Match Report

An action packed first half saw Annan run out 3-0 winners in front of a healthy crowd at Galabank, as Tommy Goss scores a perfect hat–trick.

Both teams entered the fixture with victories in their previous fixtures, as Annan secured three points at Galabank against Elgin City in midweek, and Edinburgh City beat Stranraer at home the previous Saturday.

Two changes were made to the Annan right hand sidefrom the midweek clash, with Josiah Sowa replacing Charlie Maxwell on the right wing and Ryan Muir making way for Daryl Carrick at right back. The rest of the lineup remained the same.

Edinburgh City on the other hand made just one change to their starting lineup from their dominant victory over Stranraer, with Divine Iserhienrhiencoming in for the unavailable James Stokes, to lead the line.

A minute’s applause occurred before the game kicked off in memory of Annan community member and player for the disability team Finlay Kerr, who sadly passed away recently and would have been celebrating his 21st birthday this past week.

It was a dream start for the home side when Sowa won a corner down the right-hand side in just the second minute. Wullie Gibson hung the corner to the back post, and the cross was met by the rising Goss, who bulleted the ball with a powerful header across the crossbar and into the net, taking Annan ahead early on.

Annan continued to look dangerous when Aidan Smith was played down the line by Josh Dixon, and whipped a ball deep into the box, which Sowa met,yet his header was caught by City keeper Mark Weir.

Edinburgh City nearly pulled one back just before the 10th minute when an Iserhienrhien header forced Albinson to get down low to make a save. However, Annan countered when Albinson spotted Goss making the run in behind the Edinburgh City back four. Albinson’s long ball over the top was caught on the half volley superbly by Goss, on his left foot, firing the ball in at the back post to double Annan’s lead.

After the first 25 minutes, just as Edinburgh City were settling into the game, Annan came close to scoring again as Goss continued to be a nuisance up top. Goss flicked on a long ball to Dixon, who took the shot on outside the box, yet Weir sprang into action and made the save.

Tommy Goss would complete his hat–trick on the half hour mark to make it 3-0 for Annan. Gibson dispossessed Ousman See on the halfway line andbegan driving forward with the ball. He glided through the Edinburgh City midfield with ease and slipped Goss through one on one with the keeper. Goss would finish with his right foot, over the keeper, completing his perfect hat–trick, with Gibson grabbing his second assist of the game.

Shortly after the goal, Gibson would take a sore one in the ribs from City skipper Jason Jarvis, which would ensue a scuffle between both teams, resulting in Gibson, Jarvis and Scott Hooper receiving yellow cards.

Half Time: Annan Athletic 3 Edinburgh City 0

Annan would kick off for the second half, as both teams remained unchanged entering the next 45.

It was a relatively uneventful first 15 to the second half, with only a half chance each for both sides. Goss had a chance to score his fourth just a minute after the half kicked off yet fired over the bar. While Keith Watson made a vital clearance in the box, beating Iserhienrhien to the ball to keep Annan’s clean sheet intact.

Annan were to be awarded a penalty 68 minutes in when Goss headed an Aidan Smith cross seemingly onto the arm of Jamie Walker. However, the linesman would influence referee Lewis Hogarth to overturn the decision with the final outcome as no penalty.

Dixon and Goss would make way for Maxwell and Joel Mumbongo after 76 minutes, Annan’s only two subs of the match.

Just a minute later Annan would create the last realchance of the game through Paul Smith winning the ball high in City’s half and playing in Sowa. Sowa would be forced wide yet still took the shot on, however struck the ball into the side of the net and out for a goal kick.

For the remainder of the game Annan would sit off Edinburgh City, who knocked the ball around well but never showed any signs of troubling Albinson, which can be argued was the story of the entire half. The full-time whistle went, and Annan would take away their second win of the week, and a very well deserved three points.

Full Time: Annan Athletic 3 Edinburgh City 0

Report by Owen Clanachan