Edinburgh City boss hails the return of Alex Harris

Sixth league goal of the season for 25-year-old

Alex Harris scored the third goal

Edinburgh City boss James McDonaugh says Alex Harris’s contribution in the 3-0 win over Albion Rovers showed why they fought tooth and nail to bring him to the club.

Blair Henderson opened the scoring at Ainslie Park from the penalty spot in the 14th minute, the visitors’ Nicholas McAllister seeing red for a deliberate handball in the box.

Danny Handling’s header from a pinpoint Craig Thomson cross doubled the home side’s advantage in the 65th minute before former Hibs winger Harris completed the scoring two minutes later.

It was 25-year-old Harris’s sixth league goal of the season however, he has found himself out the sidelines recently.

“Everybody knows Alex’s qualities,” McDonaugh said. “He had a good start to the season but he had a dip recently and came out the side. It was maybe a wee kick up the backside he needed. I thought he played with a lot of aggression in terms of his forward play and got his goal. He’s a real threat so I’d hate to play against him.

“I thought we played well but could have scored more. I don’t know what the stats were but we missed at least six really good chances. A lot of our aspects of play were good but we’ve got to be mindful they had a man sent off. We’ve seen in this league before, playing against ten men can be difficult.”

The Citizens remain ten points adrift of Ladbrokes League Two table-toppers Cove Rangers with just nine matches left to play, but McDonaugh added: “You could say we’ve struggled over the last three games since losing to Cove. But we’ll keep going right until the end so we won’t give up catching them. We’ve still got to play them at the end of this month.

“If we can keep winning games you just don’t know what could happen. I’d never give up on anything but we’re just looking to finish as strongly as we can and see where it takes us.”

Edinburgh City: Mason, Thomson, Balatoni, Laird (Holmes 85), Brown, B Henderson, Handling, Crane (Wilson 89), Savoury, L Henderson, Harris (Shepherd 85). Subs: Antell, Sinclair, Stewart, Court.

Albion Rovers: Goodfellow, Lynas, Clarke, Wharton, McAllister, Morena, Breadner, Paterson, See Trialist 46), Byrne, Roberts (Scally 65 4). Subs: East, Graham, Phillips, Potts, Doherty.

Referee: Gary Ross.

Attendance: 229.