinburgh goal survived, but not for long. When Wighton was cut down by Johnson out on the left, Allan was able to deliver another ball into the box and McCANN rose above everyone to head in the 14th minute opener. 0-1

There was a fright at other end when from the restart Liam Fontaine picked out Ryan Shanley whose neat pass then put John Robertson through on Deniz Mehmet but with the central defenders exerting pressure on the home striker he fired wide right. It was 18th minute when Kevin O’Hara got a similar opportunity but as he lobbed keeper Robbie Mutch he also cleared the crossbar.

Josh Edwards collected a 21st minute yellow card for his challenge on Johnson and the defence had to clear the delivery that Danny Handling got close to. McCann was a little unlucky when Mutch got to O’Hara’s cross but then was presented with an opportunity from the penalty spot after Jack Brydon brought down Wighton. Referee Barry Cook immediately showed the FC Edinburgh defender a 27th minute red card but when McCann struck the setpiece to the keeper’s right, he chose the right way and held the effort.

Three corners in 34th minute ended with Mutch eventually holding a Rhys Breen header at the far post. Then Mutch made a double save from Wighton and then O’Hara as it looked like Dunfermline were certain to add to their tally. The second Pars goal did duly arrive from a 41st minute Allan corner, his cross from the left dropped at Chalmers left foot and his shot was finished by McCANN. 0-2

An Edwards cross hit the left goalpost but it was just the two goal lead at the break. Comfortably ahead against the ten men but the lead could have been more. The Fifers had 12 first half corners, 10 shots and the 55% possession was accompanied by a large degree of domination.

Half time: FC Edinburgh 0 Dunfermline 2

McCann came close to completing his hattrick in 53rd minute when Wighton created the chance to ping the ball across the Edinburgh box. He failed to connect and from the resultant corner Breen headed into Mutch’s hands. Then a Todd effort was off target as play was all going towards the home goal.

Hamilton’s foul on Matty Todd handed the Pars a free kick 27 yards out but when Allan sent the ball towards the far post the offside flag went up against Breen. O’Hara and Comrie were next to try and get on the scoresheet.

Chris Mochrie made his Dunfermline debut when he replaced Craig Wighton in 64 minutes and a couple of minutes later Joe Chalmers popped a shot from outside the box that was just narrowly wide right. Then in 68 minutes the former Ayr United man placed the ball at McCann’s feet in front of goal but the offside flag was raised.

A 72nd ball from Comrie picked out Chalmers and Mutch was made to save again. Then within a minute Chalmers was able to thread a ball through to MOCHRIE who rolled the ball past Mutch to notch a debut goal. 0-3

The on loan United player next chipped through a nice ball that Todd ran on for but unluckily Mutch beat him it. O’Hara’s 80th minute attempt was swept through the six yard box and he drove an 83rd minute drive at the keeper from 25 yards out.

Nikolay Todorov, a 74th minute sub for Lewis McCann, was through on the keeper with five minutes remaining but again Robbie Mutch came out on top. Allan tried a shot from 25 yards but a deflection took the heat out of it and Mutch held comfortably.

Todd headed on to the crossbar and Macdonald belted the ball wide left. O’Hara had another crack but Mutch held. Todorov then had another chance but was kept out. There had been lots of chances for Dunfermline with 15 second half shots but at the end of the match they had only managed to score three goals. Nevertheless the three points were heading back across the Forth and the Pars and Airdrieonians remain the only sides on maximum points.

FC EDINBURGH: Robbie Mutch: Robbie McIntyre (c), Jack Brydon, Liam Fontaine: Emmanuel Johnson (Lee Hamilton 38), Calum Crane (Allan Delferriere 74), Kyle Jacobs (Kieran Watson 74), Daniel Handling (Innes Murray 61), Kieran MacDonald, Ryan Shanley (Ouzy See 61), John Robertson.
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Travis, Ciaran Brian, Mark Docherty, Sam Ramsbottom (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Shanley (37)
RED CARD: Brydon (27)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Paul Allan: Matthew Todd, Joe Chalmers (Kyle Macdonald 74): Kevin O’Hara, Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 74), Craig Wighton (Chris Mochrie 64).
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Young, Max Little (GK)
SCORERS: McCann (14, 41), Mochrie (72)
YELLOW CARD: Edwards (21)

REFEREE: Barry Cook
WEATHER: Cloudy 18°C
ATTENDANCE 1234

NEXT MATCH: cinch League One (home) v Montrose, Saturday 13th August 2022, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park

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Match Photos To Follow.

Preview FC Edinburgh

Saturday, 6th Aug 2022

cinch League One (away) v FC Edinburgh, Saturday 6th August 2022, kick off 3.00pm at Meadowbank Stadium

Dunfermline’s first away fixture in League One is against the club that were promoted through the play offs from League Two. At that time they were known as Edinburgh City but in June when the SPFL issued the fixtures for this season, they revealed that the club would be known in future as FC Edinburgh.

The change of name was deemed necessary since the permission given in 1986 from the Edinburgh City social club to use the name was not sufficient and so they changed their name to the Football Club of Edinburgh.

This Saturday’s league match is just the third match between the clubs since 8th April 1939 when they played in the Second Division. The clubs played a total of ten matches in the Second Division during the 1930s. Dunfermline won eight, one was drawn and City won one.

The first league match since the 30’s comes after a Betfred Cup game at Ainslie Park on 20th July 2019 that Edinburgh City won 1-0 and a Scottish Cup Third Round tie on 24th January 1998 at East End Park that ended up Dunfermline 7 Edinburgh City 2.

Origins of FC Edinburgh

Founded in 1928, the original Edinburgh City adopted amateur status with the aim of becoming the capital’s equivalent of Queens Park.

Edinburgh City were members of the Scottish Football League between 1931 and 1949. They switched to junior status but ceased completely in 1955, when the local council refused to renew its lease on its home ground City Park.

A club called Postal United was founded in 1966 and joined the East of Scotland League. The Edinburgh City Football Club Ltd., which had continued trading as a social club since the football club stopped playing, gave their approval in 1986 for Postal United to use the Edinburgh City F.C. name.

The club has participated in the Scottish Cup since the mid-1990s and applied to join the Scottish Football League in 2002 but Gretna won the vote, and then after Gretna’s demise Edinburgh City applied again but lost out to Annan Athletic.

Edinburgh City became members of the Lowland League in 2013. They won the Lowland League title in both 2014–15 and 2015–16 and finally in May 2016 gained promotion to to the SPFL by defeating East Stirlingshire in a play-off with a penalty four minutes from time. Edinburgh City became the first non-league club to be promoted to the professional league.

Despite finishing 4th in League Two last season, Edinburgh City successfully came through the League One play-offs to earn promotion to the 3rd tier in Scottish football.

The homes of FC Edinburgh

The original club played its home matches at Powderhall Stadium and City Park during its time in the Scottish Football League. The present club initially played their home fixtures at the Saughton Enclosure, which is now home to Lothian Thistle before switching to Paties Road and then moved to City Park and then Fernieside.

Edinburgh City moved to Meadowbank Stadium which had been vacated by the move of Meadowbank Thistle to Livingston in 1996, and gained some additional supporters in Meadowbank fans who opted to continue watching a local side rather than the relocated team.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s redevelopment of the stadium meant Edinburgh City ground shared with Spartans at Ainslie Park for five season from 2017-2018. Dunfermline Athletic will be the opponents for the very first league match in the new Meadowbank Stadium.

Last Meeting
Betfred Cup, Saturday 20th July 2019
Edinburgh City 1 Dunfermline 0

Stevie Crawford resorted to the starting eleven that he fielded against St Mirren the previous Sunday. That meant the return of Andy Ryan and Josh Coley with Lewis McCann and Kyle Turner finding themselves on the bench.

City gave as good as they got and honours were even for most of the match. Dunfermline had their chances to score but in 87th minute the home side took one of their’s to register a win over their higher league opponents.

With a bit of luck from the break of the ball City sub Danny HANDLING latched on to a shot blocked by Ashcroft and from the left found the far side of the Pars net. 1-0

EDINBURGH CITY: Calum Antell: Craig Thomson (c), Conrad Balatoni, Liam Henderson, Robbie McIntyre: Allan Smith (Daniel Handling 62), Calum Crane, Mark Laird, Adam Watson (Josh Walker 75), Jonathan Court (Scott Shepherd 68), Alex Harris
SUBS NOT USED: Jordan Sinclair, Chris Kane, Regan Lumsden, Ryan Adamson (GK).
SCORERS: Handling (87)

DUNFERMLINE: Ryan Scully: Aaron Comrie, Stuart Morrison, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Paul Paton (c): Ryan Dow, Tom Beadling (Gabby McGill 88), Josh Coley (Lewis McCann 73): Kevin Nisbet, Andy Ryan (Kyle Turner 56).
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Allan, Josh Edwards, Tom Lang, Cammy Gill (GK)

Last Six Matches

Last season Kelty Hearts finished top of League Two, 29 points ahead of the Edinburgh club who finished fourth. Managed by Alan Maybury, FC Edinburgh won their opening day match away to Kelty Hearts. In the Premier Sports Cup the Meadowbank side won one, drew one and lost two.

Dunfermline’s five competitive matches this season have brought three wins, one draw and one defeat.


DUNFERMLINE

Alloa Athletic (H) W 1-0

Alloa Athletic (H) D 1-1

Ross County (A) L 0-1

Buckie Thistle (H) W 5-0

East Fife (A) W 2-0

Kilmarnock (H) L 0-1



FC EDINBURGH
Kelty Hearts (A) W 2-0
St Mirren (A) L 1-3
Cowdenbeath (H) W 3-0
Arbroath (H) L 1-3
Airdrieonians (A) D 1-1
Caledonian Braves (A) L 0-1


League Record



DUNFERMLINE

Championship League Position: 9th

Championship League Points: 35

Goal Difference: -17

Away League Record: P18 W2 D6 L10 GF14 GA29

Last Six Match Form: LWWLDW



FC EDINBURGH

League Two Position: 4th

League Two Points: 52

Goal Difference: -6

Home League Record: P18 W7 D5 L6 GF23 GA25

Last Six Match Form: LDLWLW

Last time out



DUNFERMLINE (v Alloa Athletic): Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Paul Allan: Kyle Macdonald, Matthew Todd, Joe Chalmers (Nikolay Todorov 63): Kevin O’Hara (Craig Wighton 63), Lewis McCann.
SUBS NOT USED: Miller Fenton, Jake Rennie, Michael Beagley, Sam Young, Andrew Tod, Max Little (GK)

FC EDINBURGH (v Kelty Hearts):
Robbie Mutch: McIntyre, Jack Brydon, Liam Fontaine: Emmanuel Johnson (Innes Murray 70), Calum Crane, Callum Tapping (Kyle Jacobs 10), Daniel Handling (Ouzy See 79), Kieran MacDonald, Ryan Shanley, John Robertson (Lee Hamilton 79).
SUBS NOT USED: Michael Travis, Ciaran Reid, Brian, Mark Docherty, Sam Ramsbottom (GK).

Other League One fixtures

Airdrieonians v Falkirk
Alloa Athletic v Kelty Hearts
Clyde v Peterhead
Montrose v Queen of the South

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