Time for Whitehill to get stuck into league bid warns Cavanagh

Whitehill lost their opening game 3-2 against Preston Athletic on Saturday although they rallied and won 1-0 in midweek against Edinburgh City. "It was obviously a disappointing result against Preston because performance-wise we did not achieve the heights that we had done in the pre-season games," said Cavanagh. "We had the lion's share of the possession but did not take our chances and if you do that you can be in trouble. All credit to Preston who did take their chances.

"On Wednesday night against Edinburgh City I thought that our performance was poor but in the end we picked up all three points and in this results-driven business that is what it is all about.

"We did not create a lot of chances but we took the opportunity to score when Andrew Kidd slotted home a penalty after Ross Allum had been fouled.

"Before the season started I was looking for six points out of six but now we are off and running and have not fallen drastically behind any of the other clubs."

Whitehill won both league games last season in closely contested encounters with a 2-1 win at home and a 1-0 victory at Peffermill courtesy of a goal from Paul Lynch, now at Ormiston.

"They are always close games between Whitehill and Edinburgh University," added Cavanagh. "I watched the students beat Preston 3-0 on Tuesday night and they are typical of the University set-up with young, fit and enthusiastic players. We know that it will be a tough challenge and my players will have to be up for the game.

"We have taken confidence from our win against City and now we have the opportunity to show that self-belief against the team sitting at the top of the league. As far as I am personally concerned the honeymoon period is over and now we are down to the real business."

Whitehill will be without the suspended Kidd who was sent off on Wednesday night and striker Scott Gormley who is on holiday. The inclusion of the versatile Daryl Devlin, though, who provides an excellent goal threat from midfield, will mean that Welfare will still be a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, Douglas Samuel, the Edinburgh University head coach, who has twice before had his team occupying top spot although they have never won the title, is cautious in his approach to the game.

"It is extremely early in the season and although we have competed well and played some good football in our opening two games we have maybe played Tynecastle and Preston at a good time and had the rub of the green," said Samuel. "However, we have also created lots of opportunities and had five different goalscorers so that bodes well for the rest of the season.

"Tomorrow, we play Whitehill in what is a massive game for us. At the beginning of each season our number one goal is to secure our Premier Division status and to do that I reckon that we must win at least eight games. We have already won two. We know that Whitehill have invested in their squad during the summer and they have set themselves up for a challenge on the title.

"We go into the game, however, with decent form and a determination to stay at the top of the Premier Division.

"We are already seeing the benefits of playing younger players last season with eleven players in our squad aged under 21 and five actually under 19.

"Our guys are all fit and enthusiastic. This game is an early opportunity to test ourselves against one of the standard bearers for the East of Scotland League and Whitehill will be in the mix at the end of the season."

Samuel will be without strikers Michael Hazeldine and Peder Beck-Friis along with defender Neil McCuish.

The game kicks off at 2.30pm and admission is 3 for adults and 1 for concessions.