Bragging rights are shared as Spartans and Edinburgh City can't be separated
Edinburgh City boss Michael McIndoe believes his side should have emerged with the bragging rights after an entertaining 2-2 draw with Capital rivals Spartans.
City responded well following last weekend's 5-0 loss at home to Elgin, taking a first-half lead through Ricky Waugh's 17th-minute strike into the bottom corner.
Spartans turned the match in their favour after the interval. Marc McNulty converted a penalty 13 minutes from time at the Vanloq Community Stadium before Bradley Whyte's fantastic effort four minutes later had the hosts ahead.
But Innes Lawson stabbed the ball home from inside the box to secure a well-deserved point for the Meadowbank outfit.
"It was a good performance," McIndoe said. "I felt we were the better team and probably deserved more than a point. That being said, there's still a lot to work on as this new group of players get to understand our system and each others movements.
"I was pleased with the first half and felt we should have been 2-0 up at half-time rather than just the one. The penalty gave Spartans some confidence and the momentum changed slightly, allowing them back into the match. But we regained our focus, stuck to the way we play and, overall, I'm pleased with the players' fitness levels and technical play this early in the season.
"The players also showed their mental strength and aggression, something I felt we lacked a little last season. Our squad depth is much stronger and I'm looking forward to Cowdenbeath tomorrow night and Dumbarton next week."
Spartans new loan signing Ricardo Dinanga, who has joined from English League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town, was a second-half substitute and the 24-year-old admitted his early impressions are positive.
"It was brilliant," Dinanga said. "I was on the bench but I was eager to get on. It's a good standard of football so I was buzzing to make my debut. Hopefully I can help the team get promotion. We just have to take it step by step, game by game."
Meanwhile, in the Lowland League East, Bonnyrigg Rose returned to winning ways with a 4-1 triumph over East Stirlingshire while Tranent made it four wins from four with a 2-1 success at Stirling University.