'twas a bra bricht moonlit nicht when City took to the field for their very late start against an Inverleith team desperate to win to keep up their challenge to pip Negie to the league title.

Shorn of our youngsters, an experienced side(aged), bolstered by guest Vince Shipley, against a full squad including National age group youths, City were holding their own and beginning to put together some fast breaking attacks against a somewhat slower defence. Unfortunately, perhaps it might have been the blinding sunshine and blue skies but Inverleith started 10 minutes before the City started playing and were two down. The first goal came from a defensive mistake leading to the author of this to think it was a penalty flick awarded for an illegal stick tackle in the D which was duly converted. Further confusion of decisions awarded against City perplexed the defence. The second goal coming from a controversial short corner award for some sort of obstruction which confused all with the shot sneaking in at the near post.

At this point City joined the match and gave as good as their table topping opponents until the end. Working the ball through defence and midfield, skipper Green had a couple of attempts on goal and the home defence was having problems coping with fast City breaks whilst at the other end the defence was cutting out any further chances of Inverleith increasing their lead. As half time approached another City attack caused panic in the home defence, the sweeper stopped a shot with leg whilst kneeling on the line and Adam Rintoul convincingly covered the resulting stroke. Half time and 2 - 1 to the home side, a great comeback after a horror start and the title chasers were definitely rattled by the City goal.

The second half was a highly contested affair, interspersed with numerous cards, some of which confused this author with the worst committed on Rintoul when the attempted trip from behind on him failed thankfully with the culprit carded. City became rattled by decisions leading to cards for dissent, long thought that foul play should be punished far more heavily than dissent which never hurts anyone bar some egos perhaps(no reference to this match meant or inferred, just personal observation). For future reference I suggest that we must not let decisions get to us in future, easy to write in a report but it would help keep players on the pitch and concentration on the game.

City looked the more dangerous side, Inverleith created nothing but City's attacking play was earning short corners and from one Rintoul blasted home the equaliser which was well deserved and panicked the home team who needed the win. City came so close to going ahead only to be denied by the best save seen all season, the keeper deflecting a net bound shot with his stick. With a few minutes left Inverleith struck twice on the break, one with a power fun shot on the reverse and the shouts of relief showed that City had given them a huge fright and with Green driving at the home defence and not being rewarded with penalty corners or more, the final score could have been even closer. Note to former Negie players, don't tackle Adam from the wrong side. Missing Miller, our talented youngsters etc., this was a very hard fought match that deserved the 2 - 2 score once City started, the defence allowed very few chances, the midfield fought very hard against a very young constantly changing line up and the forwards created a number of chances. City gave the league leaders a real fright, well done all.