East of Scotland Premier League, Tuesday 15th April 2008

Whitehill Welfare 2 Edinburgh City 3

Whitehill blew their chance to crank up the pressure in the League title race when they threw away a winning position in the last ten minutes of their game with Edinburgh City in losing 3-2. After an early setback in going a goal down, Wayne McIntosh and Darren Pryde had Welfare 2-1 in front. Substitutions and positional changes made after the second goal appeared to upset the balance of the side and City stormed back into the game to overturn Welfare’s lead.

It had all seemed so different earlier in the game. Despite going behind to an early goal from Hall, striker Wayne McIntosh floated a superb curling shot into the keeper’s top right corner and when Pryde converted a 62^nd minute penalty after a clear handball in the box, it looked like Welfare would comfortably hold on. Their movement off the ball and one-touch passing game almost threatened to blow City away at times but for their inability to finish off the chances that were created.

The late scorers for City were Hall and Hunter and the only saving grace for Welfare was the win for Lothian Thistle over challengers Edinburgh University and the net gainers on the night were Spartans.

Welfare: McGurk, McKenna, Lee, Johnston, Woodburn, Kidd, McIntosh, Pryde, Calvey, Doig, McDonagh. Subs: Gormley, Swanson, Petrik, Bain, Comb.

Above: City take a 1-0 lead through Hall.

Above: Wayne McIntosh curls a superb shot into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Above: Wayne McIntosh celebrates making it 1-1.

Above: Darren Pryde blasts home from the spot to make it 2-1.

Above: Pryde is congratulated on a perfect spot kick by his team-mates.

Above: Hall hits a late equaliser for City from a tight angle.

Above: The Welfare players are stunned as Hunter nets a last minute winner.