Edinburgh City 2-1 Brechin City: De Vita keep Citizens on track for play-offs

Rafa De Vita’s sublime second-half strike gave Edinburgh City an edgy 2-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Brechin City.
Rafa De Vita scores the winning goal in Edinburgh City’s 2-1 victory over Brechin City at Ainslie Park last nightRafa De Vita scores the winning goal in Edinburgh City’s 2-1 victory over Brechin City at Ainslie Park last night
Rafa De Vita scores the winning goal in Edinburgh City’s 2-1 victory over Brechin City at Ainslie Park last night

With the hosts becoming increasingly frustrated by their well-drilled opponents, the on-loan Livingston winger took it upon himself to secure a hard-earned three points with a quite sumptuous effort that sailed into the top corner beyond the despairing Brechin No.1 David Hutton.

The Citizens remain in second place, 12 points adrift of League Two champions-elect Queen’s Park, but are now within touching distance of securing a play-off berth.

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The hosts edged in front as early as the second minute at Ainslie Park, skipper Craig Thomson’s corner deflecting favourably into the path of Danny Handling, who turned and lashed the ball home from sixyards.

However, manager Gary Naysmith was forced into a reshuffle within a couple seconds of the restart when central defender Jordan Tapping limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Robbie McIntyre.

A well-crafted move by the visitors produced an excellent equaliser in the 14th minute, Bobby Barr rounding off a fine team effort despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Calum Antell.

Antell earned the plaudits of his team-mates moments later, though, as he got down low to deny Scott Reekie.

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De Vita then should have done better after a Josh Campbell flick-on but could only find the arms ofHutton.

City had more energy about them in the second half with Campbell trying his luck from a free-kick 25 yards out that grazed the top of the net, but De Vita showed him how it is done with less than 20 minutes to play when he cut inside his marker before sending a fizzing drive into the top corner that left Hutton rooted to the spot.

Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, Black, Laird (Jardine 70), Brown (See 46), Handling (Dishington 70), Crane, Hamilton, Campbell, Tapping (McIntyre 2), De Vita (Newman 80). Subs: Beveridge, Goodfellow.

Brechin City: Hutton, McIntosh, Page, Currie (Slaven 15), Barr, Osman (Coupe 78), Reekie, Hussain, Paton (Inglis 67), O’Connor, Devine. Subs: O’Neil, McLauchlan, Bollan, Jordan, Paton, McLevy.

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