Background

It’s been a wee while. I was hoping to get out and about a bit more often at the start of the season but as it turns out, the first term of the first year of primary school teaching is a tiring gig. My weekends since mid-August have mostly been spent planning for the next week or getting some much-needed relaxation time. However, the October week is here, I’ve gotten a grip of the job and its time to get back out into the ridiculous and wonderful world of Scottish football.

To ease myself back into the routine, staying relatively local seems a good idea. Having grown up in Dalkeith I enjoy looking out for the local teams to the area. Easthouses Lily are one of those teams, being just a stone’s throw away.

Originally founded in 1950, The Lily began their journey in the Edinburgh and District Junior League. It started strongly, finishing runners up in their first year and top-four consistency for a few years thereafter. However, the club’s performances started to dwindle, with a Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final appearance being the best they could muster. Bottom half league finishes resulted in attendances dropping, leading to issues behind the scenes. The club were left with no choice but to fold in 1965. After a season’s break, a brief resurgence withneighbouring town Mayfield resulted in the amalgamation of Easthouses & Mayfield United. However, they too fell to issues and folded only a couple of seasons in after only 10 league wins in three years.

It wouldn’t be until 1969 until the Lily we know would be created. Starting in the Scottish Welfare Football Association, silverware came thick and fast and the club began to outgrow the league. They joined the East of Scotland set-up in 1981 with the club’s ‘golden era’ coming about a decade later. Houses won the league title and promotion from the First Division in 1991 and won the Premier Division at the first time of asking the following year. They remain the only club since league reconstruction to win back-to-back First and Premier division titles. An Alex Jack Cup was also delivered to the trophy cabinet the same year.  Since those famous days, Lily have won the First Division twice more and the Alex Jack Cup a further three times, including a league and cup double in 2005.

Today, Easthouses ply their trade in the EoS Second Division and currently sit comfortably in mid-table. However, they are only a couple of good wins away from challenging the top three and promotion to the First Division. Their last three league games have included an incredibly exciting 6-5 victory over Kennoway Star Hearts and a morale boosting 2-1 win over local rivals Dalkeith Thistle. They’ll be looking to today’s opponents Newburgh to continue their good form. ‘Burghcurrently sit in the third relegation place and will crossing the bridge from Fife hoping for a big result to turn their fortunes around. I was in for a tasty contest.

Facilities

Easthouses Lily are situated at Newbattle Complex, sitting just behind the newly modern Newbattle High School. The first noticeable feature is the incredible vista of the Pentland Hills. On a sunny day it is a sight to behold, and I’m grateful for the raised embankment on the touchline to allow for such a view.

The entire perimeter is surrounding with your classic metal fencing and greenery with a decent wee playing area behind the goals fit for kids having a kick-about during the game. Its always nice to see this level of accommodation for young supporters. It’s a rare amenity. The classic necessities are also provided with the wee café taking centre stage for all needs food and drink related.

The main grandstand comes in the form of the Rob Paul & Jim Forrest Stand. It looks great, representing the club’s colours and giving a decent view of the proceedings. As it was placed in only a few years back, it retains a good modern look in a tight, narrow and classic junior football ground.

Overall, I really like Easthouse’s home. It’s scenery, tight playing surface and modern-but-classic feel ensures it serves its purpose at this level well. The community pitches around it also makes sure the entire club remains in the one area, essentially under one roof. I feel it deserves a solid 3/5.

Atmosphere

A fair number of supporters turned up for today’s contest, although slightly lower than I was expecting given no SPFL league action on show today. Regardless, its nice to see punters older and younger turn out to support their local club. I did sit amongst the few supporters who travelled over the bridge for the second half, and from the sounds of it they seemed to follow the team home and away every week. It takes an incredible amount of dedication to showcase your support to your local team in this way. Fair play. 1.5/5.

Quality of the Match

With their higher league standing, it felt natural for Lily to head into today’s contest as the favourites. They started the quicker of the two teams and played some lovely football for the first ten or so minutes. Darren Leslie proved himself to be Easthouse’s main threat in the first half with his technical ability and quick feet causing the Newburgh defence some issues. It showed, with a lovely touch and turn giving the winger time and space to flick a ball over the Newburgh centre-backs. Lewis Sives timed his run perfectly to lob the ball over the onrushing David Chalmers. A fabulously worked goal to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Housescontinued to dominate proceedings and probably should have doubled their lead. Jack Burrows received a nice pass into the centre of the box. After turning back and getting the ball onto his right-foot his strike was blocked well by Chalmers. The defending was certainly questionable, but no doubt that Easthouses should be 2-up.

The best Newburgh could muster in the first forty-five came ten minutes before the whistle. Stephen Hay had barely touched the ball all half, but his first real action resulted in him failing to truly clear a through ball. The ball fell to a Newburgh midfielder, but his strike could not clear the first defender on its way to goal, with the chance coming to nothing.

Half Time: Easthouses Lily 1-0 Newburgh

After such a dominating first half, you’d expect the home time to come out and put the game to bed. A relatively slow start ensued, with Newburgh perhaps looking the better team. Darren Leslie once again proved to be a threat, with his edge of the box strike going just wide.

That said, Newburgh looked a different side to the one that played the first half. They spent the majority of the second half in the Easthouses half and came excruciatingly close to levelling the scores. Some excellent feet gave Keller Harris time on the ball to play a lovely weighted ball for striker Cai MacDonald. However, despite having time on his side, he was unable to beat Stephen Hay, with the Houses ‘keeper pulling off a great block to keep his side ahead.

Their second big chance of the half came soon after. Right-back Adam Wilson pushed down the wing and fired a cross into the home box. MacDonald rose highest but couldn’t direct his header goalwards. A tough break.

Full Time: Easthouse Lily 1-0 Newburgh

Easthouses will have mixed feelings about this victory. They completely dominated the first half and perhaps would have been disappointed not to have gone into the break at least a couple of goals up. That said, their defensive resilience during the second period is something to be pleased with, even if they did not have the same offensive threat. I felt Darren Leslie was a stand-out, particularly in the first period. His technical ability supplied an excellent assist for the only goal of the game and he was consistently a pest for the away back-four.

Newburgh will be disappointed with today’s result for a number of reasons. They simply were not good enough in the first half and provided next to no attacking threat. The words at half-time must have sunk in as they came out as a different animal in the second half. It’s a shame they could not convert their chances as it would have given the home side something to think about in an attacking sense. However, if they can play like they did in the second forty-five, the goals will come and they will be absolutely fine this season.

Overall, I was treated to a battling performance from both teams, a wonderful goal and some good individual performances. I feel it deserves a solid 3/5.

Pricing

For this East of Scotland Second Division match, I paid a measly £6 for the privilege. Between that, a pie and a coffee I spent just under a tenner for an entertaining ninety minutes in a lovely wee setting. If that isn’t value for money, then I’m not sure what is. 5/5.

Final Score

Easthouses Lily finish the day with a score of 12.5/20. I enjoyed my visit up to Newbattle Complex and felt it was a great experience at a club close to my childhood area. If you’re in the area, take in a game at a class wee venue with a wonderful vista of the Midlothian skyline. You won’t regret it.

– Connor