Lowland League round-up: Wins for Strollers and Whitehill

Michael Osborne scored twice for Whitehill

The hosts took the lead in the 35th minute when Scott Clapperton’s in-swinging corner flew into goal following a defensive mix up in the students’ box, although Civil’s Joe Dingwall might have made the faintest of touches. Strollers doubled their advantage just a minute later when Uni No.1 Mark Tait brought down the lively David Churchill and Jack Downie sent Tait the wrong way from 12 yards. Dorian Ogunro’s side reduced the deficit right on first-half stoppage time, Nathan Evans sliding home after goalkeeper Stuart Burnside had allowed the ball to come free. Civil had the better of the second half but were unable to add to their lead.

Civil Service: Burnside, Newall, Dingwall, Laird, Watson, Clapperton (Finnie), Cunningham, Downie (Ballantyne), Boyle (Campbell), Churchill, Stewart. Subs: Brown, Torrance.

Edinburgh Uni: Tait, Murray, McMillan, Smith, Verkaik, Yeomans, Evans, Irvine, Guthrie, McRory-Irving, Calbacho. Subs: Ritchie, Nikolaidis, Scott, Maskrey.

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Whitehill Welfare 4

Preston Athletic 1

After Preston passed up a number of chances to equalise before the break a strong second-half display from Whitehill left the visitors on the brink of Lowland League relegation. Whitehill settled quickly and Daryl Healy saw an effort saved by the keeper having been sent clear. Connor Brydon then hit the post following up a parried shot from Michael Osborne. On 11 minutes they opened the scoring when Osborne played a ball through behind the Preston left-back which Healy beat the onrushing goal keeper to and slotted into the empty net. Moments later Fabio Neto went down the right and crossed for Kevin Keane who shot inches wide at the far post. With 38 minutes played it was Keane again who had a great sight of goal but blasted high over the bar from 15 yards. Two minutes before half-time Bryan Young was called into action as he did well to close down Jason Young cutting in on the angle one-on-one. Shortly before the hour mark the Welfare doubled their lead. Captain Steven Manson was scythed down on the edge of the area and Osborne expertly placed a side footed effort into the bottom right hand corner. Preston desperately sought a way back into the game and as they pushed players forward Osborne scored again as Healy squared for Connor Brydon to tee him up to make it 3-0 from 10 yards. With 12 minutes left Preston were handed a lifeline when substitute Jamie Cochrane sprung the offside trap before slotting under Young to pull a goal back. Any doubt over the result was ended on 81 minutes though as Brydon rounded the visiting goalkeeper before squaring for John-Ross Kerr to tap in.

Whitehill Welfare: Young, Robertson, Kidd, McDiarmid, Dodds, Osborne, Manson, Brydon, Healy, Chalmers, Kerr. Subs McAuley, Baillie, McCabe, Jardine

Preston Athletic: Trialist, Siegel, Inglis, McLeod, Cowan, Stevenson, Trialist, Young, Neto, Keane, Turkington. Subs: Trialist, Pennycuik, J Cochrane, R Cochrane, Jardine, Binnie