Physical Wanderers leave with a point

Crammed into a hectic hockey schedule at Peffermill, Edinburgh’s men’s 1st XI provided the main spectacle of the day and the team did not disappoint an on-looking crowd. In a fast and frenetic game on the Astroturf, Edinburgh withstood Dundee’s physical tactics and stuck to their fluent style of play to continue their run of three games unbeaten.

With coach and star player Graham Moody unavailable through injury, Frasier Hirst took on the mantle in centre-midfield and began the game linking well with a patient back line. The front three for Edinburgh, so often rotated in order to stay fresh, ran tirelessly in order to deny space to the Dundee players. This tactic paid dividends in the early stages with a string of interceptions putting Edinburgh on the front foot. Jay Harman in particular created the best openings for his side as he continually exploited the space in behind Dundee’s defense on either wing. On one occasion the crowd were brought to their feet as Jay, on his reverse side, lifted the ball over two sticks before sending a fizzing slap pass across the box. With no one on hand to provide the finishing touch, the spectators returned to their seats once more, frustrated, much like coach Moody on the touchline.

For all the game’s attacking intent, chances were few and far between and it was only as the half was drawing to a close that Edinburgh were undone by a well-worked attack from Dundee. Having received the ball out wide, the Dundee winger drew the defender one way before pushing the ball the other to create the opening for a cross. With much still to do from the bobbling pass, the Dundee forward maintained his composure and timing to deflect the ball in.

At half time it was only the Wanderers who could be seen on the pitch. The Edinburgh team, meanwhile, had wandered into the confines of an animated dugout, with Graham at its helm. These two vastly different team-talks clearly played out during the second half. While Dundee clearly set out to break up the play, Edinburgh pressed much further up the pitch and commanded possession for large parts of the half. Jay once again linked up well with Phil Karl in the centre, while Andrew Duke was becoming heavily involved in proceedings.

It was the middle part of the second half that provided most entertainment. First up was the equalizer for Edinburgh. It was a lung-bursting run from centre half Fraser Neil through the Dundee midfield, which gave him the space to slide a pass through to the influential Andrew Duke who slotted home. Minutes later and the umpire had blown for a penalty flick to Dundee for a dubious last-man tackle by Calum Duke. Credit to the Edinburgh goalkeeper who stuck out a foot to deflect the ball up and over the bar, much to the relief of the red-faced Duke.

Edinburgh took the warning and regained focus. Unfortunately, they were disrupted by physical play and a succession of green cards picked up by the Dundee midfield. Edinburgh were reduced to a series of short corners, which Calum Duke failed to convert, and Dundee finished the game fortunate to have the full complement of 11. Edinburgh will be pleased to have now gained a foothold in this challenging league, hoping, as they are to stay in the top half at the split. On this performance, they may just achieve that feat.