By Taylor Murray
Subs
Kyle Doherty (replacing Josh Jack on 70’), Declan Byrne (replacing Max Wright on 76’)
Edinburgh City Line up
21. Brian Schwake, 15. Cameron Logan, 16. Jack Brydon, 29. Michael Travis, 7. Anthony McDonald, 14. James Farrell, 5. Ben Stirling, 10. Daniel Handling, 23. Innes Murray, 19. Ryan Shanley, 9. Ousman See.
Subs
Ciaran Brian (replacing Jack Brydon on the 56’)
Lucas Berry (replacing Anthony McDonald on the 61’)
Rovers fell to a second defeat at home in three days after a controversial late penalty for Edinburgh City gave the away side all three points.
In the opening 5 minutes, The Rovers almost took an early lead after Charlie Reilly was played through by Scott Roberts. Reilly, on the right-hand side, drove towards goal and tried to hit a low powerful shot into the bottom left-hand corner, however, Brain Schwake got down well and it was cleared.
As the first half wore on underneath the Coatbridge sun, the game started to settle into a rhythm. That rhythm, however, was about to hit a bum note in the 19th minute after Sean Fagan looked to have been brought down in the box going for a header, but the referee waved away the appeal. Just seconds later, Max Wright looked to have been tripped in the box after going for a ball. Loud roars erupted from the stand but once again the referee waved away appeals.
The closest chance of the game so far for The Wee Rovers came in the 21st minute. Charlie Reilly got the ball on the edge of the box from Lewis Wilson, as the ball came to him he set himself to turn and shoot. After a good touch and getting the ball out of his feet, Reilly smashed a shot towards goal which dipped and weaved towards the Edinburgh City goal crashing on the underside of the bar and bouncing on the line and staying out (somehow).
With all the action coming in the first half fans were spoiled with more as in the 25th minute Lewis Wilson channelled his inner Messi and dribbled his way towards goal. Lewis Wilson, who started on the left, beat two men and played a 1-2 with Reilly to get into the box. Wilson then unleashed a shot which kissed the face of the goal and went narrowly wide.
The Rovers spent most of the first half on top and that wasn’t going to change. In the 35th minute, on-loan St Mirren Striker Josh Jack almost headed The Rovers in front as he got on the end of a Charlie Reilly cross for only Schwake to tip it over the bar.
The final opportunity in the first half fell to Scott Roberts at the back post. Reilly drove into the box after beating his man and played a ball across goal, it fell to Scott Roberts at the back post however he couldn’t convert the chance and hit the post.
The second half was the polar opposite of the first as it lacked chances for both sides, the only notable chance for the Rovers was when a scramble in the box on the 74th minute almost saw a Kyle Doherty cross fall into the path of Max Wright, but it somehow got cleared and Edinburgh City survived.
The second half was lacking any real moments up until the 93rd minute when Edinburgh City counter-attacked a Rovers attack and burst into the box. Ousmann See looked to have lost control of the ball as he chased it into the box. The striker, as he hit the by-line, kept it in but with Cammy Binnie coming out to close the angle the striker went down half-heartedly looking at the referee. The referee deemed Binnie to have made contact which gave the Edinburgh side the chance to get all three points. Ryan Shanley stepped up to convert the penalty.
The Rovers now face the difficult task of travelling to Kelty Hearts next week looking to bounce back from today’s disappointment.
Goal Scorer – Ryan Shanley
Bookings – Sean Fagan
Referee – Alan Newlands
Listen to the manager’s thoughts on the game down below.
