Uni students dig deep to beat Thistle

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 09:07

Edinburgh University 4 Lothian Thistle 2 THIS much-needed and hard-fought victory over third top Thistle saw the students climb from second bottom of the Premier Division to mid-table respectability and may turn out to be a pivotal point in their season.

Head coach Dougie Samuel was delighted with the win and thought his team played very well. "We survived their opening onslaught and were happy to go in at half time with a two-goal lead. Most of the second half when the game became quite stretched, I thought we were comfortable even when they pulled a goal back although we had to be alert to deal with their striker Scott Dickson, who had an excellent game.

"Our all-round team performance was very good with Steven Thomson and James Redman standing out."

However the students' joy was marred by the serious leg injury sustained in the 14th minute by their left back Ruaridh Scott in a tackle by Craig Hume which earned Hume a yellow card. Play was held up for almost ten minutes as attention was given to Scott, who had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.

Thistle started the game by pinning the students back in their own half. In the opening minutes Scott had to look lively at the far post to deal with a high, looping cross from McAleavy who followed that up with a long-range shot well held by Tait. And the students took the lead against the run of play in the seventh minute. On the left Scott slipped the ball inside to Swedish striker Peder Beck-Friis whose shot was parried out by Swain and McIntosh pounced to stab it over the line.

Shortly after Scott's injury, Thistle were back on level terms with a magnificent goal from Scott Dickson. Taking the ball with his back to goal he turned, looked up and from about 25 yards out launched an unstoppable shot high into the top left-hand corner of the net. But within a minute the students regained their lead when Redman's shot beat Swain low to his left-hand corner.

Thistle then went on the offensive with long-range shots from Young and McAleavy while Dickson came closest with a well-placed header excellently saved by Tait. However, the home team had their chances when first Fusco shot wide and then Dodds was through one-on-one with Swain, who made a good save at his feet.

Next Dickson teed up Black but his shot was easily held by Tait. Then on the stroke of half time the students extended their lead. Following a free kick on the right, the ball reached Alistair McKinnon in the area. His first shot was blocked but his follow-up beat Swain after appearing to take a deflection.

After the break, Dickson set up Young only for him to sky his shot over the bar. Then Dickson chested the ball down to Black whose powerful drive just shaved Tait's left-hand post. Beck-Friis was through on Swain who dived bravely at his feet to avert the danger and then the Swede slipped an inviting ball to the inrushing Dodds who made a hash of his shot. But Thistle's pressure was rewarded in the 78th minute. Dickson again was at the centre of things, eluding a clutch of defenders in the area before passing to Black who then fed Young whose low drive found the right hand corner of the net.

The outcome remained in the balance as Thistle continued pressing for the equaliser. However in the very last minute the students made sure of victory when Redman sent a precise pass through for sub Cameron McKinnon who kept several defenders at bay as he burst into the box to slam a shot low past Swain.

Edinburgh Uni: Tait, Dodds, Scott, Fusco, A McKinnon, Irvine, McIntosh, Redman, Beck-Friis, Thomson, Maxwell. Subs: C McKinnon, Milne, Ludowicy, McFarlane, Watkins.

Lothian: Swain, Lowrie, McAleavy, Wilkes, Macaulay, Blackley, Hume, Black, Dickson, K Young, Lothian. Subs: Campbell, Rison, Garden, J Young, O'Neil.