A disciplined defensive performance from Edinburgh City secured their spot in the semi-final of the Ken Ritchie Cup following a smash and grab a 2-1 victory over Spartans FC Youth. Goals from Jamie Elliott and Lewis Munro cancelled out Jake Morrison’s late strike as City secured their second semi-final of the season.
The teams are battling it out for fifth place in the Southeast Region 1st Division with only 3 points splitting the sides as City currently edge their opposition.
Spartans began the tie the brighter of the two sides and were unlucky to not be ahead in the sixth minute as Finlay Croall evaded two challenges inside the box, however, a great last-ditch block from Connor Leask ensured the score remained 0-0.
This seemed to act as a wake-up call to the Meadowbank side as they slowly began to come into the game with Munro doing well in the middle of the park to link defence and attack. The game carried on like this with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield before a long ball over the top released Spartans’ Edward Murray who beat his man and played it across to Morrison who thought he’d given his side the lead but was judged to be in an offside position by the referee.
As the half went on, Spartans began to start dominating again but despite having the ball in the City final third for long spells, they struggled to create any clear chances until in the 24th minute Murray was once again freed down the left wing and cut it back to Morrison who played a backheel into the path of Croall whose low shot was saved well by Bruce Mackenzie in the City net.
City were doing well to hold out the Spartans attack and in the 30th minute, Mackenzie’s long clearance fell into the path Elliott who struck it past the helpless Adam Cooper into the bottom right corner to give his side 1-0 lead albeit against the run of play.
As the half drew to a close, Spartans launched one final attack and following some good team play, Murray crossed the ball in towards the front post where it was judged to have struck a City hand and Spartans were awarded a penalty.
Morrison stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort was expertly saved by Mackenzie and the rebound from Hamish Tully sailed over the bar.