Leith Athletic Colts show battling spirit to clinch Willie Bauld win

The last of the summer sunshine set the scene for a classic encounter as Leith Athletic Colts overcame Easthouses 2-1 in the East of Scotland under-21 Willie Bauld Cup first round at Leith Links.

Colts coach Bryan Robinson was not without pre-match concern with a grand total of five players absent due to injury, however, Easthouses had similar concerns and both teams were limited to a squads of 12 for the opening phase of one of the most prestigious youth football competitions.

The Midlothian visitors started the match brightly, dominating possession through their skipper and midfield engine Grant Gavin displaying neat, one-touch football.

Despite Easthouses having the best of the early possession, the hosts had the first chance of the match with Jon Laidlaw playing through the first of many stellar through balls for Inglis, who rounded the goalkeeper but, through his indecision, gave the Easthouses No.?1 Andrew McQueen enough time to pounce on the ball at his feet and snuff out the threat.

During a spell of great promise from Leith, a similar situation played out another two times in quick succession with Inglis' first touch proving wasteful on each occasion.

Taking advantage of Leith's profligacy in front of goal, Easthouses assumed the lead after 21 minutes through the influential Gavin.

Easthouses won a free-kick on the outside of the centre circle and lofted a cross into the box that that was poorly dealt with by the goalkeeper, who parried the ball into the path of central midfielder Gavin, who speared the ball into the gaping net.

Shortly after the restart, the referee missed a chance to stamp his authority on the game during a small scrap that began when Leith midfielder Jamie Stewart lashed out on the touchline after a challenge from Sean Moffat. However, both players escaped with only a word in their ear, despite the violent nature of the clash.

After a period of great pressure from Leith, Easthouses finally conceded when Jon Laidlaw executed a sublime turn in the box after winning the ball from a throw-in and produced a great square ball leaving Jack Ferguson to tap into the net to equalise after half an hour.

With home coach Robinson looking to regain control of the match before the interval, Leith pushed on and dominated possession and turned the game around through a pacy counter attack.

Athletic's right back sent a 60-yard through ball sailing over the top of the Easthouses defence for Johnathan Herd to deftly control the ball and despatch a shot into the top left corner to snatch the lead only minutes before half time.

Although Leith had the majority of the chances in the first half, Easthouses were playing superb, creative football with skipper Gavin dictating the play from the midfield and the away team looked a safe bet to continue doing so in the second half.

This desire to play creative football almost paid off for Easthouses at the beginning of the second half as early on Sean Moffat played a quick pass from the edge of the 18-yard box for Scot Williams to run onto but his shot was somewhat lacking in accuracy and squeezed just wide of the far post.

After an inauspicious start to the half, the game continued in this vein with chances missed for both teams.

Inglis continued to prove his innate ability to create space in a game on a number of occasions but found himself unable to finish a chance for the rest of the match.

Easthouses flair player and ex-Hearts youth Sean McCallion hit the bar in the 64th minute and came very close with an athletic overhead kick that would have been a truly sublime goal.

Leith Athletic were unlucky to have a third goal chalked off when a dreadful clearance from Williams was sent into the net by the waiting Leith striker, who was questionably ruled offside.

However, this decision was not to prove vital as the match fizzled out and Leith bagged the victory with a 2-1 victory.

Colts coach Robinson credited his team's victory to "defending well when it counted and battling hard despite a lack of fitness" and claimed that the win was down to the whole team performing as a unit to dampen impressive creativity shown by Easthouses.

Leith Athletic: Paul Tansey, Jamie Stewart, Craig Nisbet, James Main, Denholm Lyle, Jon Laidlaw, Chris Inglis, Johnathan Herd, Johnny Coleman, Robbie Duncan, Peter Gowans, Jack Ferguson.

Easthouses: Andrew McQueen, Shaun Moffat, Sean Dillon, Shaun McCallion. Craig Whigham, Chris Homan, Paul Waters, Scott Williams, Chris Nelson, Marc McCaskill, Grant Gavin, James Glodeck.