Liberton top table after beating tricky Eskmill

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Liberton Park was a survivor of the ‘waterlogged weekend’ in Edinburgh, playing host to the South East Region YFL Division 2 clash between Liberton United and Eskmill Penicuik FC. 

Liberton went into the match in good form, having five of their first six league matches. They had the added incentive of knowing current league leaders Fernieside had a week off, so three points would lift them to the summit of the table. Having been promoted twice in as many seasons, the South Edinburgh side had started this campaign as they meant to go on.

Eskmill had taken six points from as many games, drawing half of their fixturs. They were part of a clustered midtable and knew a victory could see them close ground on the chasing pack.

The visitors were shooting downhill in the first half and started the game in the ascendency with a shot on goal in the opening minutes. Rohan McDowell worked an opening before seeing his near post shot tipped round the post by United goalkeeper Lewis Whitelaw.

There was little in the opening stages, with both sides playing at a high tempo and pressing high up the park. You sensed the first goal would be vital and it came in favour of Liberton with 12 minutes on the clock. A corner was headed clear, but only as far as Lewis Gray, who delivered a wicked ball into the box from the right wing. The ball flew over the goalkeeper’s head and was heading into the net, but Grant Chappell wasn’t missing a trick, nodding it over the goal-line to get his name on the scoresheet.

Following the goal the match opened up, with chances coming at either end. McDowell looked odds on to equalise when he found space at the back post, but his effort was deflected and smothered just before it crossed the line by Whitelaw. Levi Robertson raced through on goal at the other end, but Conner Mason got a vital touch on his shot to divert it beyond the left hand post.

Robertson’s engine was starting to cause problems for the Eskmill rearguard. However, the men from Penicuik had a willing runner of their own. The tall number 8, Aaron Hodge, burst through from midfield and was about to pull the trigger before Paul Weir produced a last ditch tackle.

The final action of the half saw Liberton extend their lead. Robertson’s determination was rewarded as he outmuscled his marker before sidestepping the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into an empty net.

When the half time whistle blew seconds after the restart, Eskmill were left to wonder why they found themselves two goals behind. For Liberton, who were shooting down the hill in the second half, things were going perfectly to plan. 

Half Time: Liberton United 2-0 Eskmill Penicuik 

Eskmill were clearly motivated following their half-time team talk and were quickly out of the blocks from the restart. Within the first sixty seconds Hodge had rounded the goalkeeper, but the angle proved too tight. He did manage to cut the ball back into the path of Ross Pratt, who forced Whitelaw into a decent stop with his feet.

With ten minute played in the second half, Eskmill got the goal which their play merited. Superb wing play by Ben Gracie saw him weave in and out of blue shirts on the right, before offloading the ball into the path of Hodge. The tall forward brushed off a tackle before poking the ball past Whitelaw and into the net. 2-1 and game on.

Having just got a foothold in the game, Eskmill were then their own worst enemy. A weak clearance was pounced upon by Robertson, who took a touch of of his feet before dispatching a shot low into the left hand corner. 

Following this the home side went from strength to strength, dictating play and looking dangerous whenever they went forward. Goal number four came when a ball across the box was diverted back across goal and into the net by Kieran Lumsden. Mason did get a hand on the ball, but he had been wrong footed by the clever effort from Lumsden, and couldn’t keep it out.

The fifth and final goal came when Robertson worked an opening inside the penalty box before driving the ball across goal. Chappell was only too happy to sidefoot it home from eight yards and seal his team’s victory.

The Midlothian side kept battling until the final whistle and Ross Aitken was unlucky to see his well struck free kick saved by Whitelaw. However, it was easy street by this point, from a Liberton United side who are certainly going places.

Both teams sportingly shook hands at the final whistle, bringing to an end a well contested match.

Full Time: Liberton United 5-1 Eskmill Penicuik FC