Pre-season Friendly, Wednesday 9 July 2014 –
Meadowbank Stadium
There may have been the not so small matter
of a World Cup semi-final live on television but this didn’t prevent about 150
people heading to Meadowbank Stadium on Wednesday evening to see Lowland League
side Edinburgh City take on SPFL Championship side Raith Rovers in a pre-season
friendly.
On a beautiful summer’s evening, possibly
the hottest day of the year, it was shirt-sleeve time in the east end of
Edinburgh and the non-league side gave an honourable account of themselves against
more senior opposition.
Raith Rovers, with a smattering of former
Hearts players in their side, including the much-maligned Christian Nade
partnering fellow ex-Jambo Calum Elliot up front, began sprightly although the
best chances, what there were of them, fell to the home side.
It wasn’t until the 24th minute
that the first real goalscoring opportunity arrived. Rovers Mark Stewart was
fouled in the penalty box – Elliot stroked home the resultant penalty kick and
the visitors were ahead.
Ten minutes later, City were level thanks
to another penalty kick although the foul by Laurie seemed soft. Nico Gibson
duly despatched the penalty and the home side were level.
Four minutes before half-time, Ross Allum
took advantage of poor defensive play from Rovers to hook the ball home and put
the home side 2-1 ahead at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, Rovers
drew level when a fine effort from Ross Callachan crashed off the crossbar only
to fall kindly for Christian Nade who tapped home the rebound.
A few minutes later, Nade was involved in
an altercation with City’s Joe Mbu and the referee seemed to gesture to the
Rovers bench to substitute Nade before a red card came his way. The former
Hearts man was none too pleased at coming off.
The game ended at 2-2, a fine result and
display from Edinburgh City who thoroughly deserved their draw against their higher
league opponents.
Ah 'Nade the Tactful' at his best again.
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