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Whitehill
suffered yet another early season disaster with
elimination from the Qualifying Cup at their first
hurdle for the second successive season.
Welfare lined up without the services of influential
skipper Kevin Lee and goal-scoring midfielder Alan
McDonagh. Their absence was noticeable with
Whitehill looking somewhat disjointed with Stewart
Fisher in midfield and Allan Cornett at left back.
Edinburgh came at Welfare from the start and
showed they meant business by taking a surprise lead
after only five minutes. A high free kick into the
box saw McGurk get hands to the ball but he appeared
to be bumped by a Uni forward in the process and
lost the ball.
Redman
didn't hang around and poked the ball into the empty
net and the ref awarded a goal.
This setback saw Welfare come to life and they were
soon level. A Christie cross was headed on by Doig
and
Walker
was lurking at the far post to smash the ball into
the net. The remainder of the first half exchanges
were even with both sides trying to press an
advantage only to find defenders on top of their
game.
Nikolaidis was causing the Welfare defence problems
with his pace and it took a point blank save from
McGurk early in the second half to keep the scores
level. To combat the Uni forward, Johnston replaced
Stewart Fisher with Wilkes moving into midfield.
Nicky Walker was buzzing against his old club and
went on mazy run across the box before
slipping the ball into Doig's path. A 25 yard
screamer looked to be heading for the keeper's top
left hand postage stamp, but credit to Bennett who
pulled off a flying save to tip the ball over.
Bennett was then forced to punch clear from McIntosh
and then Walker was cursing his luck when his shot
beat the keeper but struck the post.
A replay at Ferguson Park looked likely until
Edinburgh won a corner in the last minute. A superb
cross to the far post saw Munro move in
unmarked to power home a header which sent the home
players and supporters wild with delight. A minute
later it was all over for Welfare and Edinburgh
University now have a great chance of reaching the
Scottish Cup proper for the first time since 1974.
Vale of Leithen may have something to say about that
but if the Uni lads can show the same determination
they showed to defeat Welfare then they will have
every chance.
Whitehill:
McGurk, McKenna,
Cornett,
Wilkes,
Woodburn,
Malone,
Christie,
S Fisher,
W. McIntosh,
Doig,
Walker. Subs:
McEwan,
C Fisher, Hart,
Johnston,
Swain.
Above:
Jamie Redman
pokes in the opener for Edinburgh University after
McGurk was bumped going for a high ball.
Above:
Walker smashes
home a tenth minute equaliser for Welfare.
Above:
Welfare celebrate the equaliser.
Above:
McKenna gets up to power a header upfield.
Above:
McGurk pulls off a tremendous save to deny
Nikolaidis.
Above:
At the other end Bennett denied Doig with a flying
tip over.
Above:
Bennett to the fore again, punching clear from Wayne
McIntosh.
Above:
No luck for Welfare as Walker hits the post with
Bennett beaten.
Above: Last minute
disaster for Welfare as Fraser Munro arrives
unmarked to power home the winning goal.
Above:
Dejection on
the faces of the Welfare players as the Uni players
go into a celebration scrum.
Above:
Ecstacy at the
end for the Uni players and fans. Misery for the
Welfare bench.
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