Edinburgh City duo hailed for 'top-drawer' performance in 5-2 blitz of Albion Rovers

Defender Liam Henderson’s first-half nine-minute hat-trick helped lift Edinburgh City up to third as Albion Rovers were put to the sword at Ainslie Park.

Liam Henderson bagged a hat-trick for Edinburgh City.

The Citizens blew their opponents away 5-2 with goals shared between Henderson and skipper Craig Thomson, the latter showing great technique from a dead-ball situation with two stunning free-kicks. The former Hearts full-back also provided the assists for Henderson’s treble.

Saturday was the first time City had registered back-to-back wins in League Two this season following last weekend’s 4-0 triumph at Annan.

The hosts raced into a two-goal lead inside ten minutes, the second a carbon copy of the first with Henderson on hand to steer home two Thomson crosses from the right.

Kyle Doherty’s astute finish provided a brief respite for Rovers before Henderson completed his hat-trick in the 16th minute with a free header from a Thomson corner.

Thomson then got in on the scoring act himself two minutes later with a swerving 25-yard free-kick into the top corner for City’s fourth of the afternoon.

Matthew Aitken reduced the arrears with a cross-cum shot that went in off the far post three minutes after the restart before Thomson completed the scoring with another unstoppable free-kick.

Manager James McDonaugh said: “It wasn’t the complete performance with losing two goals but we were very good. We blew them away with the start that we had and carried on where we left off from last week. Scoring five goals at home and three points, we would take that every week.

“Craig’s deliveries were exceptional. It’s all about putting the ball in the area but Liam was on hand to convert them into goals. It was a top-drawer performance from the two of them in an attacking sense which epitomises what we’re about. We want to attack from the back and defend from the front.

“I think two weeks ago we were taking a good look at ourselves. We were disappointed at not creating enough chances and losing matches. But that’s us up to third in the league after our mini crisis if you want to call it that.

“We’ve built the club over the past couple of years behind the scenes in terms of how we prepare for games and the professionalism and we’ve lost that in this season due to the pandemic. So, I think we’ve lost some of those marginal gains that we had."

The Capital side now head for Hampden on Saturday where current leaders Queen’s Park await and McDonaugh added: “Any time you go to Hampden you look forward to it. Queen’s Park have completely transformed the club from top to bottom really. Had we been going there having not won for four or five games then it would have been very difficult, but we go there with a freedom now to express ourselves and maybe cause a wee upset against the team that is top.”

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