INNES IS HISTORY MAKER
ANNAN ATHLETIC .... 2 EDINBURGH CITY ....... 1
A WONDER strike from Innes Murray secured an historic victory for Edinburgh City by clinching their place in League One.
Citizens boss Alan Maybury heaved a sigh of relief after watching his side lose their aggregate advantage in the first 20 minutes.
He said: “I’m not sure how I feel – that wasn’t how it was supposed to go. We scored an unbelievable goal and our keeper has done brilliantly – I was told he has been like that for us all season.”
Maybury, who was appointed interim manager at City in March following the departure of Gary Naysmith, added: “As for my future who knows? But this will not have done me any harm! We will sit down and discuss it soon.”
Annan were a goal up in six minutes courtesy of a Tony Wallace penalty after Aidan Smith was toppled by City’s Cammy Logan.
Wallace stepped up and placed the spot-kick low into the bottom right with keeper Brian Schwake diving the wrong way. Annan’s second goal arrived in the 20th minute. Tommy Goss evaded the defence for Owen Moxon’s farside corner and headed it across keeper Schwake and inside the right post to level on aggregate. But City were back ahead on aggregate when on-loan Hibs midfielder Murray – who also scored in Tuesday’s first-leg win – let fly from 25 yards out. The shot hurtled over Fleming and dropped under the bar at the left post in the 53rd minute. Tension spilled over in the 70th minute when City’s Travis hit the deck clutching his face in an off the ball incident with Goss. Players from both sides raced to the scene but referee Euan Anderson took no action. Gutted Annan boss Peter Murphy said: “I am so disappointed but also so proud of my players, of everything they gave me for the whole season. They are so dejected in that dressing room but it’s a learning process – hopefully we can go one better next season.”