REPLAY REQUIRED AS EDINBURGH CITY DRAW WITH EAST FIFE
Jason Kerr’s equaliser, with his first touch of the ball, saved East Fife as Gary Naysmith’s men came back from a goal down to draw with Edinburgh City in tonight’s William Hill Scottish Cup Third Round match at New Bayview.
It was a slow beginning to the match with neither goalkeeper really being tested. Ross Guthrie had an early opportunity for the visitors within 60 seconds but his right footed effort from the left never tested Ryan Goodfellow.
East Fife slowly grew into the match and began to dominate possession, with Andrew Stobie saving a low Kevin Smith free-kick after Kyle Wilkie was brought down at the edge of the area – which resulted in Chris McKee getting booked.
It was Smith again who was causing issues as he side-footed a shot wide of target from close ranger after a Lamont cross from the left.
With the first half coming to a close, it looked as if the players were feeling the bitterly cold temperatures in Fife as the tempo dropped. This all changed on 40 minutes however when Ousman See picked up the ball inside the area after a lovely run and through ball by Guthrie. The 22 year old kept his composure as he fired a tremendous effort past the helpless Goodfellow.
City took the impetus from this and almost got a second on the stroke of half-time. It was the same combination, with Guthrie cutting the ball back for See who this time shot wide from 8 yards with the goal at his mercy.
It was a quick fire start to the second half with the game becoming a lot more open as East Fife pushed for the equaliser. Marc Laird almost took advantage as he stormed into the box unmarked and got onto the end of a See cross, which hit the post before being cleared for safety.
Naysmith and assistant Dougie Anderson looked to their bench early on in the second half with Tony Wallace replacing Jamie Insall and Jason Kerr coming on for Ross Brown. And it was Kerr himself who made an instant impact. Scott Mercer sent a free-kick from the halfway line long into the Edinburgh City penalty area. East Fife’s number five Jonathan Page was the man who got his head to the ball as he nodded it across the area to Kerr who looped his header over Stobie and into the net.
Edinburgh City came back strong once again though as See had another attempt at goal before Goodfellow was forced to claw the ball off the goal-line after an audacious effort by Dean Cummings, brother of Hibernian’s Jason.
As the game headed into the closing stages, it was the Fifers who were pressing forward in numbers. Numerous attempts were fired towards City’s goal with Stobie making good saves from Smith and Mercer, while Slattery and Wilkie saw shots go narrowly wide and blocked.
It was Edinburgh City who had the final chance of the match though with substitute Ross Allum having a late effort at a goal but it was straight at Goodfellow.
The match will now be decided by a replay at the Meadowbank Stadium next Wednesday evening. With it all to play for, it is set up to be another Cup Classic in eight days time as we await to see who will face Livingston away in Round Four.
East Fife:
Goodfellow; Mercer, Kane, Page, Naysmith; Brown (Kerr 63′), Robinson (Slattery 67′), Wilkie; Lamont, Insall (Wallace 51′), Smith. Subs Not Used: Austin, Hurst. Goal: Kerr 64”
Edinburgh City:
Antell; Harrison, Mbu, McKee; Dunsmore (Allum 78′), McFarland (Caddow 79′), Laird, Cummings, Gair; Guthrie (Dunn 63′), See. Subs Not Used: McConnell, Mushin, Antell. Goal: See 40′. Bookings: McKee, Guthrie, Laird, Gair.
Referee: David Lowe Attendance: 339
