Edinburgh City 4 v Dumbarton 1
Tuesday 3rd May 2022
cinch League One playoffs
By Graeme Robertson Pictures by Jon Leino
IF this game proved nothing else, it proved that there’s only one statistic that matters in football. Not shots on target, not possession, not corners. Goals. City converted 80% of their shots on target into goals. We converted 20%. ‘Uphill’ and ‘battle’ springs to mind.
As expected, the Sons line up bore no resemblance to the one that started out against Clyde. And in the opening phases of the game had the better of the exchanges. Then on 11 minutes, a defensive mix up allowed Ousman See to roll the ball into an unguarded net.
Sons nearly levelled on 25 minutes when a great cross from the right found Josh Oyinsan but his powerful header flew narrowly over.
Rather than a cue for further Sons pressure, City went two up two minutes later when a deflection saw the ball fly off Gregor Buchanan’s head and into the net.
On 36 minutes, Ross MacLean did well to fire in a long distance shot that was well saved by Brian Schwake. However, City were still dangerous going forward and five minutes before the break a sweeping move down the right ended with a shot flashing across the face of goal.
Right on the halftime whistle, good work from Kris Syvertsen led to a dangerous cross which Schwake did well to take.
With Callum Wilson and Calvin Orsi replacing Syvertsen and Oyinsan at halftime, Sons came out for the second half and fought hard to get back in the game.
The pressure eventually paid off just after the hour mark when a smart header from MacLean from a Paul Paton cross beat Schwake and nestled in the back of the net.
Sons continued to apply pressure in the search for an equaliser and it looked as though it was only a matter of time before another goal came. It did arrive on 71 minutes but it was from a City break and See was on hand to net on the rebound after a blocked effort.
The remainder of the game saw Sons press to get back into things, only for City to break upfield in added time and stretch the lead further thanks to a fine solo effort from sub John Robertson.
Edinburgh City: Schwake, McIntyre, Hamilton (Brian 34), Tapping, See, Handling, Logan (Jardine 72), Shanley (Robertson 78), Murray, Travis, Crane. Subs: Leighfield, Mitchell, Berry
Dumbarton: Wright, Boyle (Wylde 82), Buchanan, Carswell, Duthie, MacLean, Pignatiello, Syvertsen (Wilson 46), Paton, Oyinsan (Orsi 46), Stanger. Subs: Ramsbottom, Lynch, McKee, Bronsky, Muir.
Referee: Chris Graham.
Once a Son, always a Son. Fans look on undaunted by the play-off defeat.