Students get a lesson in art of the comeback

Published on Monday 9 November 2009 08:56

Edinburgh University 2 Lothian Thistle 2

LOTHIAN THISTLE hit two goals in two minutes to ensure they stayed second in the Central Taxis Premier Division.

Edinburgh University led 2-0 at the interval through two cracking goals from Andy Watkin and James Craigen but goals in the 47th and 49th minutes from Craig Hume and Mark Lothian tied the game and the visitors could quite easily have gone on to win.

The sides had met only eight days earlier, the students winning 3-2 thanks to a last-minute goal. Edinburgh introduced Kerr Dodds who missed out the previous weekend while Lothian drafted in their captain, Wayne McIntosh, who was suspended for the first game.

The match started in explosive fashion with a goal for the students in the second minute. Craigen was pushed from behind some 20 yards from goal and the free-kick was exquisitely placed into the top right corner by the left foot of Watkin.

Only seconds later, Lothian's Jordan Hall lobbed the ball narrowly over the bar then, at the other end, Dodds was through on Kevin Swain who did well to divert the University player's shot for a corner.

Lothian enjoyed a spell of pressure but the students extended their lead on the half-hour mark. Jack Beesley fed Dodds wide on the left and his first-time low cross was directed into the net under the body of Swain by Craigen.

"It was not my most powerful shot and their goalkeeper should probably have saved it," said Craigen.

Whatever happened in the Lothian dressing room at half-time certainly worked because, within four minutes of the restart, they had scored twice.

McIntosh was given time on the left to loop over a cross which Hume nodded into the net in a crowded six-yard box. Thistle were level two minutes later when Mark Lothian picked up a ball on the left and cut inside. He unleashed a 25-yard shot which flew into the top corner past the flailing arms of Mark Tait.

Thistle were now in the ascendancy and Daniel McAleavy had two good efforts before, in a University counter attack, Beesley beat three Lothian defenders and his cross was hit first time by Craigen but the striker's shot hit the post.

Lothian were denied a penalty when a Gary Black shot appeared to hit the hands of James Brownie. The visitors continued to bombard the students with Hume, Lothian and McIntosh all testing Tait.

Lothian said: "I thought that in the first half we were poor but in the second we got ourselves together and fought for each other. I also felt that the ball did not fall kindly for us and we probably had a couple of penalty claims, but overall we showed great character.

"To be fair to Edinburgh University they defended very well and they are a decent side who are hard to break down. At the end of the day we were quite happy to pick up a point."

Fraser Ogilvie, the Lothian head coach, said: "It just shows that when your luck is out it certainly is. The amount of ricochets where the ball did not fall to our players was amazing. I am disappointed not to have picked up all three points but, after trailing by two goals at half-time, I have to be happy. I gave the players an ultimatum at half-time that if they wanted to achieve anything this season then they had to come out of the traps flying.

"Our second-half performance was nothing short of fantastic, although the Edinburgh University players all stuck to their tasks and they will take points off all the top teams."

Douglas Samuel, the University head coach, said: "First and foremost I am delighted to have taken four points from our two games against Lothian Thistle. That is an excellent return from a top-of-the-table team, although I am obviously disappointed to have lost a two-goal lead.

"I believe that in the first half we were excellent because we executed our game plan very well by playing at a high tempo and by counter attacking. We rode our luck in the second half although we dug in and found a way to get ourselves a point. Lothian are a good side with so many weapons in their front six."

Craigen added: "We did very well in the first half and in the second we worked hard and held strong to grind out a point."

Edinburgh University: Tait, Dodds, Scott, MacKinnon (Smith, 85), Macpherson, Brownie, Scott-Woodhouse, Craigen, Oswald (Fusco, 66), Beesley, Watkin (Davison, 77). Subs: Dick, Irvine.

Lothian Thistle:Swain, Young (Wilkes, 72), D McAleavy, MacAuley, Herd, C McAleavy, Lothian, Black, Hume, McIntosh, Hall. Subs: Burke, O'Neill, Ogilvie.

Referee: John Weir.