Students left to rue two key decisions

The students of Edinburgh University failed to produce the form that earned them this Scottish Cup first round replay and conceded a goal in each half, both from set-pieces, to exit this season's national competition at the first hurdle.

After the drama of the previous weekend when the University took a 2-1 lead in the final minute only to concede an equaliser less than 45 seconds later, this result hinged on two major decisions. First, the referee awarded Brora a penalty when University defender Mark Cathcart was adamant that he got the ball, then the sending-off of defender Danny Main for allegedly swinging an elbow at an opponent ten minutes into the second half.

Douglas Samuel, the University head coach, said: "I genuinely believe that over the two ties we never got the rub of the green and all the big decisions went against us."

The teams started nervously with both sides guilty of giving the ball away and although the University goalkeeper, Mark Tait, made a good stop from Brora's alert young striker, Liam Baxter, there was nothing to choose between the teams.

Gary Kerr fired a shot inches wide of Tait's post before the controversial penalty eight minutes before the break when Cathcart was adjudged to have tripped Baxter. Alex MacDonald made no mistake from the spot to put Brora one up.

The second half was only ten minutes old when Main earned a yellow card for a rash tackle and the following minute a flailing arm saw him receive a straight red card.

A Baxter corner in the 69th minute fell to Scott McKain who hammered a rising shot into the net from ten yards and although the students tried their utmost, it was an uphill task. They were rewarded for their efforts when an inswinging corner from James Craigen in the final minute landed in the net courtesy of the Brora goalkeeper Daniel Bell. However, it was too little too late.

Ally MacLeod, the Brora boss who was relieved to see his side through to meet SFL Third Division club Elgin City, said: "The University are good, fit and well organised and were always a threat from set-pieces. The penalty put us in the driving seat and the sending-off did not help the University."

Brora: Bell, McKain, MacDonald, Kerr, Smith, D Mackay (John Mackay 46), Suttar, MacLeod (McKernie 87), Baxter, Larnach, Begg. Subs: Jones, Munro, Martin.

Edinburgh Uni: Tait, Ward (Antoni, 55), Main, Cathcart, MacKinnon, Milne (Hunter, 75), Gair, Brownie (Gray, 75), Murray,MacCuish, Craigen. Subs: Ivine, Valentine.

Brora Rangers 2

Edinburgh University 1