Instead I remained in Edinburgh for
Saturday 19th January 2019
East of Scotland League Conference A
Leith Athletic 1 v 5 Musselburgh Athletic
Duncan Williams (Denny); Fiona Morton, Richard Macartney.
Leith are a nomadic side and play not in Leith but at the University's Peffermill grounds on the Southern edge of the city.
More defectors from the Juniors, with Musselburgh having a pretty successful time in the EOSFL.
Mr Williams has been on the radar for some time, but had so far escaped the distorting lens. He was promoted last season to Category 1D, so has had some matches in SPFL Division 2. He is dark-haired and clean-shaven, though a little older than imagined. AR2 had grown a respectable beard, but AR1 had not tried hard enough in that area.
After a quiet opening the visitors went ahead on 16 minutes. The home keeper prevented a second midway through the half, but it soon came, an intricate move ending with a firm backheel into the net. A penalty provided the third, number four following all too easily just two minutes later. Just before the break Musselburgh lost possession on the edge of the penalty area and Leith pulled a goal back.
Things had been straightforward enough in the first half, but one of the home managers had things to say to Mr Williams as they walked down the path from the pavilion. The response included "If you would let me speak, I would explain... You keep on interrupting me...See, you're doing it again"
The second half was a mundane affair, though Leith offered a little more, getting the ball into thunderbolt to be denied by Miss Morton's offside flag. There was a yellow card for a comprehensive trip by a Musselburgh defender. On 84 minutes the visitors beat the offside line, the home keeper bravely blocked with the most sensitive part of his anatomy and while he was wishing he hadn't the attacker tucked away his side's fifth.
It was not a match which required a referee of the calibre of Mr Williams, who had a comfortable afternoon - give or take the late drop in temperature. His decision-making appeared accurate and his general triage sound, not over-reacting to minor offences. The one complaint is that on his Christmas hanky delivery, Santa had bypassed Denny - but few would blame him for that!
Like Dougie MacLean, I know what I will do tomorrow ...but I do not intend to disappear.