Ainslie Park resembled something of an old Hearts boys reunion on Tuesday evening as Edinburgh City took on Falkirk in a pre-season friendly. City had former Jambos Craig Beattie and Craig Thomson in their starting eleven while Falkirk brought on former Tynecastle striker Lee Miller as a second half substitute.
City, of course, have former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies as their Sporting Director while Falkirk are managed by Peter Houston, a former Hearts Assistant Manager.
On a beautiful summer’s evening at the home of Lowland League side Spartans – where Edinburgh City will play their home games for the next three seasons as a result of Meadowbank Stadium’s redevelopment – a crowd of 346 witnessed a decent game. City more than held their own in the first half and arguably created the better chances as half-time arrived with the game still goalless.
However, the Falkirk Bairns showed why they are two divisions above City with a dominant second half display and got the breakthrough early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty which was converted by Muirhead. Further goals from Austin and O’Hara completed a comfortable win but City showed enough, particularly in the first half, to suggest they may be challenging for promotion from Ladbrokes League Two this season.
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
