Edinburgh Uni thrilled after earning Bramall Lane trip

The footballing students of Edinburgh University will contest the final of the British Universities Cup after they beat Bournemouth University on penalty kicks in the semi-final at Warwick University.

In a competitive encounter Edinburgh held their nerve and Benji Antoni slotted home the last penalty to confirm their 4-3 shoot-out victory which followed a 2-2 draw. They will now play Hartpury University in the final at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on May 11.

"When I scored it was an awkward moment," smiled Antoni. "I thought 'have I won the game or not', then suddenly I was at the bottom of a pile of about twenty bodies.

"The whole campaign has been fantastic and in extra time I thought we were fitter and stronger, although the game could have gone either way. It will be great to play at Bramall Lane and for that we owe so much to our coaches Dougie Samuel and Neil Irvine."

Samuel himself added: "My first feeling is one of massive pride - not only over how well we played but the character we showed to come from behind and play so well in extra time.

"Reaching this British Universities Cup final has been eight years in the making and now our players have the opportunity to achieve something very special."

Edinburgh took the lead in the 31st minute when James Craigen hit home a left-foot shot from 16 yards before Bournemouth took a 2-1 advantage with two goals in a six-minute spell midway through the second half.

Danny Main equalised for Edinburgh with only three minutes remaining before penalty kicks decided the outcome. Edinburgh goalkeeper Mark Tait saved the second Bournemouth penalty before Antoni netted the last spot-kick to secure Edinburgh's passage to the final.

Edinburgh University: Tait, Gair, Antoni, Main, MacKinnon, Milne, Ward, Brownie, Beck-Friis, Craigen, Beacher. Subs: Oswald, Gray, Paterson, Cummings, Watley.