Napier pip Laurieston in crazy conditions

Published on Tuesday 28 October 2008 08:56

NAPIER UNIVERSITY survived a late challenge to beat Laurieston 5-4 in a mad, mad East of Scotland Amateur Cup tie in wild weather on the 3G pitch at Saughton Park.

The new all-weather surface stood up to the test in the most extreme conditions of howling wind and lashing rain and the visiting side from Falkirk so nearly finished in a blaze of glory but their goal in time added on from the penalty spot was too little, too late to force the tie into extra time.

The students appeared to have this game well and truly tied up when leading 5-1 at the break with a succession of goals in a wind-assisted first half coming from a Paul Henderson free-kick, Glenn McVea, James McLean, Calum Wallace and an own goal following a corner on the left from Orin Parkinson.

Against all the odds, Laurieston managed to score playing into the face of the ferocious wind with Gezin Nujal sending the ball into the empty Napier net after a poor clearance. This was truly a test of endurance for everyone daft enough to venture out on to the pitch.

It must have been just as bad for the Russian women's team who were trying to have a training session in the exposed pitch at Saughton Enclosure prior to their game against the Scottish women's team at Tynecastle.

The first half was virtually all Napier University and this big young, fit side ran the show with Laurieston having to defend their goal while the appalling rain was lashed into their faces by a wind that at times sent clearances soaring up into the air and then hurled the ball further back towards Laurieston keeper Martin Scott.

This brave, young goalie did not last long and he had to be helped off after taking a really sore knock when throwing himself down at the feet of Mark Efe Agbogun.

Tony McGowan took over in goal for Laurieston and the No.12 went on to be a real star in the second half. The goals scored by Napier in the first stage of the game did not just go into the Laurieston net, some of the wind-assisted shots almost ripped the netting from the stanchions.

There was no let-up in the weather in the second half, either, but the Napier defence stood up to everything the wind, rain and the Laurieston players could throw at them. But the students made it so difficult for themselves, missing clear chances galore to add to their total in great running attacks at the Laurieston goal.

McGowan was simply magnificent when denying Agbogun at least four certain goals in runs that should have added to the Napier goal haul.

The much smaller visiting players made little impression on the home defence and Napier appeared to be in no danger even when Mike Troy managed to plant the ball behind David Easton in the students' goal to make it 5-2.

But Laurieston were lifted by the display of stand-in keeper McGowan, assisted by their fiercely tackling defenders, and when Andy McVeen reduced the deficit to 5-3 when he scored with a few minutes left to play, Napier just had to hold out for a couple more minutes to book their place in the next round of this prestigious amateur cup competition.

But, in time added on, Laurieston were given a soft penalty by the match official and Troy wasted no time in sending the spot-kick into the back of the Napier net to make it 5-4.

That penalty goal turned out to be the last kick of the ball and, while the students were let off the hook, it really was a blessed relief to hear the final whistle from Mr Laurie to bring to an end an absolutely farcical game of football.

However, there is no criticism of any player or of the referee in a game that defied description at times.

Napier University: David Easton, Steven McGill, Rhys Lithgow, Paul Young, Glenn McVea, Wayne Murda, Paul Henderson, Calum Wallace, John O'Hara, James McLean, Orin Parkinson, Scott Tindal, John Stewart, Mark Efe Agbogun.

Laurieston Thistle: Martin Scott, Colin Morris, John Lang, Mike Henderson, Clark McKenzie, Darren Wood, Mike Troy, Chris Donoghue, Andy McVeen, Andy Farholm, Gezin Nujal, Tony McGowan, James McDonald, Dale Proctor, Ryan Howell, Craig Anderson.