Making a Mochrie of FC Edinburgh

It was the first away game of the SPFL Cinch League One campaign for the Pars, and their first big test on how they will handle a whole new environment – such as smaller stadiums, plastic pitches.

It is fair to say, that they made a bit of a Mochrie of FC Edinburgh`s inaugural match as a League 1 side, with Athletic running out 3-0 victors.

The re-development of Meadowbank Stadium saw Edinburgh City move to Spartans` Ainslie Park stadium for a few seasons, but this summer, they were able to return.

They also re-branded the Football Club, now being known as FC Edinburgh.

The traditional running track remained around the perimeter of the pitch, but their once big steep stand has been replaced by a small shack, hosting just over 500 spectators.

On the other side, there is a standing section which houses just over 700 supporters, and this is where the majority of the Pars support cheered on their team to victory at the weekend.

It was also the first outing of Dunfermline`s new away strip, with the maroon shirts getting off to a winning start, with Saturday`s 3-0 win.

It was a complete stroll in the park, or Leisure Centre I maybe should say!, for James McPake`a men with Deniz Mehmet once again very rarely troubled.

After a handful of set-piece opportunities, Lewis McCann got onto the end of an in-swinging Paul Allan delivery from the left to flick the ball past Robbie Mutch to open the scoring.

Then came the big opportunity for Alan Maybury`s men, as straight from kick-off they raced through the visitors defence, only for John Robertson to shoot wide, despite no challenge on the former St Johnstone youth.
That was the wake-up call required and it was back to business thereafter for DAFC.

After some dilly-dallying at the back, Jack Brydon stepped on the ball and gifted Craig Wighton with the chance to double the lead of Athletic but Brydon tugged him to the ground before he could do so, conceding a penalty and being sent-off in the process.

The Citizens remained only a goal behind as Mutch saved McCann`s spot-kick, but the striker wasn`t to be foiled again as he stabbed home from close range following a set-piece, just ahead of the interval.

As McCann admitted to ParsTV after the match, he “stole” the goal off of Joe Chalmers, whose left-footed effort was goal-bound before the goal-hungry McCann made sure of it going over the line, despite the best efforts of Edinburgh`s #31, Mutch.

The second-half was played at a much lower tempo. FC Edinburgh looked like they knew the game was a bogey while the Pars were happy to professionally see out the 90 minutes with a second consecutive clean-sheet.

However, latest signing Chris Mochrie – who only joined on-loan from Dundee United on Friday – came off the bench and was quick to make his mark with a composed finish after being sent through on goal by Joe Chalmers.

It could have been plenty more as the pressure got piled on late on, but 3-0 it remained and it was as comfortable a 90 minutes overall as you could hope for in such a competitive league.

New signing Mochrie, and Chris Hamilton who has been suspended in recent weeks – will return this wekeend against Montrose but will there be the possibility of them staeting in a line-up which has won 1-0 and 3-0 in consecutvie weeks, consistently keeping clean-sheets ans creating chances.

It is the headaches of a good kind for James McPake and Dave Mackay; if Dunfermline Athletic continue their good early form, they really could make a Mochrie of Scotland`s third-tier, never mind FC Edinburgh.