In an impressive performance, Dickens Waterfront beat Gorgie Hearts 1-0, and handed them their first league loss of the season, allowing them to take all three points along Dalry Road back to team HQ at Dickens Bar.  It was a fine defensive display with Andy Stuart, Gary Crichton, Craig Tilibrook and man of the match Jason Newman all making impressive contributions WRITES JANE RANKIN.
 
In the first half, Dickens were disappointed not to have got the ball down and play some of the passing football they’re capable of. However, when they did, they caused the Gorgie defence problems, with a good move down the right involving Graeme Beveridge ended with Dale Walker flashing a shot across the face of goal from the right edge of the box, and another chance falling to the on-rushing Fraser Duff, who was unfortunate to see the ball bobble just before striking it and the chance being lost. Fraser though put in a captain’s display sitting deep in midfield and thwarting the danger men in the Gorgie midfield with his constant tackling and harrying. 
 
A misjudged corner that needed to be headed off the line, and a number of shots from distance kept Keeper Ryan Williams on his toes in the opening 45 minutes, despite a horrific arm injury suffered in the warm up.
 
The only goal of the game came after good work at the back from Tilibrook, playing the ball forward to Walker, who made a trademark forward run from midfield. Despite his heavily strapped leg, he pushed the ball on to lone striker Shaun Crichton to break past the defence. Just as the defence looked to get a last ditch tackle in, Crichton somehow prodded the ball across goal onto Walker who had continued his run, and left him with a one yard open goal to blast into and put Dickens a goal up..
 
The second half started in much the same pattern, with Gorgie long balls either being comfortably dealt with by the defence, or the Hearts strikers falling into the offside trap. At the other end, Crichton had a long range free kick that narrowly went past the keeper’s right hand post, although the best second half chances fell to his brother Colin. Despite normally playing up front, he managed to get himself on the end of two good moves. In the first he was unlucky to pull his shot wide, but the second he couldn’t have hit any sweeter, and was only denied after an outstanding finger tip save from the Gorgie keeper, which he tipped the ball onto the post and wide.
 
Gorgie Hearts were obviously keen to extend their unbeaten league run, and changed formation into a more attacking line up. This brought dividends with a 25 yard strike from their forward skimming the top of the Dickens' bar. They did have the ball in the back of the Dickens' net, but the striker was narrowly ruled offside, and he was yellow carded for finishing after the whistle had blown.
 
The Dicks came close late on after substitute Grant Smith hit a venomous volley that the keeper somehow tipped over the bar, and Fergus Ramsay, putting in a unique performance in the middle of the pitch, came close to picking out teammates with a couple of inviting crosses fired across the Gorgie Hearts' goal. 

All in all, a close derby in which either team could have snatched the winner but Dickens took the three important points that add new impetus to their season.
 
No doubt about the upset in the Premier Division as LBC inflicted a 3-1 defeat over leaders Cramond Star through goals from David Aitkenhead (2) and Dean Phillips. Elsewhere in the Premier, Gilmerton inflicted an emphatic 5-0 victory over City Limits with goals from Alan Bailey (4) and one from cousin Calvin.
 
A restricted fixture list this week due to the Edinburgh derby, but of those teams playing United Edinburgh will want to continue their unbeaten run at the top of the Second Division when they meet Longstone Welfare at the Jack Kane Centre.