Dundee Undone By Keeper Errors

A snowy Dundee awaited the travelling Edinburgh 2s team in what was an eagerly anticipated top of the table clash. Dundee had stunned a capacity Peffermill crowd, with a last grasp winner previously in the season, so both sides knew this was going to be a tight, hard-fought affair, even without John Terry or Ashley Cole playing the field.

The first 20 minutes lived up to expectations, with tackles from both teams flying in on the slick 3G surface. Yet, it was Ed Senior who found his name first enter the book, after a trademark professional foul by the left back. Despite the energy, chances came few and far between, with the Burgh defence coping easily with any Dundee threat, aided by Jamie Sime’s continual break-up of the play. Benji Antoni did provide some moments of attacking flair, with some dazzling runs, yet his shooting was wayward.

However, Burgh did go 1-0 up with only 13 minutes left on the clock in the first half, when Kyle O’Neill latched onto a loose ball, fizzing a shot off the surface into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal from 30 yards. This was nothing more than Burgh and O’Neill deserved, with the striker providing a great aerial threat combined with some audacious flicks to linkup play throughout the game.

Yet, Dundee equalised before the break with a controversial free-kick. As keeper Tom Agnew marked out the wall, the referee allowed Dundee to take a quick free-kick, leaving Agnew stranded as the ball was placed into the opposite side of the empty net. As Dundee celebrated, Edinburgh complained, but to no avail.

The restart of play saw the restart of the war in midfield, which Sime dominated. The “Machine” is only just back in the Burgh side after spending some time away in Toronto however, his presence was certainly felt back on his home turf. Burgh then retook the lead when the Dundee keeper spilled a tame shot, leaving an on-hand Steve Kenny to dink the ball into the back of the net, putting the away side 2-1 up.

The Edinburgh defence then held on magnificently for a prolonged period. Ghamgosar, Archer, Paterson and Senior were composed against a potent attacking force, who attempted to utilise training ground movements only to be foiled by the Burgh back four.

The match then witnessed 2 moments of brilliance. Agnew did his credentials for the England Number 1 spot no harm, by somehow manoeuvring across the whole goal before tipping a ball over that seemed destined to enter the top-right hand corner. However, Agnew could do nothing about the next shot, which came after a mesmerizing run by the Dundee centre-midfielder, curling the ball into the goal to draw the teams level with 12 left to play.

Burgh looked deflated, yet, with only minutes to spare substitute Mario Velez, who had been brought on for the injured Antoni, tested the suspect Dundee keeper. The strikers shot was lame, however, the wet surface meant that the ball escaped the keeper’s grasp and trickled across the goal line, sending the away team into a fit of ecstasy.

Stuz Carroll and Alex Maxwell replaced Alex Petrie and Dave Meehan to steady the ship right to the end, allowing Burgh to earn a much needed victory. This sets-up a mouth-watering encounter against Aberdeen 1s, who venture to Peffermill next week in what may well be the league decider. So, it is then when we shall see if Edinburgh 2s came retain their BUCS league crown.