Lowland League round-up: Edinburgh Uni continue march up table

Hawick Royal Albert 1

THE students moved up to tenth spot with this win. There were early openings for Edinburgh’s Rafa Calbacho, but his first strike was blocked by Jacobs and his second one crashed off the crossbar with goalkeeper Jack beaten. Hawick responded well and Morris combined with McInally, only to be denied by Tait. On 32 minutes, Verkaik was booked for a foul on Morris and, from the quickly-taken free-kick, Kris Mitchell hit the ball home from close range with the home defence hesitating. A flowing University move down the left involving Verkaik, McCrory-Irving and Guthrie led to Calbacho easing the ball home at the right-hand post on 39 minutes. With Hawick hesitating for a ball which they thought had gone out of play, Edinburgh took the lead on 43 minutes when Scott McCrory-Irving deceived Jack with a brilliant 30-yard chip. Hawick created some excellent opportunities early in the second half, but Morris and Johnson failed to convert. As the game progressed Edinburgh’s defence became more assured and with better possession in midfield the University pushed forward in pursuit of a decisive third goal. Guthrie and then substitute Evans were both through on goal only to be denied by Jack.

Edinburgh University: Tait, Murray, McMillan (McIntosh 79), Smith, Verkaik, Daniels-Yeoman, Nikolaidis (Evans 72), Ritchie, Guthrie, McCrory-Irving, Calbacho. Subs: Irvine, Maskrey, Matthew, Scott, Davison.

Hawick Royal Albert: Jack, Stevenson (Campbell 83), Spence (Hughes 64), Watson, Jacobs, Johnson, Hunter, Conaghan, Morris, Mitchell, McInally. Subs: McPartlin, Bernawi, Rankin.

Gala Fairydean Rovers 3

Civil Service Strollers 2

STROLLERS paid the price for a slack 15-minute spell where Gala scored three goals. The visitors hit the bar twice and the post three times, but still went away empty-handed. Strollers were awarded a penalty in the 40th minute which Jack Downie dispatched to give them the lead. The second half got underway and, within three minutes, David Churchill hit the post with a shot before Gala substitute Sutherland lashed home on 50 minutes. Strollers then gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box which Krones tucked away to give Gala a 2-1 lead. The hosts scored a third on 67 minutes when a cross from the right-hand side was tucked home at the back post by Aitchison. Strollers regrouped but the Gala goal was living a charmed life as David Stewart and Craig Newall both hit the post with shots. Stephen was then sent off for the home side in the 83rd minute following his second yellow card then Churchill pulled one back in the 85th minute for Strollers. With two minutes left, Churchill just failed to grab an equalisder with a diving header.

Gala: Wright, Stephen, Main, Krones, Windram, Miller, Smith, Pringle, Noble, Bonnington, Aitchison. Subs: Ainslie, Noble, Common, Sutherland, Swaney, Shiel.

Civil Service: Burnside, Newall, Dingwall (Stenhouse), Laird, Milven (Turnbull), Clapperton, Cunningham, Downie, J Boyle, Froude, Churchill. Subs Not Used: Brown, A Boyle.

Stirling University 5

Preston Athletic 3

PRESTON fell six points adrift at the bottom of the league. Paul McAfferty’s early in-swinging corner deceived Preston’s Craig Pennycuick and found the net to give Stirling the lead. The students doubled their advantage as Chris Geddes rounded Pennycuick and coolly slotted home. It was 3-0 five minutes before half-time with a controversial goal as Geddes lobbed Pennycuick from 30 yards despite being one of three players looking well offside. Preston found a way back after the break with two quick goals, the first a Jason Young lob and then a combination of Fabio Neto and Robbie Carter bundling home. Rory McEwan and Harvey Moyes put the hosts on cruise control before Kevin Keane rifled in a late consolation.

Stirling University: Hughes, Mailer, Kellock, Cuff, Nixon, Hunter, Jones, Faulds, Geddes (Moyes), McEwan (Kane), McAfferty. Subs: Gillen, Tuohy, Cowley, Emmott, Brown.

Preston Athletic: Pennycuick, Trialist (Cowan), Cochrane (Jardine), McLeod, Siegel, O’Rourke, Carter (Smith), Stevenson, Neto, Young, Keane. Subs: Callan, Erskine, Baines, Archibald.