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Wednesday 12th May 2004

East of Scotland King Cup: Final

Match 34

Another learning experience as Watt lose the King Cup Final on penalties

Lothian Thistle 1 Heriot-Watt University 1 (after extra time)

Lothian Thistle win 4 - 1 on penalties

For Watt's first Final in thirty-one years, coach Derek Cowan went with the line-up that had served the Watt so well in the Semi, with the necessary exception of Dan Caldwell, who so unfortunately broke a bone in his foot a week before the match. Dan's place in goal was taken by Martyn Melia, hurriedly signed from Fife Under-21 Amateur side Leslie Hearts.

It was a fine spring evening at Muirhouse and the pitch was in superb condition as the Watt kicked off, shooting away from the road. The early exchanges were rather timid, however, and both teams looked as though they would take some time to adapt to being involved in the Final of the King Cup. There was some encouragement for Watt as Ross Leask went past full-back James Mothersole at pace, but when his low centre came in, Dunc Stoddart had strayed just offside.

The Watt defence was coping confidently with the probing of the Thistle attack, with Craig Brown looking particularly assured and Dom Samuel dominant in the air, but Phil "Pele" O'Neil looked threatening whenever he got on to the ball; with his skill and deceptiveness, he was always going to pose a problem for the Watt rearguard.

Despite the tentative nature of much of the early play, Watt had a scare in the eighteenth minute when Mark Lukowiecki passed back to Melia and his first-time clearance slammed against O'Neil and rebounded towards the goal. Melia had to dive to his left and make a good save to prevent Watt falling behind to a bizarre goal. Watt recovered quickly from this alarm and took the fight to Thistle. After a good move through midfield, Suff Sutherland crossed from the right and when the ball was headed out of the area, Si Ferrie had a shot from 25 metres. The Thistle defence managed to block the ball and scramble it clear, but this was a more encouraging passage of play.

Lothian had a chance to take the lead in the thirty-fifth minute when an uncharacteristic lunge by Sutherland brought down Craig Yardley near the corner of the penalty area on the Thistle left. Sutherland was rather harshly cautioned for the offence, but the Watt wall held firm to block the free kick.

As half-time approached, there was a two-minute period which went a long way to determining the outcome of the match. Watt were attacking on the left and the ball came in the air to Stoddart on the edge of the area. Although the ball was a little behind him, Stoddart executed a brilliant trademark volley, the trajectory of which would have taken the ball perfectly just under the bar had not Thistle goalkeeper Mark Fulcher produced an outstanding save to tip it over. When the corner was cleared, the ball came to O'Neil, just inside the Watt half. He controlled it, turned in a flash and set off on a weaving run towards the Watt penalty area. Robertson peeled off to the right and O'Neil slipped the ball wide to him. Melia rushed rather recklessly from his goal to narrow the angle, but ROBERTSON rounded him and fired the ball home from an acute angle.

Watt looked anxious at the start of the second half and lapsed into a long-ball style rather than the pass-and-move which has served them so well this season. It was understandable that the players should want to create an opportunity with one killing pass to get back on level terms, but more often than not the ball failed to find its target and the Lothian defence was able to mop up all too easily. Fifteen minutes into the half, a change was made, Ronnie Napier replacing Mark Wells, but soon after this it took a fine save by Melia to keep Watt hopes alive. Robertson took advantage of disorganisation in the Watt defence to go through the middle and move in on the goalkeeper, but when he tried to slip the ball past him, Melia dived to his right to block with his arm.

Seven minutes after this escape came the moment Watt craved as the equaliser was scored. It came unexpectedly, for although Ross Campbell seemed to be finding extra pace to put pressure on defenders throughout the game, it looked as though Mothersole had time to deal with the situation. Campbell was so quickly on to him, however, and the angle of his challenge was so well-judged, that the defender found himself unable to play the ball away. CAMPBELL swept past him with the ball at his feet and as he saw Fulcher advance off his line, executed a brilliantly-conceived and accurately-delivered chip shot which the 'keeper could do no more than tickle on its way into the net.

The remainder of normal time was played out without either side looking particularly likely to score, except for one occasion on which Melia again saved his side. With just five minutes left on the clock, Thistle moved the ball in from the left wing and the young goalie dived to his right to bring off a fine stop from O'Neil's shot.

The first half of extra time passed by without incident, although Stevie Williams came on to play on the left side of the Watt attack, replacing Leask, who had taken a knock. Napier switched to the right.

Melia almost undid his previous good work in the second minute of the second period of extra time, rushing to the edge of his area to kick clear, only to discover that the ball had bounced up higher than he could comfortably kick. He took a flying leap, but scarcely touched the ball as he shot past it. Thistle substitute George Williamson gathered the ball inside the penalty area, but with the goal deserted he missed the target as Brown put him under pressure.

Lothian had another opportunity from a free kick shortly after this, but when the kick, in a central position some 25 metres from goal, was taken by Robertson, the Watt wall again did its job and Melia was not troubled.

Three minutes from the final whistle, the Watt had the chance which could have put their name on the Cup. Williams did well on the left and broke clear of the Lothian defence. When he looked up, Lukowiecki was making a run into the box, followed by two defenders but clear of the pursuit. Williams played the ball into his path and Lukowiecki struck the ball firmly from around eight metres. The Watt players couldn't believe it - didn't want to believe it - when they saw Fulcher dive to his right and get an arm to the ball, which then took a hard bounce on the firm ground and cleared the bar by inches.

From the resultant corner, Stoddart got his foot to the ball, but he was falling as he did so and could achieve neither power nor direction and the ball was blocked.

And so, two minutes later, we were facing the dreaded penalty shoot-out. During it, there was a marked difference in the way the players approached their task. Thistle went first and their takers strode forward, placed the ball quickly and got it over with. The Watt takers seemed to find it difficult to place the ball on the spot without it moving and spent a long time doubled over, trying to position the ball satisfactorily. The Thistle players avoided the rough bit of the penalty spot by placing the ball on the edge of the spot, nearer to the goal. The first Thistle penalty was confidently put away and up stepped Suff Sutherland for the Watt. Ages passed as he walked forward; further aeons drained away as he tried to get the ball to sit still. Then at last he stepped up and hit the ball. He hit it well, with pace, but just a shade too high and it smacked against the face of the bar. Thistle repeated the exercise and their second penalty flew past Melia. Craig Brown was the next to find it hard to get the ball to stay put. Off a very short run (too short, perhaps?) he gave Fulcher a chance to his right and the goalkeeper was in no mood to pass up chances. The third Thistle kick was despatched as efficiently as the others and the Watt was staring at an almost impossible task. To his immense credit, young Dom Samuel was the next Watt player to pick up the ball. He didn't take as long to place it and when he kicked it, it flew past Fulcher to give Watt the slight consolation of at least getting one counter in the shoot-out. The fourth Thistle nominee, however, despatched his kick with the same aplomb as his predecessors and the Watt's dream was over.

It was a hard lesson to learn, but it may well be that the experience of playing in a Final will stand the Watt in good stead for the next occasion. There will be none of the apprehension of unknown territory; instead, there will surely be a determination to "make up for the last time". Alex Jack Cup, anyone?

Lothian Thistle: Fulcher, McIndoe, Smith, Mothersole, Lynes, Blackley, McAllister, Law, Robertson, O'Neil, Yardley.

Substitutes: Ogilvie, Reid, Williamson, Leslie, Hunter.

Heriot-Watt University: Melia, Sutherland, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Lukowiecki, Leask, Ferrie, Stoddart, Campbell, Wells.

Substitutes: Paterson, Williams, Banji, Fitzpatrick, Napier.

Referee: Mr B Colvin (Musselburgh)

Assistants: Mr J Hardie, Mr C Pennycuick

Fourth Official: Mr D Doig

Saturday 8th May 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 33

Weakened Watt gain deserved draw at Peebles

Peebles Rovers 2 Heriot-Watt University 2

The Watt bench was packed with talent for this final league fixture of the season as Derek Cowan took the chance to rest key players ahead of Wednesday evening's King Cup Final. There was also an enforced change in goal, following the badly-timed accident which has put Dan Caldwell's foot in plaster at just the wrong time. Jonny Fitzpatrick deputised for the second time in recent weeks, following his appearance at Hawick.

The strength in depth which Watt now enjoys was shown by the quality of the players who came in to replace the likes of Ross Leask, Jimmy Rae, Mark Lukowiecki and Mark Wells. Between them, Jamie Brown, Frazer Paterson, Ronnie Napier and Stevie Williams have a lot of experience of first-team football and in the early exchanges both sides played some attractive passing football.

After the first quarter of an hour, however, the outlook seemed bleak for the Watt, who found themselves two goals down. Firstly, Richard Todd took advantage of the Watt defence's failure to clear a ball played in along the bye-line from the left and turned it in at the near post; then, Glen Harley scored with the aid of a wicked deflection off Frazer Paterson.

This was rough on the visitors, who even at this stage had the majority of possession and looked dangerous in attack, but when you lose two goals early in a match, you're wondering if you'll get back into it or end up losing six. Watt steadied the ship, tightened up at the back and began to pose problems for the Rovers back line. Eventually, a cross from Suff Sutherland on the right was on course for the head of Si Ferrie inside the box when the Watt midfielder was flattened by a combination of James Welsh and Gareth Smith. Dunc Stoddart struck the resultant penalty firmly and low to the right of Martin Henderson, but the 'keeper dived full length to block and then smother the ball.

At half-time, Watt were forced to make a substitution when Jamie Brown admitted to feeling unwell. He was suffering chest pains and breathing difficulties and an ambulance was summoned to take him to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The latest news on Jamie is encouraging, as he was released on Saturday evening after tests and is now recovering at home in Livingston. Ross Leask came on to replace him.

The second half was seriously one-sided. Rovers, appearing content to try to defend their two-goal advantage, were seldom seen as an attacking force, although the ever-dangerous Richard Edge and Glen Harley always carried a threat when the home side broke out. In general, though, the half belonged to the Watt. Ronnie Napier, who had seen one header rebound from Henderson's post in the first half, suffered a repeat experience in the second. Ross Campbell, Si Ferrie and Dunc Stoddart all had efforts on goal and for a time it looked as though Watt would never score. But at last, with about quarter of an hour left to play, Napier's cross from the right went over the heads of the Rovers' goalkeeper and their defence and left Stoddart with a close-range header. Henderson, moving swiftly across his goal, did manage to get hands to the ball, but STODDART's powerful header entered the roof of the net.

It was all Watt now and soon they were back on level terms. Ross Leask went on a typical slalom run through the centre of the Peebles defence and fell under challenge from Gareth Smith a yard outside the 'D' of the Rovers penalty box. Smith protested vehemently that he'd played the ball, but Mr Hardie was adamant and Mark Lukowiecki made an immaculate job of the free kick, drawing it over the wall into the corner of the goal to the goalkeeper's right. Before it could cross the line, though, STODDART rose and the ball brushed the top of his head and carried on into goal.

Watt had chances in the late stages of the match to secure a win, particularly when Si Ferrie made a superbly-timed run to meet a fine cross from the right, but couldn't get his foot high enough to keep the ball down and it went a foot too high.

Peebles Rovers: Henderson, Linton, McKinnon, Nisbet, Whitson, Welsh, Smith, Todd, Harley, Forsyth, Edge.

Substitutes: Brocklehurst, Egelstaff, Carruthers.

Heriot-Watt University: Fitzpatrick, J Brown, C Brown, Paterson, Samuel, Campbell, Sutherland, Ferrie, Stoddart, Napier, Williams.

Substitutes: Leask, Rae, Lukowiecki, Banji, Wells.

Referee: Mr J Hardie (Hamilton)

Saturday 1st May 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 32

Eyemouth give Watt a tougher game than they wanted

Heriot-Watt University 3 Eyemouth United 1

Once again, Watt were guilty of underestimating opponents from the bottom half of the table and the lack of respect they had given to Eyemouth showed in some bad-tempered bickering amongst the home players in the second half of the game, culminating in the dismissal from the sidelines of Andy Smith a minute from time for persistent shouting at the referee.

It was a beautiful day at Riccarton and this should have been a relaxed and happy occasion following the midweek semi-final success. The Sports Academy was used for the first time as a pavilion and everything looked set for an enjoyable afternoon. The first sign of things going wrong came when referee Mr Rogers complained about the indistinctness of the lines. The pitch had not been re-lined before the match and midweek rain had made the markings less than clear. The match went ahead, however, and it was clear from the start that United were not about to accept a sacrificial role. In John Johnstone and Kevin Lees the visitors had skilful midfielders and Dougal Windram was a determined front-runner.

The Watt side was missing a couple of regulars in Craig Brown and Ross Leask, and this meant starting places for Jamie Brown, at right back, and Frazer Paterson, alongside Dom Samuel at the centre of the defence. Suff Sutherland moved forward into the right side of midfield. Two players not seen for some time in the first team pool took substitutes' places: Scott MacKain and Iain Quinn.

Watt had plenty of possession in the early stages, but on the break Eyemouth were pushing men forward in numbers and attacking with determination. Brown was doing some persistent raiding down the right flank for the Watt and in the tenth minute he cut into the penalty box and drove in a shot to the near post, but the angle was too tight and Peter Gillan saved comfortably. Mark Wells had a clear run on the opposite wing, but with three players in position for a cross, he elected to shoot from a wide position and the ball went across the goal and past the far post.

A corner swung in dangerously with pace to the near post area by Andrew Sword was hooked away by Wells as Eyemouth grew in confidence and a few minutes later it took a brave tackle by Brown in which both players were hurt to deny Ross Aitchison the chance to shoot from good position. Watt then mounted a fluent attack, a deft flick by Ross Campbell enabling Dunc Stoddart to move the ball on to Si Ferrie. Wells was in space on the left, but Ferrie delayed the pass too long and the shot from Wells was charged down by Luiz Sol.

Just on the half-hour, Watt took the lead. Another smart touch from Campbell enabled Stoddart to round Euan Mitchell and fire in a shot from ten metres. Gillan blocked, but the ball came back to CAMPBELL, who found a gap in the rapidly-filling goal area with a left-foot shot.

Five minutes later, Watt increased their lead. Ferrie's good work set up Campbell for a shot which deflected off Mitchell for a corner. Wells played the ball in low to the near post looking for Stoddart, but he was beaten to the ball by Mitchell, who played the ball out of the penalty area. Sutherland picked up the clearance and tried a shot from around twenty metres. Gillan dived to his left to parry, but was unable to get to his feet in time to prevent Mark LUKOWIECKI reaching the loose ball, nipping it away and firing it into the far corner from an acute angle.

Eyemouth battled back and put the Watt goal under sustained pressure. Lees had a half-chance, but in stretching for the ball, he hooked it to the left of the goal. Windram rescued it and returned it across the box, only for Lees to hook again for the far post, this time just missing the target.

The second half started with Sutherland at right back and Scott MacKain on in place of Brown. United were the first to show, Johnstone going down the wing and finding Lees in good position, but Campbell had spotted the danger and tracked back well to get in a tackle. Eyemouth kept up the pressure, however, and Sword won a corner off Sutherland, but Dan Caldwell plucked the cross out of the air.

Eventually, Watt began to come more into the game and Stoddart did good work in controlling a clearance and getting away a good pass to Wells despite being impeded. Wells struck a half-volley from twenty-five metres but failed to time it and the ball screwed off his foot well wide of the goal.

Two minutes later, in fifty-seven minutes, a third goal for Watt arrived. Sutherland timed his overlapping run to perfection, swept down the right and fired the ball low into the near post area, connecting with Stoddart's diagonal run. STODDART struck a first-time shot on the turn, giving Gillan no chance as the ball flashed into the far corner of the net.

Shortly after this, Quinn came on to replace Wells as Derek Cowan looked at his options. Watt, however, were becoming fractious. Jimmy Rae had already been spoken to by Mr Rogers for a vitriolic outburst at Wells and soon Campbell and Stoddart were shouting the odds. It was perhaps no surprise that Watt became careless at the back and left a big gap which Eyemouth exploited to score. Campbell tried to link with Rae on the left, but he delayed his pass and Duncan Aitchison read his intention and intercepted. United set off down the right and when Sol crossed from near the corner flag, the ball made its way via Windram to substitute Alan McNELIS, who was in plenty of space on the left side of the penalty box and despatched a low shot into the far corner of the net. Caldwell made a valiant attempt to save, but although he got an arm to the ball, all he had for his pains was a graze on his thigh from the hard ground.

Watt tried to re-establish their three-goal cushion. Ferrie's cross gave Stoddart a chance which he headed wide under pressure. Then Ferrie and Lukowiecki combined to penetrate the centre of the Eyemouth rearguard and give Sutherland space to strike a fierce drive which was blocked by David Lough. Quinn got on to the rebound and turned Mitchell to get in a teasing cross which Lough headed behind. Quinn's corner was headed on to Campbell on the left and when he chipped the ball to the far post, Ferrie arrived at pace, but in stretching for the shot, he leaned back and put his shot over the bar. Next, MacKain accepted Campbell's throw-in to work his way past two defenders and pick out Lukowiecki with an accurate pass, but the Watt midfielder took careful aim and side-footed the ball just outside the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

After all this action at the United end, the visitors broke away and Lees scampered through the middle of the Watt defence before being brought down by Ferrie right on the edge of the box. Ferrie was cautioned as Lees received treatment, but Eyemouth were unable to make the position pay, Ross Aitchison's free kick striking the end of the wall and rebounding to safety.

The last chance of significance came when MacKain was fouled near the corner flag on the Watt left. Campbell's cross went across the six-yard box around head height, but Stoddart, retreating to try to get in a flicked header, failed to make contact. The ball was played back to Rae, but his shot from around the penalty spot was blocked by Johnstone and United were able to get the ball away.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, J Brown, Rae, Paterson, Samuel, Lukowiecki, Sutherland, Ferrie, Stoddart, Campbell, Wells.

Substitutes: MacKain, Quinn, Smith.

Eyemouth United: Gillan, Sol, Mitchell, Duncan Aitchison, Lough, Johnstone, R Aitchison, Lees, Windram, Turnbull, Sword

Substitutes: Girrity, Buchan, Douglas Aitchison, McNelis.

Referee: Mr K Rogers (Glasgow)

Wednesday 28th April 2004

East of Scotland King Cup: Semi-Final

Match 31

Watt wonders dominate semi

Heriot-Watt University 3 Edinburgh Athletic 0

In a fantastic display of controlled football and energetic running, the Watt swept aside the challenge of Edinburgh Athletic to reach the King Cup Final.

The first half-hour of the match, played in squally conditions, was as frantic as a cup semi-final could be expected to be, but when the pace began to subside, it was the Watt who took control, Mark Lukowiecki settling things down in midfield and giving Mark Wells and Ross Leask the chance to torment the Athletic wide defence. It was LUKOWIECKI who opened the scoring ten minutes before half-time, gambling successfully on a ball hooked on by Wells eluding Graeme Ross and stealing in behind the defence to ease the ball past Darren Walker.

The second half belonged to the Watt, with the home midfield coming into its own. Athletic could not cope with the drive and stamina of Si Ferrie, the pace and trickery of Leask and Wells or the subtlety and determination of Dunc Stoddart and Ross Campbell, while at the back the Watt defence was solid as a rock. LUKOWIECKI scored a second goal half-way through the second half and STODDART added a third ten minutes later to give the Watt a winning score which did not exaggerate their superiority on the night.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Sutherland, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Lukowiecki, Leask, Ferrie, Stoddart, Campbell, Wells.

Substitutes: J Brown, Williams, Paterson, Napier, Blake.

Edinburgh Athletic: Walker, M Black, Olsson, Inglis, Ross, Siegal, Carney, Fraser, Ingram, Coogan, McCallum.

Substitutes: McCrindle, C Black, Brownlie, Allan, Crandles.

Referee: Mr J Sim (Edinburgh)

Assistants: Mrs M Peace, Mr P Peace

Saturday 24th April 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 30

Down to earth at Albert Park

Hawick Royal Albert 1 Heriot-Watt University 0

This was the perfect antidote for any Watt player who might have been getting carried away with recent successes. On a hard, bumpy surface at Albert Park, the Watt failed to string together any of the passing moves that have given them a growing reputation as one of the most fluent sides in the East of Scotland.

Although Watt had the ball for most of the match, few real chances were created against a Hawick side which kept snapping at Watt heels for the entire ninety minutes and stole the points when a long clearance from goalkeeper Chris Anderson was knocked on by Gavin Watson for Andy SKEA to outpace Craig Brown and Jimmy Rae and finish with a neat shot past the right hand of Jonny Fitzpatrick into the corner of the net.

The nearest Watt came to a goal were an early free-kick from Jamie Brown and a late strike from Suff Sutherland, both of which brought superb saves from Anderson, diving to his right on both occasions to palm the ball over the bar.

TEAMS:

Hawick Royal Albert: Anderson, Kay, Burton, Martinez, Stigers, Shiel, M Cooper, Teilen, Skea, Watson, L Cooper

Substitutes: Law, Wood, Balloch.

Heriot-Watt University: Fitzpatrick, J Brown, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Sutherland, Leask, Ferrie, Stoddart, Williams, Wells.

Substitutes: Paterson, Scott, Banji, Campbell.

Referee: Mr J Thomson (East Kilbride)

Saturday 17th April 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 29

Kelso knocked off the top by rampant Watt

Heriot-Watt University 4 Kelso United 2

Watt chalked up their fifth victory in six matches by knocking Kelso United off the top of the First Division and putting their promotion prospects in doubt.

Dan Caldwell had to be alert from the first whistle as Kelso United sought to gain the win they needed to secure promotion. In the first minute of the game, Kelso attacked down the right and Caldwell advanced to make a brave save from Gary Mabon. The ball was quickly returned to the danger area and Alan Jackson headed just wide from around the penalty spot.

Watt responded with a sweeping move started by Dom Samuel's pass to Dunc Stoddart on half-way. Stoddart switched play and found Suff Sutherland on the right. Sutherland's low cross was cleared with some difficulty. Shortly after this, a quick free kick after a foul on Stevie Williams found Si Ferrie in good position in the box, but in trying to deflect the ball square to the strikers, Ferrie allowed the ball to run between his feet. Mark Wells was in the action five minutes later, linking with Ferrie before another foul on Williams gave Watt a free kick from around thirty metres. Ferrie was unfortunate to slip as he took the kick and the ball went over the bar.

The throw-ins of John Wiffon were a potent weapon for Kelso. Wiffon's ability to throw the ball great distances with no apparent effort gave United the chance to put the ball right into the danger area every time they gained a throw within fifty metres of the Watt goalmouth. With thirteen minutes gone, Kelso made this factor tell when a Wiffon throw from the right dropped in between Watt defenders and a side-footed volley by MABON from close range gave the visitors a simple opening goal. Far from sitting on their lead, Kelso took this as a sign to go all out to try to close out the match. With the wind behind them, they were prepared to shoot from distance and Caldwell had to turn over the bar a fierce strike from twenty-five metres by Damien McNulty. Caldwell punched the corner to the edge of the penalty area, from where Jackson hit a shot on the turn which went just wide of Caldwell's left post. Gareth Henderson was next to try a shot from long range, striking an effort from ten metres inside the Watt half. With the assistance of the wind, the ball would have carried just under the crossbar had not Caldwell caught it.

Watt were confined to defence for much of the time, but relieved the pressure with a break in which Jamie Brown combined with Sutherland to put Williams in possession, but the move came to an end with an offside decision against Stoddart. Soon Kelso were back on the attack and Frazer Paterson had to head behind following yet another Wiffon throw into the Watt penalty area.

Having absorbed a torrid assault from the visitors for the first half-hour, Watt began to ease their way into this match as United's surge began to wane. Williams and Sutherland exerted pressure on the right and won a corner. Then Samuel supported an attack on the left and played the ball in for Stoddart. The ball came back to Williams for a shot, but the trajectory was wrong and the ball went over the bar. Stoddart was next to threaten, tricking Leighton Henderson near the bye-line, but his cross carried too much height and Sutherland had to gather wide on the right. He played the ball back for Jamie Brown to shoot, but he failed to get the contact he wanted and the ball ran tamely past the post.

The complexion of the game had changed, with the Watt doing most of the pressing and they deservedly got back on level terms after thirty-seven minutes. Watt should have had a penalty just a minute earlier. An attack down the right initiated by Ferrie's inch-perfect pass to Sutherland had brought a corner which Wells played long; when Stoddart returned it, Chris Black unaccountably put up his hand amongst the crowd in the penalty area and handled the ball. The Assistant Referee was unable to tell whose hand had played the ball and Kelso half-cleared the ball, but conceded a free kick just outside the arc in the centre of the pitch. This was an invitation to dead-ball expert SUTHERLAND, who struck the ball with complete assurance into the corner of the net to the goalkeeper's left.

Kelso showed signs of panic early in the second half, pumping the ball forward in excessive anxiety to regain the lead. Watt picked them off with a three-goal burst inside quarter of an hour to secure the points. Duncan STODDART put Watt in front, reacting quickly when the ball dropped to him following a corner. Five minutes later it was STODDART on the scoresheet again, this time from the penalty spot after being brought down by substitute Steven Kowbel. Ten minutes after this, Jimmy RAE, playing in midfield due to the absence of Ross Leask, Mark Lukowiecki and Ross Campbell, scored a marvellous solo goal, carving a path through the Kelso defence and slipping the ball past 'keeper Gary McBride.

United did manage a consolation goal with ten minutes left with a superbly-struck free kick from John WIFFON, but Watt held out fairly comfortably after that to record a good win.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, J Brown, C Brown, Paterson, Samuel, Ferrie, Sutherland, Rae, Stoddart, Williams, Wells.

Substitutes: Napier, Scott, Smith, Ujam.

Kelso United: McBride, L Henderson, McCutcheon, S Tait, Wiffon, D McNulty, Black, Mabon, G Henderson, Jackson, A Tait.

Substitutes: Porter, Kowbel, Johnston, Law, P McNulty.

Referee: Mr P Peace (West Calder)

Assistants: Mr R Hume, Mrs M Peace

Saturday 10th April 2004

East of Scotland King Cup: Third Round

Match 28

Revenge victory comes at a price

Gala Fairydean 1 Heriot-Watt University 3

In a match of high drama at Netherdale, the Watt gained revenge on Gala Fairydean for the defeat in the League Cup inflicted the week before at Riccarton. The win came at a price, however, as Watt lost two players for the following two fixtures: Mark Lukowiecki, who was sent off and subsequently suspended; and Ross Campbell, the victim of a horrid clash of heads which caused him to be detained overnight in the Borders General Hospital with severe concussion.

With the return to midfield after suspension of Simon Ferrie, Stevie Williams dropped to the bench for this match. Coach Derek Cowan went with a three-man back line of Frazer Paterson, Dom Samuel and Jimmy Rae, and gave Craig Brown a marking job on Fairydean danger man Kenny Young.

The uneven surface made passing difficult and neither side was able to get into much of a rhythm at the start of this match, although Brown, from a deep midfield position, was passing the ball well and spreading the play in an effort to bring Ross Leask and Mark Wells into the match.

The first chance of the game arrived in the eighth minute. Dan Caldwell tried to punch clear a left-wing corner, but only got the ball as far as Steph Campbell at the edge of the box. Campbell headed the ball over the goalkeeper and a cluster of players surrounding him, but Wells was in the right place to head clear from near the goal-line.

With twelve minutes gone, Watt took the lead following their first decent passing movement. A break on the right ended with the ball being switched to Wells. His attempted cross was deflected out of the box to the position where Dunc Stoddart was lurking. STODDART promptly struck a left-footed shot into the top corner of the net to the left of Gavin McLean.

The pattern of the game seemed strangely similar to that of the previous week. Stoddart had scored the opening goal and once again it was Young who grabbed an equaliser for Gala. As the Watt defence made a clumsy attempt to move up and play him offside, Young advanced to the edge of the penalty area to meet a ball flighted down the left; as Caldwell came to meet him, YOUNG guided the ball with a deft glancing header past the left hand of the big 'keeper and gently into the net off the far post.

Watt were going through a sticky patch and shortly after the goal, Ross Leask was cautioned for a trip. From the free kick, Watt found it hard to clear and Paterson was obliged to head behind. Caldwell got his hands to the ball following the corner, but put his team in trouble again with a poor throw out which went straight to Chris Black. Black's quick pass picked out Colin McDonald, but Caldwell made amends with a rush which made the striker play the ball too hard in trying to take it round him. McDonald was unable to catch the ball and it ran harmlessly past.

Watt settled again and a shot by Brown was deflected for a corner following a good move involving Leask, Campbell and Ferrie.

The second half started anxiously for Watt. Fairydean launched a good attack on the left and Leask's desperate challenge could have conceded a penalty as he failed to reach the ball, but Black stayed on his feet and failed to make the chance count. Leask was the centre of attention again a few minutes later, sliding at pace into a tackle with the sole of his boot raised. Had he made contact, he would surely have been dismissed, but as it was, the Gala support felt Mr Peace was being lenient in allowing him to stay on the field.

Good football was in short supply, but the tension was rising as the second half progressed. The sides probed for an opening, with Campbell's ambitious volley going wide and Caldwell quickly and bravely off his line to foil McDonald.

In the seventieth minute came the incident for which the match will be remembered, even more than for the result itself. Campbell jumped for a high ball against big Sandy Munro and there was a sickening collision between the players' heads. Munro, his head cut, was immediately replaced, but Campbell appeared keen to continue, despite plentiful evidence that this was impossible. Eventually, Williams came on in his place and an ambulance took the gallant Campbell to hospital.

Caldwell again saved well at the feet of McDonald as the players tried to concentrate on the football once more. Williams, fresh to the fray, was a lively presence and as the game entered its final stages he was to play a crucial role.

With ten minutes left to play, Watt mounted an attack which was partially cleared by the Gala defence. Ferrie picked up the ball thirty metres from goal and flighted a ball into the area to connect with the run of Williams, who had eluded his marker. Williams controlled the ball and sent a crisp right-foot shot past McLean. The ball struck the post to the 'keeper's left and shot across the goal behind him to the opposite post where WELLS pounced to fire it home from a tight angle as Jamie Knox tried to intercept.

Fairydean had the ball in the net a minute later, but the flag of assistant Raymond Hume cut short the celebrations and offside was awarded. The home side streamed forward in the remaining few minutes and Watt's defending became increasinly desperate. Mark Lukowiecki exemplified this with a lunging challenge on Richie Johnstone which was adjudged dangerous and punished with a red card. The remaining ten Watt players battled away and Caldwell once again came to the rescue with a full-stretch save to his left to thwart Campbell. Paterson was alert a minute or two later to cover Young's dart into the box on to a quickly-taken free kick.

As the game entered its sixth minute of stoppage time, Watt broke clear on the left. Williams did superb work, harrying Young and forcing the ball down the wing, then advancing to rob Willie Jamieson as he picked it up. Williams drove into the box and fired a shot for the far post. McLean saved with his foot, deflecting the ball to the edge of the area, but there it was met by FERRIE, who had sped up in support and side-footed the ball high into the net to signal the start of wild celebrations.

Watt have played better this season and lost (remember Dalbeattie), but the achievement in picking up a third Premier scalp of the season and reaching another semi-final in so doing is one of which the team and the club can be proud. With the famous names of Whitehill Welfare and Gala Fairydean on their list of victims in the King Cup, Watt will be dreaming of going all the way and putting the name of the club on this venerable trophy.

TEAMS:

Gala Fairydean: McLean, Hume, Knox, Doig, Munro, MacPherson, Martin, Jamieson, McDonald, Young, Campbell.

Substitutes: Johnstone, Denholm, Cochrane, Cummings, Phillips.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Paterson, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Ferrie, Leask, Lukowiecki, Campbell, Stoddart, Wells.

Substitutes: Sutherland, Banji, Williams, J Brown, Napier.

Referee: Mr P Peace (West Calder)

Assistants: Mr R Hume, Mrs M Peace

Saturday 3rd April 2004

East of Scotland League Cup: Third Round

Match 27

Gala ease home in the 'first leg'

Heriot-Watt University 1 Gala Fairydean 2

There was no fairytale ending against Fairydean for the Watt in atrocious conditions at Riccarton on Saturday, but the side again rose to the occasion and showed itself more than capable of taking on Premier Division opposition. Gala is the fourth top-division side the Watt has faced this season and became the first to beat the University side over 90 minutes - but the victory was by just a single goal, with the winner scored just seven minutes from the end of normal time.

With Simon Ferrie again unavailable, Ross Campbell retained his midfield berth for the Watt. The only change of personnel resulted from the absence of Scott Sutherland, who was attending a wedding. Craig Brown returned alongside Dom Samuel in the centre of defence, with Frazer Paterson moving to right back. This proved a serendipitous amendment, as Watt seem to have discovered the best position for Paterson, who was outstanding throughout the match.

Fairydean's experienced line-up included new player-manager Willie Jamieson, now rising 41, but with a wealth of League experience with Hibernian, Hamilton Academical, Dundee, Partick Thistle and Hearts, and striker Colin 'Coco' McDonald, still in his prime at thirty next week, and having played for Hibernian, Falkirk and Swansea City, amongst others.

Rain earlier in the week had cast some doubt on the likely condition of the pitch for this fixture, but the surface looked better than could have been hoped at kick-off. Just five minutes into the match, however, a downpour sent the Fairydean supporters scurrying for the protection of the trees behind the pitch and began to develop patches of mud on the pitch.

The last time a Premier Division side had visited Riccarton on cup business, Watt had hit them with an early goal and as the rain pounded down, they did it again. From Ross Leask's throw on the right, Mark Lukowiecki put in a fine cross and Dunc STODDART rose at the back stick to place a superb header back across goalkeeper Gavin McLean and into the postage-stamp corner. It was an excellent goal and gave the Watt support hope that the scalp of another top side could be added to those of Preston Athletic and Whitehill Welfare.

Gala wasted no time in making their mark in the game, however, and it was clear that they had a player of talent and energy in Kenny Young. The red-haired midfielder never seemed to be far from the action and referee Mr Thomson had a stern word with Campbell when it took the combined efforts of three Watt players to baulk Young on his way to the penalty area. Mark Wells then came in for a lecture for a bad foul on Steph Campbell as Watt resorted to desperate measures to keep the visitors at bay.

The home side was soon back to its normal passing game, though, and a good, sharp move out of defence involving Stevie Williams and Lukowiecki delivered the ball to Stoddart. He set Leask away on the right, but a low cross failed to find Stoddart and was cleared for a throw. The ball was returned to the danger zone and when McLean failed to hold it there was a scramble before the Gala defence managed to get it away.

In the twentieth minute, Fairydean's best effort to date came when Young accepted a throw-in on the left and played the ball in for McDonald. Dan Caldwell was quickly off his line to block the shot and then scooped the follow-up off the Gala striker and past for a goal kick.

Watt immediately retaliated and came close to increasing their lead. Samuel burst on to the ball in midfield and sent a majestic pass out to Leask on the right. The Watt pace man left Jamie Knox behind him as he drove into the box, but the angle for the shot was a little too tight and the ball rebounded off the post to the 'keeper's left and was cleared for a throw-in. Watt sustained a spell of pressure after this and Williams eventually crossed from the right for Stoddart to try a diving near-post header which went narrowly past. From the goal-kick, Gala made a sally on the right and when Caldwell rushed to the side of his box to slide and catch the ball, he had to let it go as his momentum carried him over the line. He quickly recovered his ground, but Tommy Doig's effort from wide on the touchline was so accurate that Caldwell had to tip it over the bar.

The first kick was headed behind for another corner, but when that was sent in, Watt broke back on to the attack. Jimmy Rae's pass out of defence found Stoddart, who played the ball on for Williams to elude a tackle and reach the penalty box. Leask had made a great run and was free on the right side of the box, but Williams, who has been encouraged to go for goal more often, tried to find the net from a tight position. McLean palmed the ball out to the edge of the box where Lukowiecki shot first-time, but the ball was deflected behind by Gala player-manager Willie Jamieson. Wells's first ball in from the corner was turned behind again, but at his second attempt, Watt almost brought a rehearsed move to fruition when Williams came back from near the goal-line to bring off a magnificent flying back-heel which found the head of Stoddart, but from close range the Watt striker put the ball just over the bar.

In twenty-six minutes, Ian MacPherson played the ball through looking for McDonald. Brown moved to cover, but the ball came off his thigh and ran through to the striker, who had a clear sight of goal but pulled his shot to the left and missed the target.

The next chance was to the Watt as Rae's diagonal ball enabled Leask to beat Knox again and play the ball into the danger area. Stoddart was coming fast across the box but managed to control the ball and play it back to Campbell for a shot from just outside the penalty area, but a deflection took the ball away for a corner.

Ten minutes from half-time, Fairydean grabbed an equalising goal. A firm tackle on Campbell near the half-way line caused the ball to shoot forward to Young on the edge of the Watt box. In a flash, YOUNG turned and sent a controlled shot into the top right-hand corner of the net, giving Caldwell no chance.

The home response to this setback was positive, with Leask continuing to trouble the Gala defence. His prodigious leap to meet Wells's cross prevented McLean from catching the ball and Lukowiecki did well to play it across goal, but there was no Watt player handy to knock it in.

Samuel became the first of three Watt players to be cautioned for dissent before Paterson set up another opportunity with a penetrating cross, but it was just too far ahead of Wells. Paterson recovered the ball from the clearance, however, and kept the attack going with a pass to Campbell, whose dangerous cross was punched by McLean under pressure from Stoddart. Williams and Stoddart exchanged passes, but the shot from Williams was too high.

Koya Banji replaced Williams before the second half got under way and Leask was soon troubling the visitors again, showing good persistence to find Stoddart, who tried a snap shot from 25 metres which drifted past the post.

The wet conditions were making life difficult for defenders, but whereas in the first half it was the Watt who used this to advantage, now Gala were asking questions of the home defence. McDonald revelled in the conditions, his low centre of gravity helping him to spin and wheel to good effect. When Sandy Munro's powerful header put him one-on-one with Brown, there were loud penalty claims as the striker went down, but Mr Thomson indicated that the Gala man had been the first to commit an infringement, pulling Brown's jersey.

Caldwell saved Watt a few minutes later when a deflection off Samuel's heel wrong-footed Brown and MacDonald sped clear. The big 'keeper was quickly out to present an obstacle which MacDonald was unable to pass with his low shot.

The momentum was now with Gala, but the Watt were still looking dangerous on the break. In the seventieth minute, a superb pass from Rae found Stoddart inside the area, but as he moved away from two defenders, he picked up too much speed and failed to control his left-footed shot, which slipped just past the post to McLean's right. Six minutes later, Watt had the ball in the net following a corner on the right, but Mr Thomson had already blown for an infringement amongst the crowd of players up for the header before Campbell swept the loose ball home.

Jamie Brown replaced Stoddart, resulting in several positional changes, with Campbell going up front, Rae moving into midfield, Brown switching to left back and Paterson joining Samuel in central defence. Perhaps this was a shuffle too many, as five minutes later, in the eighty-third minutes, a long ball out of defence enabled MacDonald to find a gap between Craig Brown and Jamie Brown to slide the ball under the advancing Caldwell for the winning goal.

To their credit, the Watt fought back from this late setback, with Wells doing very well to skip past two defenders and get the ball across to force a corner. From the kick by Campbell, Banji managed somehow to head back across goal and Lukowiecki had a snap chance from around seven metres, but he leant back and shot over. Rae then won a free kick in a central area just outside the box, but Campbell's firmly-struck shot was saved by McLean and the full-time whistle immediately sounded.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Paterson, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Campbell, Leask, Lukowiecki, Williams, Stoddart, Wells.

Substitutes: Fitzpatrick, Banji, J Brown, Napier, Smith.

Gala Fairydean: McLean, Hume, Knox, Martin, Munro, MacPherson, Doig, Jamieson, McDonald, Young, Campbell.

Substitutes: Cochrane, Johnstone, Power, Denholm.

Referee: Mr J Thomson (East Kilbride)

Saturday 27th March 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 26

Four on the bounce for Watt

Heriot-Watt University 2 Edinburgh Athletic 1

After being out of action for a week due to the previous week's match at Peebles being rained off, the Watt side was pleased to get another match in before taking on Gala Fairydean in the League Cup - King Cup double-header. Unfortunately, despite achieving a positive scoreline and making it four wins in a row for the first time anyone can recall, there was little else in this match to encourage the Watt support to believe the team can again scale the heights shown against previous Premier Division opponents this season.

With Simon Ferrie out through suspension, Watt went with Ross Campbell in midfield and a front pairing of Stevie Williams and Dunc Stoddart. Coach Derek Cowan gave Frazer Paterson a place in central defence for his first start since the Coldstream game in January, with Craig Brown giving way.

The pitch at Riccarton has been played to destruction this season and with the surface cutting up badly after recent rain, the surface was far from ideal for constructive football. As the first half wore on, spectators resigned themselves to a scrappy encounter, although with some more decisive finishing the Watt could have scored early on. The home side controlled much of the early period of the match, with Mark Wells prominent on the left and showing himself keen to test Darren Walker in the Athletic goal. A good chance was created in sixteen minutes when Williams made ground on the right and cut the ball low across goal. Stoddart's touch was heavy, but he managed to retain possession and turn the ball back to Mark Lukowiecki, who placed a careful shot on a line just inside the post, only to see Walker throw himself to his right to touch it past the post.

From the corner, Dom Samuel rose at the far post, outjumping Neil Brownlie, but his close-range header struck the post and went past.

With twenty minutes gone, there was an even closer thing at the other end of the park. Williams's crude foul on Darren Carney gave Edinburgh a free kick wide on the right. Graeme Fraser played it deep into the penalty area and a crowd of players rose for the header. The ball came back to Stevie Baynes, who was only eight or nine metres from goal. He drove in a venomous shot but found Samuel in position on the goal-line. The ball struck the Watt defender and rebounded to safety, amid loud claims from the Athletic players and support for a penalty for a handling offence. The ball had seemed to strike Samuel's arm, but as it was by his side and was still, such an award would have been unjust when the ball had been hit with such force over such a short distance.

Had the referee awarded a penalty on that occasion, he would have had to send off Samuel, but it was apparent that the Watt man did not feel he had to be careful to stay on the good side of the referee. Ten minutes after the penalty claim, Dan Caldwell came off his line to collect a bouncing ball and was knocked over by Myles Allan. Samuel, the nearest Watt player, promptly pushed over the big Edinburgh front man, again risking a penalty award and a card, but again he found Mr Bristow in lenient mood and escaped with a word of warning.

The second half started even more dully than the first half had finished, but ten minutes in to it, Campbell created some excitement, playing the ball into the path of Stoddart as he ran into the penalty area. Stoddart took the ball round Walker, but was forced too wide to play the ball into the goal. Athletic immediately launched a counter-attack and Nick Ingram took on Paterson on the edge of the box. He did manage to get in a shot, but it was from too much of an angle to trouble Caldwell.

Thirteen minutes into the second period, Watt broke the deadlock with a controversial goal. Jimmy Rae went down the left and played in a cross, looking for Stoddart on the right side of the box, but sliced the ball a little. This made the trajectory right for a right-to-left run by Williams. As Walker advanced, WILLIAMS reached the ball first and touched it past the goalkeeper. He then ran on and helped the ball into the empty net. The visitors reacted strongly, claiming the use of a hand by Williams, and Graeme Ross was eventually cautioned for the vehemence of his protest.

Three minutes later, Watt scored a second goal and this time there could be no doubt about its quality. Stoddart made a diagonal run to the left off his marker and latched on to a cross-field pass. As the ball bounced up, STODDART realised that Walker had advanced to narrow the angle and struck the ball first-time on the half-volley over the head of the 'keeper into the net.

Seven minutes after this, Ronnie Napier came on to replace Stoddart, but it was Edinburgh who almost got a goal, Allan swivelling near the corner of the box on the right to hit a brilliant snap-shot from a throw-in. Caldwell was well beaten and was happy to see the ball pass inches outside the far post.

Shortly after this, Watt had a great chance to confirm the win. Williams won the ball around half-way and picked out Wells on the left touchline. He sent in a teasing low cross into the area between defence and goalkeeper. Neither Campbell nor Lukowiecki could reach it and it found Napier at the far post. Unfortunately, the new arrival couldn't get the ball out of his feet for a strike and Walker was able to close him down. Napier took the ball past the goalkeeper but was unable to beat a recovering defender and the chance was lost.

Williams also had a chance to seal a winning lead a couple of minutes later, but Walker saved with his feet and defied Williams's efforts to force the ball in as attacking team-mates waited in good position in the hope the ball would come their way.

Koya Banji replaced Williams as Watt continued to search for that clinching goal, and a few minutes after this Athletic lost Mike Olsson, sent off after a second booking. Despite being a man short, the visitors redoubled their efforts and put the Watt defence under increasing pressure. In a sustained attack, Carney had a great chance in an open position just a few metres from goal, but he seemed to see the ball late and sliced it up in the air. There was a considerable stramash before the Watt defence succeeded in hacking the ball out of play. Edinburgh kept up the attack and when substitute Chris Black found Ross on the right, he played a dangerous low ball across the area.

Ross Leask was injured in a collision with Walker and had to leave the field, being replace by Craig Brown, but even with the extra defender, Watt were finding it hard to resist the attacking intent of the ten men. Scott Sutherland was penalised just outside the area for a high boot and when the free kick came in, Lukowiecki headed behind for a corner as Caldwell advanced to make the punch. Paul Trail sent the kick to the far post and ROSS had the final word, heading home from a tight angle.

Fortunately for Watt, there was little time left when this goal went in and they managed to fall over the line and obtain the points.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Sutherland, Rae, Paterson, Samuel, Lukowiecki, Leask, Campbell, Stoddart, Williams, Wells.

Substitutes: C Brown, Banji, J Brown, Napier, Smith.

Edinburgh Athletic: Walker, Baynes, Olsson, Brownlie, Ross, Siegal, Carney, Fraser, Ingram, Allan, Crandles.

Substitutes: Trail, C Black, M Black.

Referee: Mr I Bristow (Edinburgh)

Saturday 13th March 2004

East of Scotland King Cup: Second Round

Match 25

Watt beat Premier opposition for second week in a row

Heriot-Watt University 1 Whitehill Welfare 0

After last week's superb win at the Pennypit, Watt sought to gain a second win over top-division opponents on Saturday in the Second Round of the King Cup. This time the match was on home territory and the visitors to Riccarton were none other than the mighty Whitehill Welfare. At least, the achievements of the Welfare within the East of Scotland are mighty, but at the present time the club is going through its worst-ever spell and despite this being the first match for which new manager John Clark was in charge, it looked as though Watt would never have a better chance to score a historic win over the reigning champions of the East League.

Not surprisingly, the team selection for this fixture was identical to that of the previous week, with even the substitutes remaining unchanged. Welfare were down to the bones, having lost three more players in the transition from Henry Smith to John Clark, but still had fine players such as Brian Temple, Ross Johnstone, Jamie Ewart, Ross Archibald and Craig Downie in their line-up.

The Watt had got off to a bad start against Preston with the loss of a goal after five minutes' play, but this time things took a totally different complexion as Watt surged on to the attack from the first whistle and took the lead even earlier than they'd lost it the previous week. Scott Sutherland put Duncan Stoddart away on the right and when he was tackled, Watt had a throw-in twenty metres from the corner flag. The ball was hooked away by the Whitehill defence, but Jimmy Rae was in position to block it forward towards Mark Wells. As the ball came to his left side on the bounce, WELLS wheeled and cracked a half-volley from twenty metres past the left hand of Scott Dowie into the top corner of the net. It was a sensational start for the Watt and stunned the sizeable Welfare support.

Whitehill poured men forward in an attempt to strike back quickly and Simon Ferrie made an important tackle on the edge of the penalty box. Dom Samuel then made the first of many commanding headers, enabling Watt to counter-attack through Mark Lukowiecki and Ross Campbell. A great diagonal ball from Craig Brown then put Lukowiecki in another attacking position on the right and he won a corner off Michael Evans.

In the tenth minute, Ross Archibald, Welfare's excellent right-sided player, tricked Lukowiecki and set off on a crossfield run to set up Kevin Lee, but Ross Leask got in a block to concede a corner. When the ball came across, Lukowiecki was on hand to head clear.

As the game began to settle to a pattern, the Watt started to play some of the attractive passing football which had characterised their win at Prestonpans. A fine flowing move on the left ended with Campbell's headed pass to Wells enabling the wing man to cut inside and feed Stoddart, who won a corner.

The match was being well contested, but there were few attempts on goal as the sides worked hard to thwart attacking intent. However, at the half-way point of the first half, Welfare's Steven O'Donnell charged down the right, went past Rae and into the box and fired in a shot. The angle was a tight one, though, and he was unable to keep the ball down.

Campbell then timed his jump just right to win the ball from two opponents from Dan Caldwell's kick-out and head it into the path of Stoddart on the right. Evans got in a tackle to concede a throw and from this Leask played the ball down the line, but Ewart did well to take the ball away from Campbell.

Most of Whitehill's attacks were coming down the right and a few minutes later there was another thrust down that wing. Rae tackled Archibald, but Downie took over and took on Ferrie near the line. As Downie tried to cross, Ferrie blocked the ball away for a corner. There were claims for the use of an arm, but whichever part of Ferrie's anatomy made contact with the ball, it was not through choice, as the ball was played hard against him from close range.

The corner was played to the far post, where Downie was lurking unmarked and he struck a venomous volley from around eight metres. Samuel had been alert to the danger, however, and had launched himself towards the ball, which deflected off him and went over the bar. Again there were claims for handling and again Mr Binnie awarded the corner. This time the ball was played into the middle and Leask headed it behind for a third corner, this time on the left and at last Watt got the ball clear.

Just after the half-hour mark, Leask won a good header in midfield, allowing Stoddart and Campbell to combine to win a corner on the Watt right. Wells played the ball well beyond the goal, but Leask was there to control it. Ewart rushed to challenge him and Leask fell under his tackle, but was quickly back on his feet to gain another corner off Temple.

As half-time approached, Leask was again involved in a goal attempt. Rae swung the ball across from the left and when it came to Leask, he controlled it on his chest and dinked a volley for the top corner, missing the junction of post and bar by inches.

Early in the second half, it was Leask yet again who had Watt on the attack, combining with Campbell to get in a shot from twenty metres, but on his left foot he failed to generate enough power to trouble Dowie. Archibald responded with a determined run across the pitch, but Leask's strong challenge held him up for long enough for Brown to clear. Archibald then combined with Temple on the left, but Caldwell was alert at his near post and smothered Temple's driven cross and Watt set off on the counter-attack, with Campbell, Stoddart, Leask and Wells involved in a sweeping move which gained a corner on the left. Campbell's near-post corner was headed away by Johnstone from in front of Dowie. As play raged from end to end, Stoddart put Wells away on the left, but his cross was headed out by Archibald and Raymond Shanks set off on a great run. Caldwell had to move quickly once more to cut out a dangerous cross.

Watt then built another fine move, with Rae doing well to make the most of a tight pass and squeeze the ball out to Wells. Pressed closely by Johnstone, Wells still managed to fire in a deep cross from near the line which Evans headed away from the incoming Stoddart. Watt maintained the momentum with a period of sustained pressure. Eventually, a chance was created for Ferrie, who had made a run in the inside-left channel to connect with a crossfield ball, but he had to twist awkwardly to get in his shot and it went into the side net.

Samuel kept the pressure on the visiting defence by meeting the goal-kick with a towering header which put Stoddart in possession on the left. His well-judged backheeler let in Wells, who drove into the box but under pressure screwed his shot wide.

Whitehill had the better of the play for the next few minutes, with the Watt conceding too many silly fouls in positions from which the visitors could play the ball into the danger area. Downie had a shot following a head-tennis session, but put the ball well wide. Then, after Stoddart had chased Lee from the half-way line, he fouled him just outside the penalty box. The ball was driven across goal by Steven Finnie, missed by Caldwell and the unmarked Johnstone just failed to connect with a lunge at the far post.

The game was gradually deteriorating into a grim battle, frequently punctuated by the referee's whistle. Koya Banji made his entrance in the seventy-third minute to replace Stoddart. Five minutes after this, good work by Rae, Campbell and Wells won Watt a corner on the left. Dowie punched at the near post, but the ball shot to the feet of Lukowiecki, some eight metres from goal. With no time to adjust his position, Lukowiecki stabbed the ball across goal and out at the far side. Rae then went on another run, bursting through tackles and setting up a chance for a shot for Ferrie, but his effort from twenty-five metres wasn't the best connection and Dowie was able to collect.

A good break out of defence in the eightieth minute set up another chance for Watt. Sutherland's clearance found Banji, whose header picked out Campbell. As the ball sat up for him, Campbell fired a shot from twenty-five metres, but failed to get enough height on the ball and Dowie gathered it easily. Welfare launched a counter-attack and Wells tackled Archibald to concede a corner, but Temple's shot after the flag kick went well over the top.

With five minutes of regulation time remaining, Aiden Blake replaced Wells. Lukowiecki was the next to try his luck, but Banji's pass was a little behind him and he could not get the ball sufficiently far forward in his stride to get enough purchase. Whitehill's response was a thrust on the left, at the end of which Ewart forced Sutherland to concede a corner. Caldwell just managed to get a hand to the cross and the ball was hooked into the air by a defender, but when it returned to earth, Shanks scooped the ball wide.

Banji's header then put Ferrie away on the left. He played the ball inside for Lukowiecki, who touched it past Evans and was brought down by the defender, who was rather harshly cautioned. Campbell's free kick was an inventive reverse pass to Blake, but the substitute allowed the ball to run under his foot and he had to retrieve it near the corner flag. Archibald robbed him and played the ball downfield to O'Donnell, but Leask intercepted his attempted pass to Downie, sped into the box and hit a tremendous drive against the underside of the bar. Blake slammed it for goal again but Evans blocked; Leask then had another try but again the ball was stopped a couple of metres from the goal line. Banji battled for the ball but Finnie and Johnstone denied him and the ball was played away.

Whitehill had a final flurry of activity in a desperate attempt to take the game into extra time. Lee's long throw was headed on to Temple and Lukowiecki poked it back out of play. Lee threw into the box again, but Ewart's header went wide of the goal. Temple then beat Leask and played the ball into the box, but Caldwell ran from his goal to grasp the ball and set Blake away on the left. Blake tried to link with Campbell but again Archibald stepped in, playing the ball long for Shanks, but Brown held his ground and allowed Caldwell to gather. There were five minutes of stoppage time on the clock by this stage and soon afterwards Mr Binnie blew the whistle to end the match and begin the Watt celebrations.

Once again, this was a fine performance from the Heriot-Watt players, although in a different vein from the previous week. This time, the win was rather ground out after Watt had taken an early lead. The somewhat bumpy surface wasn't conducive to constructive football, although there were still some fine moves for the spectators to savour. Welfare, too, contributed much, and accepted their defeat in a sporting manner. Without wishing ill on any other club, it is to be hoped that Whitehill is not sucked further into the relegation fight. With a couple of very difficult fixtures to come, their match against Lothian Thistle will be an important one for them. Welfare has had much to endure this season, but it would be a sad day if the League Champions and the East's most successful side was to slip from championship to relegation.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Sutherland, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Ferrie, Leask, Lukowiecki, Stoddart, Campbell, Wells.

Substitutes: Paterson, Williams, Banji, Blake, Smith.

Whitehill Welfare: Dowie, Evans, Temple, Johnstone, Ewart, Finnie, Shanks, O'Donnell, Downie, Archibald, Lee.

Substitutes: Reid, Short, Livingstone, Craig.

Referee: Mr J Binnie (Edinburgh)

Saturday 6th March 2004

East of Scotland League Cup: Second Round

Match 24

Premier scalp claimed at Prestonpans

Preston Athletic 1 Heriot-Watt University 3

How would the Watt players react to the sudden parting with their coaches? If anyone had thought they might take the chance to give themselves a holiday, this idea was dispelled by a performance of commitment and resolution which spoke loudly for the side's determination to maintain and improve upon the standards they have set themselves. Premier Division side Preston Athletic was outfought and outplayed by a most encouraging performance.

There were few changes in the Watt line-up from the side which had started in the last selection by John Kiernan and Jim Glover. Mo Ujam was still feeling the effects of the injury which caused his retiral from the match at Peebles and Scott Sutherland moved to right back with Craig Brown coming in to partner Dom Samuel in the centre of defence, and top scorer Dunc Stoddart returned in attack to the exclusion of Stevie Williams, but otherwise the team was unchanged.

Watt started the game a little uneasily, Athletic's sharp passing troubling their jittery-looking defence. In particular, burly striker Dale McCall, one of the League's most prolific scorers, showing that he was about more than just finishing, was popping up all across the front line and looking dangerous.

With five minutes on the clock, McCall did more than just threaten. In trying to play the ball out of defence, Brown took a slightly heavy touch and McCALL was there in a flash, picking up the ball, driving into the box and cracking a right-foot shot past Dan Caldwell and into the roof of the net.

Watt took a little time to recover from this setback and their play lacked a little fluency until the nineteenth minute, when Ross Leask was the first to identify the gap at the heart of the home defence which the visitors regularly exploited during the remainder of the afternoon. Leask's penetrating run carried him past several attempted tackles and into the penalty box. As goalkeeper Chris Russell advanced, however, Leask put his left-foot shot into the side net.

Nevertheless, this enterprise seemed to have a galvanising effect on the Watt side, which suddenly began to click. A minute later, Jimmy Rae's accurate pass picked out Ross Campbell on the edge of the Athletic area. Campbell made space for a shot on his left foot, but a slight bobble took the pace out of his finish and Russell was able to collect.

Preston's reprieve didn't last long, however. The home defence was increasingly relying on the offside flag to put a stop to Watt moves, so when Mark Lukowiecki sprung the trap with a run through the central gap, he was able to take the ball right up to Russell before squaring it unselfishly to provide a tap-in for Mark WELLS.

The equaliser steadied Watt and although Preston probed in an attempt to recover the lead, the Watt defence was now looking more secure and when the next goal arrived, it was once again the visitors who scored it. Simon FERRIE, who seemed to have cloned himself, so regularly did he appear at the heart of the action, took possession from Andrew Hogg, advanced into the area and slipped the ball past Russell's right hand into the corner of the goal.

Having taken the lead a few minutes before the half-time whistle was due, Watt declined to sit back and wait for the interval. Wells drove down the left and his cutback from the line just eluded Stoddart. More good work by Wells and Ferrie won Watt a free kick on the left side of the park and when Wells's lofted ball was headed out, Leask had a shot from thirty yards which cleared the crossbar.

As the second period began, it was again the visitors who set the pace. A fine pass by Samuel picked out Stoddart, who then played in Wells on the left. When Wells bent the ball round Athletic full-back Andrew Murray, Campbell couldn't quite reach it, but Stoddart picked it up again on the right side of the box. He set up a shooting chance for Lukowiecki from ten yards, but his effort went into the ground and bounced up into the arms of Russell.

Preston midfielder Mark Ballantyne was finding space in central areas, but he was having to come so deep to pick up possession that he was unable to play passes to open up the Watt defence and it began to look as though the home side would have to rely on set pieces to get back into the game.

Meanwhile, the Watt still looked as though they had the pace and ability to trouble the Preston defence further if they could only prevent themselves being caught offside quite so often. In the sixty-second minute, Stoddart did bend his run to stay onside and connect with Ferrie's pass, but was unfortunate to have the ball strike his heel as he tried to get it into his stride.

Ferrie made an even more telling contribution a minute later. The move began with Stoddart, who made a good break on the left and threaded a precise pass into the path of Campbell. Russell was quickly out to confront the Watt striker, who took the ball round the 'keeper but found himself forced wide and too close to the line to squeeze the ball into goal. Sutherland was supporting on the right, however, and Watt players were flooding into the box. When Sutherland received the ball, he played it firmly acrpss the box at ankle height and picked out FERRIE, who volleyed with such timing and authority that the ball was in the net to the left of Russell before he could move.

Another good Watt attack a minute later emphasised that the visitors were in no mood to sit back. The omnipresent Ferrie broke down the left and played in a dangerous near-post ball. Stoddart reached it, but only just, and Russell was able to pick up. Leask then used his pace on the right to leave Gordon Brown behind and his cross to the near post was headed behind for a corner. As Watt continued to dominate, Campbell went down the left and was fouled. He flighted in the free kick himself and Lukowiecki got in a faint header which struck the post to Russell's left, but Stoddart was given offside in trying to reach the ball.

The Watt were moving smoothly all over the park now and Rae's classy control of a diagonal ball into the area showed the confidence with which the side was playing. By contrast, Athletic, who had pushed tall winger Craig Scott into the centre of the attack, were increasingly playing long balls with which the Watt defence dealt competently.

Aiden Blake replaced Mark Wells in seventy-one minutes and six minutes later, Frazer Paterson came on for Suff Sutherland. Preston, too, used their substitutes in an attempt to find a way back into the game, but although Calum MacDonald in particular showed enterprise, the Watt defence was not prepared to yield a goal which could have resulted in a nervy finish to the match. Michael Wright's shot from the edge of the box brought out a fine save from Caldwell and the Watt defenders closed in quickly and threw themselves forward to block all follow-up efforts. Watt were also continuing to search for another goal themselves and when Paterson sent Campbell away down the right, his pass was met by Stoddart's diagonal run, but the shot was too firm and rose just over the bar.

There was another test for Watt to survive with ten minutes left to play. Following a corner on the left, MacDonald struck a powerful low shot through the crowd, but Brown was in position at the post and played the ball away. When it was immediately fired for the opposite post, Blake was there to do likewise. Then another big chance arrived for Watt as Ferrie broke down the right and switched play looking for Stoddart on the opposite wing. Russell ran out of his box, but Stoddart reached the ball first and headed it over the 'keeper into the penalty area. When he rolled it left-footed towards the empty net, though, MacDonald managed to get back in time to sweep the ball out of play for a throw-in. Further efforts by Campbell and Blake maintained Watt's attacking intent to the end of the match.

This was a fantastic win for the Watt, who demonstrated that the belief that they are capable of competing successfully against Premier Division opposition is no fantasy. Most of the impressive performers on the day were in yellow and blue. There wasn't a weakness in the side, but special mention must go to Samuel, who has thoroughly settled into the side now and is showing ability in the air and on the ground; to Rae, whose form in recent matches has been outstanding; and to the ubiquitous Ferrie, whose workrate was awe-inspiring. In general, though, the composure and skill shown by the side was most impressive. To play with such assurance and sharpness against a good top-division side must convince the players that they need fear no-one as they progress in the two cup competitions in which they are participating. A similar performance against Whitehill Welfare would be very welcome.

TEAMS:

Preston Athletic: Russell, Murray, Brown, Byrne, Scott, Wright, Barton, Hogg, McCall, Jones, Ballantyne.

Substitutes: Cuthbert, Lannin, MacDonald, Pullen, Trayner.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Sutherland, Rae, C Brown, Samuel, Ferrie, Leask, Lukowiecki, Stoddart, Campbell, Wells.

Substitutes: Williams, Paterson, Banji, Blake, Smith.

Referee: Mr I Fyfe (Linlithgow)

Saturday 21st February 2004

East of Scotland King Cup: First Round

Match 23

Another cup win sets up Watt for tilt at the Welfare

Peebles Rovers 0 Heriot-Watt University 1

A match played with great energy and commitment by both sides, and one in which many half-chances were created, was settled by the untidiest goal of the season.

Watt began with a changed front pairing, Stevie Williams and Ross Campbell being given the job in place of Duncan Stoddart and the injured Koya Banji. Ross Leask returned in midfield and Aiden Blake dropped to the bench.

Rovers started the game vigorously and put the Watt defence under some pressure, but found Dan Caldwell and the defenders in front of him to be resolute and alert. Simon Ferrie was prominent in protecting his back line and Jimmy Rae took every chance to carry play upfield.

Eventually, Watt began to carve out some chances of their own and Mark Wells had a couple of shooting opportunities in quick succession. The first, from a pass by Ferrie, he blasted high over the bar, but the second, after a layoff by Campbell, was on target but was saved by the legs of Peebles goalkeeper Martin Henderson.

The threat for Rovers was coming from Glen Harley and Richard Todd, well supported by Gareth Smith and Matthew Forsyth. In the twenty-fifth minute, Forsyth had the ball in the net, but fortunately for Watt, assistant referee Ian Kelly had been in good position to see that the ball had crossed the bye line before Smith could cut it back.

Watt soon surged back and when Mo Ujam's lofted pass was touched on by Leask, Campbell shot just wide.

Shortly after this, there was a major let-off for the Watt. A big clearance bisected the central defenders and Todd went through the gap after the ball. Caldwell sprinted from his goal, but had to slide in to the tackle. The ball went straight to Harley, who fired it in first time. His direction was good, but not his elevation and the ball just cleared the crossbar.

Before half-time, further openings were developed for Wells and Williams of the Watt and for Todd of Peebles, but by the time the interval arrived, the scores were still level.

The breakthrough came in the fifth minute of the second half. A long ball was well controlled by Campbell, who drove into the Peebles box. Dylan Egelstaff got in a tackle and knocked the ball out for a corner on the Watt right. Wells swung the ball in on top of Henderson and Leask and Mark Lukowiecki jumped against a posse of defenders. Lukowiecki got his head to the ball and it looped on to the crossbar and fell back into play near the goal line. LUKOWIECKI got another faint touch with his head and the ball came off a defender and leaked over the line before a Peebles player could scoop it away. Not a thing of beauty, but the same value in match terms as any other winning goal.

Caldwell's adventuresome spirit was again evident a couple of minutes later as ran to confront Harley at the edge of the penalty box wide on the Peebles right. The Rovers' co-manager twisted and turned, but could not escape the vigilance of the Watt 'keeper and eventually played the ball back to Egelstaff, whose deep cross was well cleared by Ujam.

Ujam was again in the thick of the action a couple of minutes later, showing great persistence to hang on to a crossfield pass from Wells despite the attentions of three opponents and eventually emerging from the crowd to set up Wells for a shot; but rather than risk his right foot, Wells opted to try to cut it with his left and ended up hitting it in the direction he was facing, which was half way to the corner flag.

A good move on the left involving Ludowiecki, Ferrie and Wells resulted in a succession of corners from the left side, but in the end Rab Linton headed clear and relieved the pressure.

Around the hour mark, Todd had one of Rovers' best efforts of the day. Accepting Harley's pass, he sidestepped Dom Samuel and quickly struck a firm shot which was well saved by Caldwell, diving to his left to block and then catch the ball.

Just after this, Williams was put through by Campbell's pass and rounded Henderson, but in eluding the goalie he was pushed wide and when he tried to find Lukowiecki, his cross was held by Henderson, who had quickly recovered his ground.

A foul which hurt Ujam drew from the Watt defender the sort of reaction which has so often brought trouble upon him in the past, but he didn't make contact and the experienced Mr Boyle chose not to see the incident. Ujam, however, was injured and had to leave the play soon after, being replaced by Michael Steele.

Campbell was then warned for a foul on James Welsh ten yards inside Watt territory. Scott Sutherland did well to meet the flighted free kick, but Barry McKinnon had a snap chance from twenty yards and his shot went narrowly over the Watt crossbar. McKinnon was quickly into the action again, taking advantage of Steele's uncertainty with an awkward ball down the left wing, but Caldwell rescued the situation by speeding from his goal to block the ball back off the Rovers man for a goal kick.

Blake replaced Williams for the last quarter of an hour, but during this period Watt moved into protect-the-lead mode and there was little action of note except for another Caldwell rush, this time to meet a free kick played down the middle into the Watt box. He made no discernable contact with the ball, which ran past the post, resulting in the award of a goal kick, but he made a significant impact on Harley, who was in the wars for the second time in the match after having been dazed by getting the ball in the face during the first half.

The match petered out with Watt holding the ball in the corner of the park and another cup success had been achieved, winning the prize of a meeting with Whitehill Welfare at Riccarton in the Second Round.

Finally, a word for the officials. Chris Boyle was drafted in as a late replacement for the intended referee, John Thomson, who had had to withdraw through injury, and showed exactly why he is a Class One, Category One official with an exemplary performance. Ably supported by assistants Ian Kelly and Jackie Stevens, he showed all the quiet authority and management skills of a top-class referee.

Peebles Rovers: Henderson, Egelstaff, McKinnon, Linton, Whitson, Welsh, Smith, Ferrier, Harley, Todd, Forsyth.

Substitutes: Easter, Brocklehurst, Ross, Carruthers.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, Leask, Lukowiecki, Campbell, Williams, Wells.

Substitutes: Stoddart, Steele, Paterson, C Brown, Blake.

Referee: Mr C Boyle (Glasgow)

Saturday 14th February 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 22

Desperation in Dalbeattie

Dalbeattie Star 2 Heriot-Watt University 1

Watt's visit to Dalbeattie last season produced an adverse result - a defeat by three goals to nil. Nevertheless, that match is marked by some as the beginning of better times for the Watt. So well did the team play on that occasion that the atmosphere on the bus coming back was one of some quiet satisfaction, rather than the despair normally associated with a decisive defeat. On Saturday, the Watt built further on their reputation in Galloway by turning in a performance which some local spectators described as the best by a visiting team this season; this time, the mood on the bus was one of great frustration that the match had somehow been lost.

The big playing surface at Islecroft Stadium had been rolled flat, but was slightly soft on top. Ross Leask's late sending-off the previous week meant he was unable to play in this match and with the wide-open spaces of Islecroft beckoning, the loss of their pace man was a severe blow to the visitors. Aiden Blake came in on the right to make his first start in the East League. He acquitted himself well, but the flaring pace of Leask is not easy to replace.

In an even first half, the first goal chance fell to Watt in the eighth minute. Mark Wells penetrated on the left, reached the bye-line and played the ball across low and hard. The near post cover for Star failed to cut out the ball and it looked like a tap-in at the far post for Simon Ferrie before Star midfielder Alan Tuchewicz appeared from nowhere to get in a superb block and divert the ball for a corner. Three minutes later, Star left-winger Shaun Milligan fired in a low shot which beat Dan Caldwell, but Dom Samuel had covered in behind his 'keeper and was able to clear. Caldwell then had a good save from Grant Parker, spreading himself well and getting his left hand to the ball.

Just before half-time, Watt had a shout for a penalty when a corner on the left was swung in by Wells, headed on by Ferrie and headed for goal by Samuel. Lily full-back Grant Smith had his hand in the air and the ball appeared to strike his arm inside the six-yard box, but the referee allowed play to continue.

Ten minutes into the second half, Watt took the lead. A corner on the right taken by Wells was headed out by Star centre-half Dougie Campbell, but Blake sent it back to WELLS, who cut inside along the line of the penalty box, stepped clear of a tackle and sent a firm, low left-foot shot into the far corner of the net.

Campbell had to go off due to injury a couple of minutes later and Star took the chance of going to three at the back. During the course of the next fifteen minutes, Watt repeatedly ripped apart the remains of the home defence and Mark Lukowiecki, Koya Banji and Duncan Stoddart were all in good positions without managing to convert chances into further goals. The Watt were to rue these missed opportunities, as Star then produced an unlikely equaliser. Ferrie was penalised for a slight bodycheck on the Dalbeattie left. Andrew Cook swung the free kick into the Watt area, where Banji headed the ball away. Rab Harkness, standing alone twenty yards out from goal, flighted the ball over the crowd of players in front of him. CALDWELL dived to his right; the ball struck the bar, fell on to the goalkeeper's back and trickled over the line before Caldwell could find it.

With the game swinging from end to end as both sides went all out for a winner, the Watt support was still optimistic. Stoddart, put through by Banji's clever header after good work by Lukowiecki, brought out a good save from Fraser Wilson. A couple of minutes later, Stoddart raced through on the left as the Star 'keeper advanced out of his area. It appeared that the Watt striker knocked the ball past Wilson and was taken out of the play by the goalkeeper, but Mr Peace saw no infringement and play raged on.

After a shot by Milligan which cleared the Watt crossbar, Stoddart again brought out the best in Wilson after good work by Mohammed Ujam had given him a chance. Stevie Williams replaced Banji as Watt continued to seek a goal, but it was the home side which found the net again - and again it was a goal such as you don't often see. In fact, spectators were left wondering exactly what they'd seen as the ball pinged around before ending up in the net. A cross from the left curled away to the edge of the Watt box, where two Watt defenders contested the ball with one Star forward. Jimmy Rae was flattened and lay injured on the ground as the ball broke. There were other Watt defenders around by this time - perhaps too many, as they seemed able only to kick the ball against each other in trying to clear it. Eventually, Star's Paul COOK had the chance to stab it into goal.

With time ebbing away, the Watt coaches pulled off a defender, Ujam, to make way for another attacking player, Ross Campbell, but it was Lily who threatened next, a great run by Tuchewicz ending in a foul by Blake forty yards from goal and Smith's free kick eluding everyone in the penalty box.

A last chance fell to the Watt to square the game with Lukowiecki's beautifully-disguised free kick, which put Wells in on the left side of the box, but as defenders closed in, the Watt wing man sliced his shot slightly and it passed just clear of the junction of post and bar.

So the Watt side was left to reflect on what might have been. It had been a good all-round performance and in Rae, the visitors had had the best player on view. If they can reproduce this form, the Watt side will surely enjoy better days before the season ends.

Dalbeattie Star: Wilson, Smith, A Cook, True, Campbell, Tuchewicz, Harkness, P Cook, Dick, Parker, Milligan.

Substitutes: Brownrigg, Tennant, Richardson, Proudfoot.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, Blake, Banji, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Campbell, Williams, Paterson, Steele, C Brown.

Referee: Mr P Peace (West Calder)

Saturday 7th February 2004

East of Scotland League Cup: First Round

Match 21

Lily bends to Watt at last

Easthouses Lily 1 Heriot-Watt University 2

Players and spectators alike were pleased at the prospect of a game after last week's card was all but wiped out in the first real batch of postponements for the season, but the same people were glad to be able to take shelter from the biting wind as the final whistle blew at last at Mayfield Park. The sound was doubly sweet for Watt, as a win over the Lily had at last been achieved at the fourth time of asking for this season. Lily had also inflicted a defeat on the Riccarton men towards the end of the last league campaign, so this win broke a sequence that was becoming embarassing.

The match was never going to be a classic. The Newbattle pitch was not at its best: the grass was long and tufty, making passing difficult. And the weather was atrocious - so bad, in fact, that referee Mr Ewan Young had to take the players to the pavilion after half an hour's play to allow a shower of stinging hail blown by a fierce wind to pass.

Watt had started the match brightly. As they were playing away from the pavilion, the ball was tending to be blown towards their left wing by the strong westerly wind and the players therefore tended to drift to that side of the park. This gave the Watt the ideal opportunity to switch play and use the pace of Ross Leask to good effect in the wide-open spaces on the right. This ploy had created a number of half-chances before play was halted.

After the short break, play resumed in amazingly different conditions, under blue sky and with the wind considerably moderated. Before half-time, Watt snatched the lead. Mark Lukowiecki's through ball was chased by Koya Banji, who reached it at about the same time as Lily goalkeeper Steven Hay. The ball broke from the challenge to Mark WELLS, who was supporting on the left, and he immediately sent a low shot into the unguarded goal.

Half-time came too soon for Watt, who were taking charge of proceedings, but it was Lily who opened the second period with more cohesion and it took them only a few minutes to equalise. David Beattie worked his way past Dom Samuel into the penalty area and although Watt defenders managed to half-clear, John Neilson played the ball into the area where his cousin Paul NEILSON volleyed past a helpless Dan Caldwell.

Having scored, however, Easthouses failed to maintain their momentum and the game lapsed into a dour midfield struggle for some time. Watt eventually introduced fresh attacking options by bringing on Ross Campbell and Stevie Williams for Duncan Stoddart and Lukowiecki.

Leask was getting less room since the interval, but did manage to skip past Neil Hamilton and get to the line, from where he cut the ball back to Banji at the near post. Banji's first shot was blocked by Alan Conlon and when he fired in the rebound, Hay parried the ball.

The next chance fell to Lily as Beattie made space for David Edgar to shoot from the edge of the area, but the midfielder's drive cleared Caldwell's crossbar.

With around ten minutes left for play and the spectators gazing forlornly at the dismal prospect of extra time, Campbell delivered the flash of brilliance which rescued us all from hypothermia. Paul Neilson rose to head a high ball down the centre of the pitch but Campbell quickly recognised the ball was skimming through a little too high for the Lily player. As the ball brushed Neilson's head, Campbell was sprinting to meet it. Hay advanced but Campbell was there first to hoist the bouncing ball over the 'keeper's head. As the ball dropped close to the goal line, CAMPBELL was there to nod it safely into the net.

The remaining ten minutes were played out without too much anxiety for the Watt defence, but were marred by the sending-off of Leask. His clash with a Lily player in midfield looked accidental from the sidelines, but Mr Young didn't see it that way and issued the Watt man with a second yellow card, thereby rendering him ineligible for next week's tough assignment at Dalbeattie.

Easthouses Lily: Hay, Dorans, Hamilton, P Neilson, Conlon, Maltman, Ferry, Edgar, Beattie, J Neilson, Love.

Substitutes: Sives, Tucker, Stewart, Tait, Weir.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, Leask, Banji, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Williams, Campbell, Steele, Paterson, Kiernan.

Referee: Mr E Young (Prestonpans)

Saturday 24th January 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 20

Cold comfort for Watt support

Heriot-Watt University 4 Coldstream 1

On a chilly day at Riccarton, Watt eventually overcame a dogged Coldstream side to record their first points in three matches and get back to winning form before the difficult period in front of them.

Coldstream is a team in the process of rebuilding, and their side contains players even younger than the first year students in the Watt line-up. Keith Lough, son of the Streamers' Manager, Brian Lough, plays in attack at the age of just sixteen and on Saturday he again gave a good account of himself. Coldstream worked hard throughout the match and never allowed the Watt to cut loose and run up a big score as they did in their visit to Home Park in the Image Printers' Cup in October. Indeed, it was hard on the visitors when a late flurry of goals left them on the wrong end of a 4 - 1 scoreline.

This is not to say that Watt ever looked like losing the game. With Frazer Paterson back in the side at long last after his serious injury in the second match of the season, the young central defensive partnership he formed with Dom Samuel was seldom troubled. Ross Campbell was back in the starting eleven too, playing alongside Duncan Stoddart up front and showing composure and a good touch in possession.

In the early part of the match, Watt looked dominant without posing much of a direct threat to the Coldstream goal, but with twenty minutes played, they did take the lead. A ball played through the middle was misjudged by Streamers' centre-back Hamish Bell, who came for a header he couldn't reach. Duncan STODDART strode on to the ball, took it into the penalty area and slipped it past Steven Young.

There were no goals in the remainder of the first half, although in a breakaway Darren Simpson brought a diving save from Dan Caldwell with a shot from the edge of the box. The closest Watt came to scoring was when Mark Lukowiecki's shot from the left side of the area struck the post and Stevie Williams put the rebound into the side net. Other good efforts came from Campbell and Stoddart.

Having reached half-time only one goal behind, Coldstream became more adventurous and began more often to take the game to Watt. They had clever players in Alan Thompson, Gary Bruce and Derek Burnett, and they began to find some space in the middle of the pitch. Half-way through the second period, the Watt coaches tried to increase the Watt side's drive by introducing fresh legs in attack, and on came Scott MacKain and Mark Wells to replace Campbell and Williams.

Ten minutes after this, a second goal for Watt arrived, rather out of the blue. Simon Ferrie had begun to find space with some intelligent runs and on one such occasion Stoddart slipped him in on the left side of the box. FERRIE advanced on Young and as the 'keeper went down, he lifted the ball over his arms and into the net.

Five minutes later, Watt made their final change, bringing on Koya Banji to replace Stoddart. Five minutes after that, they went three in front. The best passing movement of the day created the opportunity, as the ball was moved from side to side, back and forward until the chance arose to play it into the box. Lukowiecki had made a run from right to left and when he received the ball he was clipped from behind. He collapsed to the ground and the referee awarded the penalty. LUKOWIECKI took the kick himself and stroked it confidently into goal.

Just a minute later, however, the lead was back to two goals. Paterson's foul gave a chance twenty-five yards from goal to Derek BURNETT and the Coldstream midfielder made a superb job of it, placing the ball over the Watt defensive wall and just inside the post to Caldwell's right, giving the goalkeeper no hope of reaching it.

The scoring wasn't finished yet. Two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the match, Wells showed good determination to get the ball across as he was falling under a challenge near the bye-line. The cross went over the head of the goalkeeper at the near post and arrived perfectly on the head of BANJI, who was waiting in the centre of the goal and nodded the ball down into the net.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Paterson, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, Leask, Campbell, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Williams.

Substitutes: Wells, MacKain, Ujam, Quinn, Banji.

Coldstream: Young, Cowe, Dickson, Watson, Bell, Thompson, Bruce, Burnett, K Lough, Simpson, Tait.

Substitutes: Halfpenny, B Lough.

Referee: Mr B McDuffie (Kirkcaldy)

Saturday 17th January 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 19

The chance is all but gone

Heriot-Watt University 1 Easthouses Lily 4

Although the defeat turned out to be heavier than that of the previous week, the Watt coaches would have been less disappointed in the performance of their players despite a second consecutive defeat which all but eliminates the Riccarton side from the promotion chase.

In a strident and occasionally violent match, it was the Lily which always appeared that little bit physically stronger and who thereby bossed the match at crucial periods. It is no longer the case, as it once may have been, that student sides are easy to dominate physically, but some teams still feel that their best chance when the chips are down against a University side is to increase the intimidation level. On Saturday, this led to an ugly match, in which the person most affected by the aggression appeared to be the referee, who allowed many lusty challenges to go unpunished and contrived in the end to produce a higher crime count for the Watt than for Lily.

The Watt coaches had resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes after the previous week's dispiriting performance against Ormiston and nine of the men who started that match took the field again, the only exceptions being Scott MacKain, who was relegated to the substitutes' list and Dom Samuel, who was ruled out with an ankle injury. Mo Ujam returned on the right side of defence with Suff Sutherland moving inside to partner Craig Brown in the centre, while Ross Leask, fitter after his run out late in the Ormiston game, came in to the wide right midfield berth.

Watt started the game in a very uncertain manner. The first scare came with just three minutes on the clock. Brown, attempting to carry the fight into opposition territory, lost the ball and became stranded upfield as Lily quickly moved the ball forward. A series of feeble tackles failed to stop the ball being shifted to high-scoring striker David Beattie on the left side of the penalty box. Ujam had been sucked inside and Beattie had a clear opportunity to shoot, which he did, firing the ball to Dan Caldwell's left, but the big 'keeper was equal to the challenge and threw himself to his left to block and then secure the ball.

Further close shaves soon followed. Another big scramble a couple of minutes later was eventually cleared for a throw, but then Beattie had another opportunity, bursting into the box in the inside-right channel. Again, Caldwell came to the rescue, rushing from goal to get a touch to Beattie's chip-shot and divert the ball on to the post and wide for a corner.

Soon after that, Leask initiated Watt's first threatening move, winning a tackle in midfield and setting off on the right. His firm, low centre zipped across the six-yard box, but unfortunately neither Duncan Stoddart nor Stevie Williams was able to reach the ball for the tap-in it invited.

The match continued at a frantic pace for quite some time, the ball swinging from one end to the other, but as the defences settled, chances became less frequent and less clear-cut. The best chances in this period arose from free-kicks, but in general these presented no difficulty for the respective goalkeepers.

Lily, who had looked slightly the more likely to score, eventually made the breakthrough in the thirty-fifth minute. A long throw-in was met with some unconvincing attempts to clear and the third shot to come in, struck from the edge of the six yard box by central defender David EDGAR, found the net.

This was bad enough, but just three minutes later, Watt found themselves two behind. The goal had its origins in a free-kick to Watt around half-way on their right side. Suff Sutherland played the ball in, but it came straight back out to Lily left-winger Stuart Love. He set off down the wing with Sutherland in pursuit. As Love reached the box, Brown came across to provide extra cover, but from fifteen yards, LOVE slammed in a low shot which eluded both defenders and also goalkeeper Caldwell.

After this, Watt were happy to get to half-time without further mishap and to draw breath and regroup. This seemed to produce a positive effect, because the second half began in much more promising fashion. Simon Ferrie got in an early left-foot shot from the edge of the box and a good left-wing move enabled Mark Wells to give an opportunity to Williams. Seven minutes into the second period came Watt's best effort so far. Again it came from the left wing. Mark Lukowiecki took it on and when he attempted a rather theatrical collapse in the penalty area, Wells was there to take it on, create space and slam in a fierce shot. Unfortunately it was straight at Lily 'keeper Stuart Duncan, but still all he was able to do was to knock the ball up in the air and there was a scramble before it was cleared.

Caldwell had to save his side one more time when Beattie won a free-kick right on the edge of the Watt area, ten yards from the bye-line on the Lily right. Neil Hamilton fired in a powerful left-footer, but the 'keeper rose to tip the ball over the bar.

Watt's increased momentum was beginning to pay dividends and they were also winning free-kicks in promising situations. In the fifty-eighth minute, Lukowiecki was brought down in a central area twenty-five yards from goal. A quick free-kick released Stoddart and as he prepared to shoot, he was brought down by Jimmy Currie for a penalty kick. STODDART got back on his feet and sent Duncan the wrong way from the spot to put the Watt back in the game at 2 - 1.

Lily hit the panic button at this stage and more free-kick opportunities soon arose. Three minutes after the goal, a great ball by Wells put Jimmy Rae away on a penetrating run which was ended by Hamilton's foul. After an unappealing squabble amongst the players, Lukowiecki struck the kick narrowly past the post with Duncan struggling. Then Rae ran directly at the centre of the visitors' defence and was halted by a crude challenge from Andrew Waddell. Brown's shot from the free-kick swerved in the air and Duncan did well to recover his position and shovel the ball just over the bar.

Watt hopes were high at this point and it looked like a matter of time before the scores would be level, but another dramatic twist was in store. In the sixty-seventh minute, LOVE, from a most unpromising position out on the touchline, suddenly hammered the ball towards goal. His strike was strong and the trajectory perfect and the ball soared over the head of the startled Caldwell to restore a two-goal lead for Lily.

In the following minute, Sutherland was injured by a late challenge by Currie, but surprisingly Mr Rogers took no action against the offender and after treatment Sutherland was able to resume.

The Watt coaches brought fresh legs to the attack with the introduction of Ross Campbell and Koya Banji in seventy minutes and the substitutes immediately gave the Watt support some hope as Campbell's pass picked out Banji inside the area, but the Lily defence quickly covered before the Watt man could pull the trigger. Another chance came from a free-kick wide on the Watt left. Wells swung the ball to the edge of the area, where Lukowiecki's effort was blocked, but the ball rebounded to Ujam, who struck a thunderous low shot. Unfortunately the area was so full of bodies that it was virtually impenetrable and the ball struck someone before it could reach the goal. As Lily struggled to clear, Wells had a difficult chance to strike a volley as the ball came down from a height. He kept it on target but Duncan was again in position to save.

With thirteen minutes of normal time left, Watt's chances in the match virtually disappeared. When the referee's whistle sounded to delay the taking of a throw-in, no-one suspected the reason, but Mr Rogers summoned Brown to him and sent him off for what the defender protested was a mild reaction to a kick by a Lily player. The referee had seen only the Watt man's use of the foot, however, and he walked alone.

Caldwell made another fine intervention shortly after this when Ujam was only able to head an awkward ball from the right into the path of Love. Caldwell emerged quickly to dive at the feet of the Lily player and neatly scoop up the ball.

To their credit, Watt kept plugging away and managed to create several shooting chances. Campbell shot into the side net from a tight angle, Wells struck a good shot from the edge of the box which Duncan saved well diving to his left, then Ferrie shot narrowly over after the Lily defence had half-cleared when Leask fired in a low cross to the near post area.

Watt's dismal day was completed in the eighty-eighth minute when Beattie, meandering across the Watt area, was clipped from behind by Ferrie. LOVE took the opportunity presented by the resulting penalty to complete his hat-trick and put rather a misleading appearance on the final scoreline.

Even after this, Watt managed to create a near thing. Banji's shot was blocked by Steven Dorans for a corner on the Watt right. Wells played the ball in low to the near post area and it looked at first as though Campbell had delicately touched the ball into the net, but it crept agonisingly past the far post for a goal kick. It just wasn't going to be the Watt's day.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, C Brown, Ferrie, Leask, Williams, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Matheson, MacKain, Campbell, Paterson, Banji.

Easthouses Lily M.W.: Duncan, Conlon, Dorans, P Neilson, Edgar, Hamilton, Currie, Maltman, Beattie, J Neilson, Love.

Substitutes: Sives, Waddell, Tucker, Nisbet, Weir.

Referee: Mr K Rogers (Glasgow)

Saturday 10th January 2004

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 18

Back into the pack

Ormiston 3 Heriot-Watt University 1

Is the promotion ambition unrealistic? This question must have been on the minds of several of the Watt players after this match. The last three games had produced points and goals, but they were against teams in the lower half of the table. That didn't make them easy to beat, but it was to be expected that the team sharing top spot would provide a tougher test of promotion credentials. They did, and Watt failed the test. How much this dissipates the confidence built up in the side by its run of wins remains to be seen, but whilst a win, had it been achieved, would have put the team into the heart of the promotion fight, this defeat knocks Watt back into the 'nearly in contention' pack.

The odd thing is that Watt, with one of the League's youngest player pools, was outrun by a team which must be a contender for the opposite title. In the dressing room bloodletting which followed this match, this caused certain assumptions to be drawn about the activities of some of the participants during the holiday break; and other assumptions about the lack of activity of others.

And yet.. and yet.. it had, in the time-honoured expression, all started so well. Watt opened the scoring in the third minute of play. Dom Samuel headed on Mark Wells's corner, Scott MacKain drove it towards the near post area and Duncan STODDART applied an exquisite and perfectly-timed backheeler to send the ball past James Daly into the net.

For the next ten or fifteen minutes, the Watt support watched in quiet satisfaction as their lads, playing with assurance and skill, had the league-leaders rattled with their slick passing and intelligent movement. Even against the better sides in the Division, it seemed, the Watt could be a class apart. But then, so early in the match as this, the fizz began to dissipate. Ormiston, plugging away in workmanlike fashion, began to stake a claim on the ball. Their front two, Kerr Thomson and David Cheyne, began to make runs into dangerous areas and the bright and tricky Craig Smith began to supply them with opportunities. The Watt support began to lose their smug expressions.

What really turned the tide, however, was a self-destructive streak which entered the visitors' play. When Ormiston equalised in the twenty-seventh minute, there was merit in the quick and accurate delivery of Smith and the cool finish of Thomson, but the chance would never have arisen had not Mark Lukowiecki, in possession ten yards inside the Ormiston half with most of the Watt team ahead of him, sought to find Jimmy Rae, who was further back, on the half-way line, and passed straight to Smith instead. Even then, we might have got away with it - we had two defenders back with Thomson, after all - but they unaccountably decided to try to play the striker offside and Suff Sutherland was too late for that. THOMSON ran on unchallenged to slip the ball past Dan Caldwell.

Twelve minutes after this, the Watt defence made heavy weather of clearing the ball after a free kick. The ball went wide to Smith, Rae dived in and missed his tackle and CHEYNE was alone on the edge of the six-yard box to sweep the ball home as it eluded the near-post cover.

Ormiston know their own territory. Towards the end of the first half, the wind, which had gusted a little at the backs of the Watt players from time, suddenly became hurricane-force and stayed that way for the rest of the match. In the second half, the visitors had a hard job making progress up the pitch and looked edgy from the start as the home side went for in for the kill. After a couple of early narrow squeaks, Watt conceded a third gift goal eight minutes into the half. Caldwell, unsure of himself with the ball at his feet on an uncertain surface in a gale, received a passback and played it out to CHEYNE instead of its intended target, Rae, and the striker promptly fired it past him into the corner of the net.

Watt were now in big trouble and changes were made, with strikers Ross Campbell and Koya Banji entering the fray. It was no great surprise that the out-of-sorts MacKain was replaced, but that the other chosen for the hook should be Stoddart fairly made the eyes pop. In a day in which almost every player was performing below their normal standards, Stoddart looked lively and pacy and was the only player in the Watt side showing a good touch on the ball. As his early strike had taken him clear as Watt's top scorer for the season, despite having played far less than some of the other strikers, his withdrawal when goals were badly needed was puzzling, to say the least.

Campbell and Banji did make a difference to the Watt attack, but conditions were so adverse that it was a real struggle to create chances. There was also the factor that the longer the game went on, the harder Ormiston seemed to be working to prevent the Watt defenders and midfielders having time to pick their passes. Time and again, a hurried delivery resulted in possession being lost as the eager home side harried and chased.

In a last desperate gamble, the coaches threw on Ross Leask for the last ten minutes, although he had so little expected to play because of a back injury that he had not even packed his bag. Leask, too, made an impact with his astonishing acceleration putting pressure on defenders, but although Banji was desperately unlucky not to reduce the arrears when his superb header from a firm Campbell free kick clipped both bar and post before bouncing out, Ormiston made it home rather comfortably in the end.

Ormiston: Daly, Donnelly, Renwick, Gerret, McQueen, McKechnie, Smith, Brownlee, Thomson, Cheyne, Murray.

Substitutes: Tulloch, De Gaetano, Dickson, Tweedie, Purves.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, C Brown, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, MacKain, Williams, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Matheson, Campbell, Ujam, Banji, Leask.

Referee: Mr B Colvin (Edinburgh)

Saturday 13th December 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 17

Watt run riot - eventually!

Heriot-Watt University 7 Tollcross United 3

It's a funny old game. Watt ended this fixture with a second successive seven-goal haul, but with two minutes of normal time left, the Watt support wasn't even certain that the three points would be staying at Riccarton. United always provides stiff opposition for the Watt and despite the eventual scoreline, this was no exception to the rule. In the eighty-third minute of play, a bizarre goal reduced the Tollcross deficit to just two goals at 5 - 3 and three minutes later Watt goalkeeper Dan Caldwell brought off a brilliant save to prevent the margin closing to a single goal. Two late goals eased Watt home with a comfortable-looking scoreline, but the match had been far from one-sided.

Watt, indeed, had been happy to reach half-time on level terms, having twice fallen behind to a determined and mobile Tollcross side. Watt had had an early warning when United's eager striker, Mark Pagliarulo, had driven the ball into the net in the thirteenth minute immediately after the referee's whistle had sounded for a marginal offside decision. Pagliarulo was not to be denied, however. Three minutes later a loose ball out of the home defence was picked up by Mark Ireland. There was a hint of an arm being used to sweep the ball past Scott Sutherland, but Ireland was allowed to continue and to set up PAGLIARULO on the right side of the penalty area. The big front man strode forward and sent a shot into the far corner of the net.

Watt were back on terms within a minute. After a foul on Scott MacKain, Mark Wells chipped in a dangerous free kick which was met by a perfectly-timed run by Jimmy RAE, who flicked a volley past John Trainer and high into the net.

If Watt imagined this was the sign for them to begin to dominate the match, they were disabused of this idea five minutes later. Pagliarulo, who had been brought back a number of times for offside as he tried to elude the defence, was allowed to continue in what looked the most clearly offside position so far, and he raced clear of the Watt defence. As the Watt cover struggled to regroup, PAGLIARULO exchanged passes with Michael Anderson before striking a fierce drive across goal. Caldwell managed to get a hand to the ball, but the power of the shot was enough to carry it into the top corner of the net.

It took Watt twelve minutes to restore parity this time. Stevie Williams was the man who made the goal, making a determined run to the line and cutting across a hard, low centre which eluded Trainer and left Duncan STODDART with a tap-in in the centre of the goal.

Just before the half-time whistle a fine pass by MacKain threated to put Stoddart in with a clear chance, but Trainer was alert to the danger and ran quickly to a position well outside the penalty area and kicked clear. Despite this possible chance, Watt were content to take the break and reflect on proceedings.

Five minutes into the second half, there were loud appeals for a penalty from the Watt line as Williams bored into the United box and was pulled from behind as he tried to get the ball across, but a corner was the award. Three minutes later, however, Watt did get the referee's verdict. This time it was Wells who was clipped as he made his way across the box. Although the Watt man managed to keep his feet, the referee pointed to the spot and STODDART placed his kick well into the corner to the goalkeeper's left to give Watt the lead for the first time in the match.

Three minutes later, Tollcross centre-back Doug Munro had to leave the field suffering from a shoulder injury acquired in a sliding tackle on Stoddart towards the end of the first half. This was a blow to the visitors, as Munro had been playing well and providing a threat at set pieces as well as a bulwark against Watt attacks. Perhaps his absence was a factor in a fourth Watt goal three minutes later, when MacKAIN headed home Rae's precise far-post cross.

Amazingly, Watt were denied a second penalty kick half-way through the second half when firstly Stoddart was brought crashing down as he moved on to Wells's pass, then when Williams picked up the loose ball and fired it for the corner of the net, a defender dived and turned it round the post with what appeared to be his forearm. The referee's decision was a corner, but justice was done in Watt's eyes when the United defence was unable to clear the flag kick and WILLIAMS drove the ball across Trainer into the net.

Despite a three-goal deficit, United were not giving up the game and soon they were back on the offensive. A prolonged scramble in the home penalty area took place as half a dozen Tollcross players had shooting chances, but the resolute Watt defenders kept throwing themselves in to block the shots. Caldwell twice made stops and Dom Samuel headed off the line before Craig Brown was eventually able to hack the ball away for a throw-in.

In the seventy-fourth minute, United were reduced to ten men with the ordering-off of substitute Callum Eadie for jumping in two-footed on MacKain, but even this did not make the visitors surrender. Watt had a golden chance to finish the contest in eighty-four minutes when MacKain's cross picked out Williams in the centre of the goal, but Trainer leapt to clutch the header, and in the following minute it was Tollcross who scored. MacKain was penalised just inside the Watt half for diving in an attempt to win a free-kick. David HENDERSON played the ball deep into the Watt area and as the wind carried it on towards the goal, Caldwell was unable to get a strong enough hand to it to keep it out of the top corner. It was a strange goal, but it gave encouragement to United, who surged forward. A fine pass by Scott Phillips caught out Rae and enabled substitute Mark Crolla to advance into the penalty area. The experienced striker appeared to have placed his shot perfectly, but Caldwell, advancing to narrow the angle, threw himself to his left and got an arm to the ball to deflect it for a corner. From the kick, Kevin Henderson hit a volley which fizzed just past Caldwell's left post. Crolla then won another corner on the right, but this time the kick was overhit and Scott Sutherland cleared well downfield.

The goal which settled Watt nerves arrived in the eighty-ninth minute. Wells latched on to a sliced kick from the Tollcross defence, evaded a couple of tackles and played the ball across goal for WILLIAMS to strike a controlled left-foot shot beyond Trainer. This finally shattered the Tollcross resistance and soon there were further chances for Watt. Ross Campbell, who had replaced MacKain, shot narrowly past. Ronnie Napier and Jamie Brown came on for Wells and Simon Ferrie as time ebbed away and Napier it was who set up the final goal, making an interception in his own half and playing a good ball through to Williams. When his chip over the goalkeeper faded away from goal at the far post, CAMPBELL was there to knock it in.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, C Brown, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, MacKain, Williams, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Campbell, J Brown, Matheson, Napier, Blake.

Tollcross United: Trainer, Tainsh, Thomson, D Henderson, Munro, K Henderson, Phillips, Davidson, Anderson, Pagliarulo, Ireland.

Substitutes: Crolla, O'Brien, Eadie, Beaton, Shaw.

Referee: Mr N McLennan (Broxburn)

Saturday 6th December 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 16

Pace and power overwhelm young Fishermen

Eyemouth United 1 Heriot-Watt University 7

Throughout this league fixture, Watt kept up the level of determination and drive which had run Edinburgh City so close in the previous week's cup tie. The young home side was swept away by the forcefulness of the Watt assault. To their credit, Eyemouth never gave up the battle and continued trying to play football and they were rewarded with a late goal.

Despite their later domination, Watt took about three minutes to get out of their own half at the start of this match as the home side started at a brisk pace. When the Watt eventually did get hold of the ball, however, they immediately looked threatening. Mark Wells was in the same fine form as he had displayed the previous week, showing lots of appetite for the fray, and he and 'Chippy' MacKain started to stretch the United defence using wide areas. Early Watt efforts on goal were rather feeble, however, with Koya Banji and Jimmy Rae missing the target. Then, in the thirteenth minute, Wells put across a firm, low centre which invited Mark Lukowiecki to tap it in at the far post, but the midfielder somehow contrived to play the ball back across the goal and past the post. Four minutes later, Wells provided a similar chance for Duncan Stoddart, but his 'behind-the-leg' attempt from two yards was so weak that goalkeeper John Johnstone had time to stretch out a hand and block the ball.

A minute later, however, the long-threatened opener arrived. It was started by a good tackle by Craig Brown on the edge of the Watt penalty area. Scott MacKain then played the ball forward and Banji won a contest for the ball around half-way. This gave him a clear run through on Johnstone. Trying to confuse the 'keeper with his shuffle, Banji almost forgot to shoot and when he did get the ball out of his feet he hit it straight at Johnstone. Fortunately for BANJI it rebounded to him and he tucked it away from a narrowing angle.

This score rather opened the floodgates and eight minutes later Watt were three up. Firstly, Wells picked up a clearance from Johnstone, worked his way across the park and played in MacKAIN, who rode a tackle before striking a firm shot which the goalkeeper reached but couldn't stop. Then, when MacKain was fouled fifteen yards from the goal line and just outside the penalty area, WELLS drove a perfect free-kick inside the far post.

Just after this, Simon Ferrie, who had suffered a leg knock ten minutes earlier, recognised that he wasn't going to be able to run it off and Paddy McGlynn replaced him in midfield.

The second half was just four minutes old when Watt scored a fourth goal and again it was WELLS who did the damage, converting MacKain's low centre at the back post when Stoddart was unable to reach it at the near one.

Whilst the visiting front men were giving the United defence a torrid afternoon, the Watt defenders were making life just as difficult for the Eyemouth attack, but in a rare opportunity, Robert Mitchell took advantage of Dom Samuel's misplaced pass to sidestep Scott Sutherland and crack in a shot from the edge of the box, the ball going just past Dan Caldwell's left post.

Eighteen minutes into the second half, Stevie Williams, now recovered from his bout of 'flu, came on in place of Banji. Six minutes later, STODDART scored the goal he had been threatening for some time to put Watt five ahead, finding space in the middle of the home defence and racing into the penalty area to slip the ball past Johnstone.

A minute later, Watt made their final substitution, Aiden Blake replacing the unfortunate McGlynn, whose debut for the season had lasted only forty-five minutes, during much of which he had been carrying a wrist injury sustained in a fall. Another four minutes passed before Stoddart doubled his tally for the day, nipping in at pace to intercept a backpass which the harrying of Williams had prompted. STODDART rounded the goalkeeper to score from a tight angle.

With ten minutes of the match remaining, substitute Blake got in on the scoring action. He carried the ball in from the right wing and tried to play in Williams, but when he collided with David Aitchison, both fell. The ball ran to Eyemouth right-back Luiz Sol, but Blake had continued his run and was on him in a flash. BLAKE pilfered the ball, advanced into the area and planted a low shot into the far corner of the net.

A couple of minutes before the end, the Watt offside trap (what were they doing trying to play offside anyway?) failed in its co-ordination and Eyemouth striker Paul Black was put in possession in the middle of the park. Black ran in on goal and Caldwell made his decision easier by rushing rather precipitately to intercept. BLACK coolly sidestepped him and slipped the ball into the corner of the net to give Eyemouth a consolation goal their persistence deserved.

This was an impressive display from the Watt. In a side which showed no weaknesses, a number of players particularly caught the eye. Craig Brown, returning to the centre of the defence, had by some distance his best game of the season, showing authority and decisiveness and playing a number of telling passes to set up attacking situations. His partner in central defence, Dom Samuel, continues to look like the real thing, playing with calmness and assurance. Wide men Scott MacKain and Mark Wells tore Eyemouth apart and Duncan Stoddart gave a lively display full of pace and invention. Aiden Blake's twenty-minute spell at the end of the match gave further encouragement to the belief that he will be one for the future in the Watt side.

Three points safely tucked away, then, and the twenty-point mark reached before Christmas for the first time in many years. It's still not as good as we'd hoped for at the start of the season, but if Watt can maintain the drive and purpose the side is currently showing, they could yet force their way into contention in the First Division.

TEAMS:

Eyemouth United: Johnstone, Sol, Buchan, Gibson, David Aitchison, Sparham, Thorburn, Girrity, Black, Mitchell, Sword.

Substitutes: Duncan Aitchison, Lees, Ross Aitchison, Turbull, Flockhart.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, C Brown, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, MacKain, Banji, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Matheson, J Brown, Blake, Williams, McGlynn.

Referee: Mr J Thomson (East Kilbride)

Saturday 29th November 2003

Image Printers' East of Scotland Qualifying Cup: Semi-Final

Match 15

Rain hides the tears as Watt come so close

Heriot-Watt University 3 Edinburgh City 4 (after extra time)

The eagerly-anticipated Semi-Final of the Image Printers' East of Scotland Qualifying Cup was played in almost incessant heavy rain and finished in semi-darkness as Watt took their illustrious opponents to extra time with a dramatic equaliser two minutes before the end of the ninety minutes. It was a day of high emotion which ended in disappointment for a Watt side which came so very close to a really major upset, but there was much pride in a performance of quality and determination. City manager Tom Steven was later generous enough to admit that had Watt gone on to win the tie, the victory would have been "not undeserved".

Referee Peter Peace later described the game as " a great advertisement for East of Scotland football". Mr Peace and his assistants, Mrs Peace and Ms Stevens, must accept some credit for this, as it was by no means an easy match for the officials. A keenly-contested cup tie played on a tight pitch in a downpour could have developed into a battle, but Mr Peace managed to find just the right balance between imposing his authority and letting the game flow and he was always quickly on the spot to defuse any possible flare-ups.

For Watt, Ross Leask and Suff Sutherland passed fitness tests, but Ross Campbell was unavailable through injury. Andy Smith was still out and Stevie Williams had not fully recovered from the 'flu which had ruled him out of the previous week's match. After the Watt coaches had pondered on the most appropriate line-up for this match, Ross Leask was assigned to replace the suspended Mo Ujam at right-back, and Craig Brown, who has played in central defence in most of the matches so far this season, was unfortunate enough to be left out of the biggest match to date as Dom Samuel and Suff Sutherland were partnered at the back.

Apart from those changes the side was on familiar lines, with Dan Caldwell in goal, Jimmy Rae on the left side of defence, Si Ferrie and Mark Lukowiecki in the middle of the park, Scott MacKain and Mark Wells in the wide positions and Koya Banji joining Duncan Stoddart in attack. For City, centre-half Brian Foster, who has been troubled by sciatica for most of the season, was not fit enough to start, but occupied one of the substitutes' positions. Veteran winger Andy Irving was unavailable through injury. The weather forecast proved accurate to the minute: Riccarton escaped rain during the morning and after a little drizzle earlier the match started in dry conditions, but it had not been underway many minutes before heavy rain began to fall. It continued to do so with unflagging resolve for the next two hours and continued long after the nets had been taken down.

Watt kicked off, playing towards the road, and showed in the early skirmishes that they were not overawed by the occasion. However, there were only four minutes on the clock when their worst fears were realised by the loss of an early goal. The man who did the damage was that most efficient of predators, Chris Nye. Jon Seeley leapt to head down a corner to the edge of the six yard box. NYE was on to it in a flash, controlling the ball on his thigh and swivelling in an instant to volley into the corner of the net to the left of Caldwell.

Watt responded positively and MacKain showed he was prepared to take the game to City, foraging down the right and winning a throw ten yards from the corner flag. Gradually, Watt settled into the game and looked able to compete. City were unable to carve out easy opportunities against a well-organised defence and the Watt midfield began to get more of a grip on proceedings, though they were also finding it hard to set up scoring chances against an alert City back line. Watt's efforts on goal at this stage were mostly from outside the penalty box: a Lukowiecki half-volley which just missed the target; MacKain's cross-shot which ended up around the same area; a snap shot from Stoddart which went wide of the left post.

Although City were finding it hard to create chances from open play, they always looked dangerous from set pieces and in twenty-seven minutes Jon Seeley's header following a free kick just carried over the bar.

Shortly after this, Watt's nearest thing yet to a clear scoring chance arrived. A Wells corner from the right was cleared to Sutherland on half-way. He played the ball to Samuel, who picked out the run of Stoddart and it took two attempts for Alan Mackintosh to grab it as Stoddart tried to get to the ball in between his marker, Jon Seeley, and the goalkeeper.

There was a big let-off for the Watt just after the half-hour as the dangerous Darren Whyte got on the wrong side of Sutherland. In lunging at the ball in some desperation, Sutherland clashed with the forward and fell on the edge of the area. The referee immediately awarded Watt the free-kick, whereupon Whyte finished in considerable style, lashing the ball high into the far corner of the net.

This alarm apart, Watt made it fairly comfortably to half-time without conceding further. Indeed, they could have been back on terms as Banji was unfortunate two minutes before the break that when he closed in on Mackintosh as the goalkeeper prepared to clear, the ball did not fall more kindly for him when Mackintosh played it against him.

Despite trailing at the interval, Watt could be pleased with their first-half performance. Every player was playing his part and Rae, Ferrie, MacKain and Wells had been particularly impressive.

Watt began the second half brightly, but there was a setback three minutes into the second period as Leask became the first player to be cautioned after he made a reckless challenge around halfway, receiving a blow on the head in to the bargain as he slid along the ground in the wet conditions.

Two minutes later, there was greater grief for the Watt as City scored a second. Leask got the ball caught between his feet and was robbed by WHYTE, who was left with a clear run through on goal. He took the ball round Caldwell and found the net from a tight angle despite Sutherland's valiant attempt to clear.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Foster joined the fray, replacing Neil Ferry in the City defence and joining the attack at every set piece to add his height and aerial power.

Wells immediately tested Mackintosh with a twenty-yard shot which the goalkeeper had to look smart to turn over the bar. Shortly after this, Rae nipped in between two defenders to steal the ball, but his cutback from the line was not met by a Watt player. As Watt continued to press, Leask muscled his way down the right and swept the ball across the City goal. Wells threw himself at it at the far post but good defending by Tadg Moriarty prevented him getting a clear strike and the ball bounced just past the post, with Wells hurt in the clash.

Five minutes later, a goal was disallowed for the second time in the match as Watt had the ball in the net following a corner on the right. Mackintosh went up for the ball but dropped it under pressure. Leask promptly turned it in, but Mr Peace had already blown the whistle for a foul on the 'keeper.

A spell of City pressure began with a sweeping left-to-right move which stretched the Watt defence and Rae had to turn the ball behind as Gerry Burgess played it in to the danger area. The corner had Caldwell struggling to reach the ball, but he just got enough on it to carry it out to the City left, where Burgess again played it in. This time Samuel and Ferrie combined to get the ball away for a throw. City long-throw man Ross Macnamara put it back into the area, but this time Sutherland and Banji rose to clear. Moriarty once again returned it to the penalty box and Rae at last made a decisive clearance, picking out Wells with his header.

Half-way through the second half, on came Steve Godden for City and Aiden Blake replaced Stoddart as fresh legs were brought into the Watt attack. Blake settled quickly and showed good control and inventiveness.

There was a bizarre incident on the City left as Macnamara sought to take a throw half-way inside his own half. So upset was he with a team-mate who would not make the run he wanted that his repeated vehement cursing of his colleague compelled Mr Peace to issue a caution.

Macnamara was again in the thick of things a few minutes later, winning a corner on the right which he took himself and chipped to the near post, but Caldwell was quickly out to make a good catch and set MacKain away with his throw-out. MacKain set off down the left with three defenders in pursuit and took the ball right to the bye-line before running out of strength and finding the side net as he attempted to play it across to the waiting Blake.

Leask then made a trademark run on the right, taking on two defenders at pace and winning a corner at the cost of some pain as he took a blow in playing the ball off an opponent. He soon forgot the discomfort, however, as once again Mackintosh dropped Wells's corner at his feet. This time, there was no infringement as LEASK turned the ball over the line to give Watt hope once more.

City's response was prompt and vigorous. Nye carried the ball into the centre of the defence and as he was tackled, the ball ran to Greg McColl, who shot first-time and cleared the bar by a narrow margin.

As Watt strove to find an equaliser, conditions underfoot were becoming treacherous and the light was fading as black clouds massed overhead. A foul on MacKain just outside the box brought the whole City team back into the area to defend against Wells's kick, but when he played it to the far post area, the ball eluded everyone and slipped inches past the post.

Nathan McArdle came on as City attempted to hold their narrow lead. Ferrie won the ball well in midfield and played in Blake with a good pass, but Blake's pass asked too much of Rae. MacKain did good work on the right but his cross was headed away by Moriarty. Wells then won a corner off McArdle as Watt pounded down on the visitors' defence. The corner was a good one and Rae leapt to win it in the air but his contact was perhaps too firm and the ball just cleared the bar.

Blake was the next to pose danger, advancing on the right and picking out Banji's run across the box. Banji turned and tried to fire in a cross and the ball struck the arm of Andy Donachie. There was a loud shout from the Watt support for a penalty, but such an award would have been very harsh. The ball had been struck hard at close quarters and the player had had no chance to get out of the way.

Watt contined to surge forward and won a free kick forty yards from goal. Leask hammered in a shot which tested Mackintosh in the treacherous conditions, but the goalkeeper got right behind the ball and made a safe clutch. Blake then diverted a long pass from Samuel, seeking the run of Banji, but Moriarty held off the striker.

Time was running out, but Watt were by no means giving up the fight. Chris Seeley was cautioned for disputing a line call as City showed signs of anxiety. Two minutes from the end of regulation time, their worries were justified as Watt got back on equal terms.

Despite the shortness of time, Watt had held the ball patiently, probing for an opening with Leask, Banji and Sutherland involved. Eventually, the ball was played into MacKain, making a run across the penalty area. MacKain first of all missed the ball, but he recovered to get it under control as Jon Seeley came in to challenge. Seeley took the legs away from the Watt man and Mr Peace immediately pointed to the spot.

Lukowiecki's record from the penalty spot made him the natural choice to take the kick, but the pressure was immense as the midfielder stepped up to the mark. A week before, Ludowiecki had cracked a nonchalant penalty into the roof of the net, but circumstances were slightly different this time and he went for a low shot to Mackintosh's right. The 'keeper dived to block the ball, but FERRIE was on to the rebound like a whippet and struck the ball firmly with his left foot into the far corner of the net.

In the few remaining minutes of the ninety, Watt looked as though they could go one better and snatch the win without the need for extra time, but this didn't happen and in the gathering gloom and still-persistent rain the players faced up to thirty minutes' extension to the drama.

It was City who came out of the traps quickest in the added period. Rae had the presence of mind to knock the ball over his own bar when Moriarty's dangerous cross left him in the company of Nye and Foster. Then Foster tried a shot from an improbable distance but it was unaccountably handled by McArdle as it passed the edge of the penalty box. A free kick on the City left was played in to the Watt box for the head of Jon Seeley, but Samuel headed out for a throw and Banji's head cleared that. Nye was next to threaten, robbing Leask and setting up a chance for McArdle, but from inside the six-yard box, the substitute got insufficient contact and the ball continued across the face of the goal.

As City pressed on, Watt worked even harder to turn the tide, none more than Ferrie. Banji was cautioned for an offence which was unclear to spectators.

Eventually, Watt began to create chances again. MacKain, so hard to shake off the ball, dragged it across the field with a posse of City players in his wake. As he played it away to Blake, he was taken from behind and Watt had a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal and right in the middle of the pitch. City built a large wall to face the kick, but FERRIE swerved the ball round them and in off the inside of the post to his right to give Watt the lead for the first time and send their supporters into raptures.

City weren't ready to release their grip on the Cup yet, though, and the Watt lead lasted for just three minutes. A mere twenty seconds before the end of the first period of extra time, a long throw by Macnamara was headed on by Foster and there was the inevitable NYE to stab the ball in from a yard or two.

Worse was to follow two minutes after the restart for the final period of play. There had been a caution for Nye for throwing the ball petulantly at Samuel as he tried to get hold of it to take a free kick, but nothing else of note until Ferrie was penalised for a foul on Whyte on the City left around half-way. The kick was stabbed down the left to Chris Seeley, who won a corner off Leask. As the ball was swung in to the near post area yet again, FOSTER rose to glance in a downward header. In the poor light, Caldwell would have had difficulty in picking up the flight of the ball as it went awkwardly down at his feet and eluded his grasp to finish in the corner of the net. There was an unseemly scuffle as the players made their way back for the restart and Samuel's name was taken.

Watt were behind again, but were not giving this one up and carried the game back to City with everything they could muster. Wells sped down the left and was brought down by Macnamara. When Rae played the ball into the box, Jon Seeley headed it high in the air and Banji displeased the City defenders by catching Mackintosh just after he caught the ball.

Stuart Matheson replaced Lukowiecki in the midfield as Watt battled on and was immediately in the action, heading away Donachie's long ball. As Leask picked it up and ran at the City defence, he was well tackled by Macnamara and sustained a painful knee injury which ended his involvement, Jamie Brown coming on to replace him.

Watt were piling forward now in a last bid to take the tie to a penalty decider. Rae and Matheson worked the ball on the left and Rae brought Sutherland into the action. He picked out MacKain who played in Brown on the right. His cross was headed clear by Donachie; Blake picked it up and took on Moriarty, but the experienced defender used his strength to screen the ball out of play.

Rae became the final entrant to the referee's notebook when he was late with his tackle as Godden flew down the right. This gave City a chance to try to run down the clock, but Watt managed to win a throw and worked the ball down the left. Foster fouled MacKain, but the Watt man looked as though he was managing to ride out the challenge and get beyond the defender and was enraged when the referee brought back play for the free kick. Caldwell raced up the pitch to add his height to the cluster of Watt players in the box, but oddly the ball was played in low and was knocked out to Brown, who was holding a covering position. He coolly eluded a challenge and played the ball to Matheson, who found Ferrie wide on the right. His deep cross was picked up by MacKain, who won a corner as Watt retained hope. Caldwell was in the thick of it again as the ball was swung in and Foster headed behind for another corner. With the tension extreme, the ball was again swung into the area and Foster once more made contact but this time failed to clear the box. Matheson had a fleeting chance, but the area was so crowded that it was almost inevitable that as he struck for goal the ball was immediately blocked. As it rebounded clear, Mr Peace brought the match to an end.

Two hours of hard, competitive football on an increasingly soggy pitch was a severe test for the fitness, stamina and determination of the players, but the Watt side passed the test with flying colours. Though desperately disappointed to have come so close - taking the lead in extra time - and then to lose the match was traumatic, but the team left the field with their heads high, knowing that they had further enhanced the reputation of their club and that in pushing a top East of Scotland side to the brink, they had gained experience that will stand them in good stead and lay the foundation for success in the future. It was particularly encouraging to see how well the younger players in the squad acquitted themselves. Samuel grew in stature throughout the match and Blake, despite having stood in the pouring rain for an hour before coming on to the pitch, showed a good touch and an appetite for the fray which was heartening. The players will no doubt find it cold comfort at the moment to be told that this is all part of the learning process, but each one of them will have gained in experience and in confidence from this match.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Leask, Rae, Sutherland, Samuel, Ferrie, MacKain, Banji, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: J Brown, C Brown, Blake, Matheson, Steele.

Edinburgh City:Mackintosh, Ferry, Moriarty, J Seeley, Donachie, Macnamara, McColl, Burgess, Nye, Whyte, C Seeley.

Substitutes: Godden, McArdle, Gordon, Foster, Vannet.

Referee: Mr P Peace (West Calder)

Saturday 22nd November 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 14

Competent win boosts Watt

Heriot-Watt University 4 Hawick Royal Albert 1

A home game against the team at the foot of the table would seem to be just what the doctor ordered to warm up for a semi-final against a top Premier Division side, but Hawick had scored their first win of the season the previous week and the Watt players needed no reminding that they had scored five at Riccarton last year to inflict Watt's biggest defeat of the season. So there was no overconfidence in the side as the teams lined up. Watt welcomed back Dom Samuel, who had been injured in his debut at Coldstream six weeks previously. The referee for the match was Ian Fyfe, a Grade 1, Category 1 whistler, who would have been in charge of the Gala Fairydean - Preston Athletic game had it not been postponed due to a frozen pitch. Mr Fyfe brought with him his two assistants - a rare luxury for First Division football. With such an experienced senior referee in the middle, a quiet afternoon was expected on the disciplinary front, so it was not expected that Mr Fyfe would have to call for a second notebook.

Albert had been rather late to arrive and their preparation seemed scanty, so the Watt coaches called for a big early effort to take the game to their lowly opponents. It was a therefore a surprise that Watt were hardly out of their own half for the first five minutes. The clever promptings of Sas Martinez from the rear were driving Hawick forward and Watt were becoming rattled. A desperate two-footed lunge by Mark Lukowiecki conceded a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal and when Martinez dinked the ball into the area, it took the combined efforts of the Watt defenders to clear.

The first Watt attack showed promise, however, and when Duncan Stoddart put Scott MacKain in possession wide on the right, it took a foul by Raymond Girling to stop him getting behind the visitors' defence. MacKain was looking confident and three minutes later he wandered across the park evading tackles until he was finally brought down thirty yards out. Simon Ferrie had a go at the free kick, but it was going wide when Hawick's eccentric goalkeeper/co-manager, Gavin Watson, decided to catch it on the bounce. Unfortunately for him, he spilled it for a corner. Mark Wells played it in low, picking out Lukowiecki, but he spooned his shot on the turn and it was half-cleared to Ferrie on the edge of the box. He tried a curler for the far post, but Watson dived to his right to save and in any case the flag was up for offside.

The Watt side was building up a head of steam here and a minute later took the lead with a fine goal. Wells was well found on the left touchline by Ferrie's pass and he swung in a deep cross which took out the goalkeeper. STODDART had taken up good position at the far post and it was a simple matter for him to head the ball into the net.

Watt had another chance directly from the kick-off, as Albert gave the ball away and MacKain went charging through the middle. He was brought down forty yards from goal, but when Wells touched the free kick to Lukowiecki, his shot was wildly off target.

Albert's Luke Cooper became the first man to be cautioned when he cut down Jimmy Rae as he sped down the left. Craig Brown's name was noted soon after for a bodycheck on Strathdee as he made ground on the Hawick right.

The visitors enjoyed a good spell of pressure after this, winning a succession of free kicks without really troubling the Watt defence. However, just on the half-hour mark, mayhem broke out and changed the game significantly. Sad to report, it was Mo Ujam who was again involved. Luke Cooper, moving on to the left wing, played the ball past the Watt defender and tried to outpace him. As Ujam turned, the two collided and in a moment they were wrestling on the ground and trading punches. Most of the other players immediately convened at the scene, though it has to be said that in general they seemed horrified at the sudden flare-up and appeared to be intent on breaking it up. When the dust settled, Mr Fyfe first sent off Ujam; then, to the amazement of the spectators, showed only a yellow card to Cooper. As he had already had a booking, however, he also departed from the match. It is understood that the referee later explained that he had shown only a yellow to Cooper as he hadn't seen him swing a punch. He was one of the few who did not; as the two protagonists fell to the ground, Cooper put a haymaker right into the face of Ujam, who bore visual evidence of the attack.

Watt seemed to recover more quickly from the incident and dominated for most of the rest of the half. After a succession of corners, a good effort from Wells from 25 yards fizzed across goal and past the post.

In the forty-third minute, Watt increased their lead with a fine goal. MacKain cut inside and delivered a well-weighted pass inside Hawick left-back Colin Kay to put Ross Leask in space. Leask delivered a hard, low cross which was met at the far side of the six-yard box by WELLS, who fired home a first-time shot.

It was back to refereeing activity as Ferrie was cautioned for a protest which did not appear too aggressive, then Lukowiecki was penalised harshly as Mr Fyfe appeared to be going through a fussy spell. Hawick rallied and forced a corner on the left, but Leask headed firmly away. Half-time arrived with the Watt looking comfortable at 2 - 0.

It took only two minutes of the second half to bring more drama. A huge kick from hand by Dan Caldwell went straight down the middle. Martinez called for his goalkeeper to gather, but he failed to notice MacKain approaching on an angled run. By the time Martinez became aware of the danger, MacKain was past him and moving on to the ball. Martinez grabbed him round the neck and felled him, with the inevitable consequences of another red card and a penalty kick. After a bit of a wait, Lukowiecki took the kick. Watson had guessed right, but the shot of LUKOWIECKI brooked no argument as it hit the net a foot under the bar.

Four minutes later, it was another penalty to the home side. Leask went speeding down the right and was tackled by Kay as he cut into the box. Mr Fyfe was in good position to see the challenge and pointed to the spot. This time Ferrie stepped forward but unfortunately he then leaned back and his penalty just cleared the bar.

Suff Sutherland came into the fray to replace the frustrated Ferrie a few minutes later, then Rae became the next entrant to the referee's book as he was cautioned for diving after a great run had taken him past several opponents and into the box.

Wells was the next to have a chance to score, but as he outpaced two defenders into the box, Watson advanced to block the ball away for a corner. Wells had a similar opportunity a few minutes later, making a superb run off the left wing, eluding tackles and penetrating into the box, but on this occasion when Wells shot right-footed from fifteen yards Watson threw himself to the left to palm the ball away.

Lukowiecki became the next statistic after a silly squabble with Kenny McMenemy at the end of which Lukowiecki carried the ball away and threw it over his shoulder. Girling was booked soon after for bringing down Wells.

Ross Campbell made his entrance in the seventy-eighth minute, replacing Stoddart as Watt sought another goal. Instead, it was Albert who got one back. Campbell's pass in midfield, intended for Lukowiecki, was short and McMenemy siezed on it just inside the Hawick half. He set off on a mazy run, pursued by Lukowiecki, but as he cut across to the right, nearing the penalty box, he fired off a shot as three Watt defenders closed on him. The trajectory was perfect to clear the advancing Caldwell and drop just under the bar.

Koya Banji replaced Lukowiecki before the restart and Watt pressed forward again. MacKain tried a long-range effort which just faded past Watson's right-hand post, then the same player went down the right in possession as Campbell found good space in the middle. MacKain surged past the last defender, but then shot from a tight angle and when Watson got his right hand to the ball it deflected behind Campbell and the chance was lost.

Watt began to wonder about unexpected endings as Brown whipped the feet from Strathdee just outside the penalty box. A four-man wall lined up but although Kay got the ball up and down, Caldwell was able to dive to his left and pluck the ball out of the air with a smile for any photographers who may have been in the vicinity.

In the closing minutes, Watt created a good chance with every minute that passed. Rae released Banji on the left with an accurate free kick. Banji raced towards the Hawick goal and released a left-foot drive from twenty yards. Watson was beaten but grasped the ball gratefully as it rebounded from the inside of his left-hand post. Then Brown did good work, beating two men and sending the ball through to Campbell, but his shot was straight at Watson. Campbell had another chance from Wells's cross, but again Watson saved. Wells again fired the ball in from the left but this time Campbell's lunge just failed to make contact from close range.

A minute from time, Hawick mounted a good spell of pressure, at the end of which Strathdee went through in the inside-left channel to chase Sam Burton's lofted pass. Caldwell ran from goal and just got a hand to the ball on the ground before Strathdee could play it, leaving the Watt spectators to dwell on the consequences for the big 'keeper had he been half a second later. Cup semi-finals don't come around all that often.

The game was to end on a high note for Watt, however, when the persistence of Campbell was at last rewarded. As the Hawick defence tried to play him offside, Campbell timed his run perfectly to meet Rae's chip and found himself alone with the Hawick goalkeeper. Campbell finished expertly, with a shimmy sending Watson diving left before he placed the ball inside the post to the 'keeper's right.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Samuel, C Brown, Ferrie, Lukowiecki, Stoddart, MacKain, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Banji, Campbell, Sutherland, Steele, J Brown.

Hawick Royal Albert:Watson, M Cooper, Kay, Girling, Martinez, Burton, L Cooper, McMenemy, K Strathdee, Clark, B Shiel

Substitute: B Shiel.

Referee: Mr I Fyfe (Linlithgow)

Saturday 8th November 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 13

Football can drive you mad

Kelso United 3 Heriot-Watt University 2

With the confidence of consecutive 3 - 0 away wins sending the adrenaline levels upwards, Watt travelled to Woodside Park on Saturday looking forward to a match which they believed could put them back amongst the pack contesting the prizes at the top of the East First Division. After those wins, team selection was along familiar lines, the only changes from the previous week's eleven being those which were enforced. Mohammed Ujam was ineligible due to the suspension resulting from his stoppage-time expulsion at Muirhouse. Mo's place at right-back was taken by yet another debutant, Alan Ritchie, who has played only a handful of games for the second team, and this was due to be the only alteration from the previous week's starting line-up. However, during the warm-up, Koya Banji (thanks for your kind comments on the site, BJ!) felt a reaction from a training injury and Duncan Stoddart stepped in to replace him. Captain Andy Smith has yet fully to recover from the leg injury sustained against Coldstream a month ago and was again unable to join the squad.

More than three hours of football had passed since Watt had conceded a goal, but that record didn't last long. Just ninety seconds after the Watt kicked off in this match, they were obliged to repeat the action. From the first corner of the match, on the Kelso left, centre-back Steven KOWBEL came out from the near post area to glance a backward header across goal. There seemed to be plenty of defensive cover for Watt, but as Mark Wells hooked the ball away, referee Mr Hardie was blowing his whistle and awarding the goal. Although there was little dispute by the visiting defence at the time, several players later expressed the view that the ball had not crossed the line and that the rippling of the net had been due to Wells's hand touching the side netting as he moved his foot forward to the ball.

Watt soon made it apparent that they wished to lose no time in restoring parity and Stevie Williams suffered a very narrow offside call as he went through on Kelso goalkeeper Gary McBride. Scott MacKain then beat Gareth Henderson and swept the ball to the back post, only to find that Williams and Stoddart had made runs towards the near one. United's Gary Mabon was supporting well from midfield and he was the next to have an attempt on goal, but his 20-yard shot went just over the bar.

With ten minutes on the clock, Mark Lukowiecki won a good tackle in the middle of the park and put Stoddart away in space. Simon Ferrie made an excellent run to his left, but Stoddart unaccountably delayed the pass and when he did play it, Ferrie had to check his run to collect the ball and the momentum of the move was lost.

Two minutes later, however, Watt were back on level terms. A corner from the left went over the heads of the cluster of players in the middle of the penalty area to MacKain on the right side of the box. He controlled the ball superbly and moved in on goal. At the edge of the six-yard box, he was tackled by Gareth Henderson. The ball went shooting over the line to the side of the goal and most onlookers expected a corner to be awarded. Mr Hardie ruled otherwise, however, awarding a penalty to Watt and cautioning the defender, presumably judging that the man had been played before the ball. LUKOWIECKI was entrusted with the kick and made a fine job of it, placing it inside McBride's right-hand post as the goalkeeper moved to his left.

Just a minute later, the referee was the centre of attention again. Awarding offside against Williams near the half-way line, Mr Hardie took exception to Gareth Henderson's spin-back throw-down method of placing the ball and gaining a little extra ground. At the third time of asking, the defender was made to move back a good ten metres, but when he again placed the ball by throwing it down with spin-back, the referee took this as a piece of dissent and gave the distraught Kelso man a second yellow card and sent him off. This seemed more than a little harsh, as the ball had hardly travelled forward at all when thrown down for the third time, which meant the referee had succeeded in having it taken back quite a distance. It was hard to resist the impression that had Henderson placed the ball on the same spot, the referee would have been satisfied.

In the twentieth minute of the match, while Kelso were trying to recover from the loss of a man, Watt hit them with a second goal. The visitors had just had a close shave themselves, when a through ball tempted Dan Caldwell from his line but he failed to get there before Chris Black. The striker nudged the past the 'keeper and towards the goal, but the ball lacked pace and Michael Steele was able to mop up. Watt immediately swept to the other end and Stoddart had a great chance with an open shot from inside the penalty box. His shot struck McBride and bounced clear, but Watt rescued it and recycled it to MacKain on the right. He drove down to the bye-line and played the ball across low and hard. It was really too close to the near post and should have been McBride's, but it slipped through his grasp. Two Watt players were running in behind him and it was Mark WELLS who won the race to crack the ball high into the net from point-blank range.

Five minutes after this, Caldwell brought off a superb save, as Mabon drove low through a ruck of players following a corner. Caldwell dived full-length to his left to turn the ball round the post.

A couple of minutes later, Watt should have had another penalty, as Williams, who was somewhat in the wars during this game, was bundled over by Kowbel as he made a run across the area. His momentum took him out of the box as he fell and another Kelso player arrived and kicked him as he lay, for which a foul was awarded but no further action taken.

Watt were having much the better of things by this time and another good chance arrived when Steele collected a clearance around half-way. He advanced and played a delightful ball just over the head of John McCutcheon and into the path of Stoddart, but the Watt forward, who was having one of those days, allowed it to run off his foot and behind for a goal kick.

Craig Brown was the next to try his luck, coming forward on to another ball played away by the Kelso defence and striking a shot from distance. The ball dipped in time, but just missed the target.

Just as it looked as though Watt could have the game well sewn-up by half-time, the pendulum swung back again. United won a corner on the left. The ball was partially cleared, but came to KOWBEL near the edge of the box. The big man's looping header seemed to deceive Caldwell as it dipped just under the crossbar and the scores were tied again.

Stoddart almost managed to put Watt back ahead a minute later, lobbing Williams's pass over McBride, but Leighton Henderson reached the ball before it could cross the line and conceded a corner. With the equalising goal, however, Watt's domination had been ended and Kelso looked dangerous whenever they could engineer a set piece. From another corner on the right, Paul Wilson headed the ball across goal and only a scrambled clearance by Wells at the far post saved a goal.

The Watt made a bright start to the second half, with Stoddart connecting with MacKain's near-post cross, but unable to get sufficient power on the shot across his body to trouble McBride. A good move involving Lukowiecki and Wells almost created a chance, but Williams got a touch to the cutback and this may have taken the ball away from Stoddart. The advantage of the extra man seemed to be telling for Watt as they set up regular attacks. In the next, good passing put Wells in possession on the left. He cut inside and played in Stoddart, whose left-foot shot on the turn skimmed the bar.

But just as Watt again looked able to dominate, they suddenly ran out of steam. The control exerted in midfield by Ferrie and Lukowiecki began to wane and the Watt forwards found themselves less well supported in taking on the Kelso rearguard. Perhaps the prodigious expenditure of energy in the first half had taken its toll on the Watt engine room. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Kelso began to pin back the visitors and suddenly it was Watt whose clearances were falling to opponents. Wilson, generally operating on the left for the home side, was becoming the pivotal figure on the field, and he came close to setting up a clear chance for Black. Briefly switching to the right, Wilson cut inside and played a perceptive ball inside Ritchie, but the young Watt defender recovered well to get a toe to the ball and divert it for a corner.

Both sides made substitutions as they sought to gain the lead. For Kelso, Alan Tait replaced Alan Jackson, then John Wiffon came on in place of Kowbel. After his recent illness, Ross Leask had not been fit to start for the Watt, but he replaced Williams with twenty minutes to go. Shortly after this, Kelso made their final substitution a monochrome affair, Jack White taking the place of 'Spider' Black.

These changes made, Kelso pushed forward again. In a move foreshadowing events to come, Wilson went down in the box under challenge from Steele, but the referee saw nothing amiss. In the following minute, however, he repeated the fall and got the verdict from Mr Hardie. Brown came across the area to try to control an awkward bouncing ball. Wilson reached the action and with minimal contact made, hit the deck. It seemed no more a penalty than the one from which Watt had benefited, but with fifteen minutes left, it came at a critical time. Leighton HENDERSON stepped up and cracked the ball high into the net from the spot to give Kelso a lead which, in all truth, they seldom looked like relinquishing thereafter.

Ross Campbell came on for Steele as Watt threw more players forward, but there was an air of desperation about their efforts. Wilson was perhaps fortunate to escape with just a booking for the game's worst foul - an over-the-ball challenge on Leask - but generally the United defence coped comfortably with what Watt had to offer. The exception was a move five minutes from time. Wells cut in to the penalty area and played a firm pass towards two Watt men on the edge of the six-yard box. One was Campbell, and he diverted the ball first time to the right of McBride, only to see the 'keeper make an astonishing reaction save to turn the ball over the bar. Watt's last chance was a difficult volley which fell to MacKain, but although he managed to keep the ball down, he just missed the goal to the right of McBride.

The trip home was a funereal one, with everyone well aware that victory had been there for the taking, but somehow defeat had been substituted. Watt may have been inclined to dwell on their own failure to seize the initiative, but once they were able to think objectively about the game, some would be able to recognise the part played in the result by a Kelso United side which, when everything seemed stacked against them, simply refused to accept the role of losers.

TEAMS:

Kelso United: McBride, McCutcheon, G Henderson, L Henderson, Kowbel, Mabon, Law, D McNulty, Black, Jackson, Wilson.

Substitutes: Wiffon, White, Tait, P McNulty.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ritchie, Rae, Steele, C Brown, Ferrie, MacKain, Williams, Stoddart, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Matheson, Banji, Leask, Wardman, Campbell.

Referee: Mr J Hardie (Hamilton)

Saturday 1st November 2003

Image Printers' East of Scotland Qualifying Cup: Third Round

Match 12

Into the Semis!

Edinburgh Athletic 0 Heriot-Watt University 3

Heriot-Watt University proved once more to be the nemesis of old rivals Edinburgh Athletic as they reached a semi-final for the second year in a row. This time, however, it is not in the Alex Jack Cup, a competition contested by only the ten East League teams not eligible to play in the Qualifying Cup, but in the Image Printers' Qualifying Cup, one of the prestige competitions of the East of Scotland F.A., and open to all Association members.

The 3 - 0 scoreline may, in the view of some, have slightly flattered the Watt, but their record in reaching the last four of the competition is exemplary, with nine goals scored and none conceded in the course of two games away from home. Perhaps the other qualifiers, Spartans, Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic, will be disinclined to panic, but all the same it's impressive.

The result was all the more encouraging for Watt, considering it was achieved without two mainstays of the squad. Suff Sutherland was abroad on holiday and Ross Leask was a spectator, suffering from a chest infection. Despite the loss of yet another player from the centre of defence there was still no place for Stuart Matheson, who played in the first eight matches of the season, starting six of them. He had to be content with a place on the bench as yet another player, this time Michael Steele, made his debut for the season. In attack, Koya Banji, available again after suspension, returned to partner Stevie Williams to the exclusion of Duncan Stoddart. Scott MacKain played in the right-midfield position vacated by Leask. Newcomer Alan Ritchie found a place amongst the substitutes for the first time.

The first few minutes of the match were uncomfortable for Watt as the new defence took time to settle. Steele was finding it difficult to adjust to the pace of the game and conceded a couple of fouls. It could have been worse had Grant Brough gone to ground after a challenge just inside the box, but the striker kept his balance and tried to get in a shot. The Watt defence closed ranks and cleared up the situation.

Things took a brighter turn for the Watt in the fourth minute of play. A good interception by Mark Wells put Williams away on the left. He held the ball up well inside the box, but when he eventually crossed, no Watt player had made a run into the danger zone. This action was just a sighter for what was about to occur, however, and a minute later, the visitors took the lead. Jimmy Rae started it off with a good run on the left side of the field. He cut inside and played a delicate pass to pick out the diagonal run of WILLIAMS, whose timing was perfect to allow him to reach the ball just ahead of his marker, Neil Brownlie, and the advancing goalkeeper, Darren Walker. His first-time left-foot shot was directed accurately past Walker and just inside the right-hand post.

Wells was again involved in setting up a chance in the fifteenth minute, his superb pass falling into the stride of Mark Lukowiecki, who had found plenty of space in the centre of midfield. Lukowiecki advanced and struck a firm shot from around twenty-five yards, skimming the crossbar.

Athletic responded with their best chance to date. Mo Ujam was caught in possession by Mike Olsson in a dangerous area. Olsson's cutback from the line picked out Grant Brough, whose well-struck shot required two attempts by Dan Caldwell to secure it. Jimmy Rae then moved forward to try his luck from distance, but although his shot was well-controlled, Walker made a comfortable save, diving to his left. Rae was making frequent forays down the Watt left and a few minutes later he was at it again, boring right into the Athletic box, but his pass caught Lukowiecki on his heels and the chance was lost.

Athletic fought back and began to win corners, but the Watt defence was now playing with more cohesion and the home side was unable to create many clear-cut chances, although in a similar move to the one which had earlier brought a chance for Brough, the lively Darren McCallum set up the striker with another cut-back. This chance was perhaps an easier one than the previous attempt, but Brough scuffed the shot and Caldwell was able to fall on the ball.

Five minutes before half-time, Watt had a glorious chance to increase their lead. From defence, Rae found Wells, who ran the ball at the home defence, beating Brownlie and sweeping in a low cross. Williams may have got a slight touch to the ball in the middle of the goal, but it ran on to Simon Ferrie, unmarked at the far post. It seemed that Ferrie tried to smash the ball in to the net, but in applying the extra force, he lost accuracy and put the ball into the side net.

Ferrie was almost made to suffer for this miss a minute later, when his foul on the edge of the Watt penalty box, eight yards from the goal line, presented Athletic with a good opportunity. The ball was chipped to the far post, Caldwell lost his bearings and Nicky Ingram headed over the bar from five yards. Two minutes later, Ferrie completed an inglorious passage of play when he became the first player to receive a caution, although on this occasion there was some sympathy for the Watt midfielder. Mr Binnie awarded a free kick against him when it seemed that Chris Black had been leaning into him. The reason for his subsequent booking was not clear to the spectators. We'll see what the charge sheet says.

A minute later, Athletic's Jason McCrindle also saw the yellow card after he hauled Wells over the side line. The game was becoming a little towsy now and perhaps Mr Binnie was looking forward to a cooling half-time break, but his failure to award a penalty for Brownlie's barge on Williams in the last minute of the half was hard to explain. In a move reminiscent of Watt's early goal, Rae played a fine, curling ball looking for the run of Williams, and when the centre-half could see there was a chance of the Watt striker heading it on the bounce past Walker, he dunted Williams in the back and sent him past the ball.

That the half-time interval was to be a mere interruption to the flow of cautions was apparent as Mr Binnie issued his third caution within three minutes of the restart, this time to Wells for showing dissent. The Athletic was making a big push to try to get back on terms, and a ball into the area caught the Watt defence flat-footed as Olsson rushed in to send in a right-foot shot. He failed to control it, however, and the ball went some way past the post. Watt came closer a minute later when, after good work on the left by Williams and Wells, the latter picked out Banji, who took a touch and sent in a rasping left-foot drive which went just past Walker's right-hand post.

Watt continued to produce good attacking play and came close again two minutes later when MacKain, Ujam and Lukowiecki worked a fine move on the right to win a corner. The flag kick was headed out to Wells, who sent it on to the head of Banji. His delicate header was headed off the line by Mike Inglis with Walker beaten.

The cautions were flowing steadily now, and Ingram was next, booked for a trip on MacKain as the Watt man weaved his way towards the Athletic penalty box. A minute later, Craig Brown was invited to inspect the yellow plastic after he lost sight of the ball and brought down Chris Black just in case. Two minutes later, the colour code changed as Black was shown red after he returned the compliment to Brown without the justification of the presence of the ball. Things were fast slipping out of control now and seven minutes after the first sending-off, the home side was reduced to nine when Brough departed in similar circumstances, the striker having to be restrained from confronting Brown after being shown the red card.

For a side with only eight outfield players, Athletic battled admirably for the next half-hour. Olsson forced his way to the edge of the six-yard box to meet a cross from the right and only Ujam's attentions prevented him directing his header on goal. Brownlie tried an acrobatic effort when Caldwell's punch from a corner fell to him. Darren Carney came on in place of Jason McCrindle and showed such determination, skill and enterprise as to make the Watt side pleased he hadn't been around from the start. A little later, Paul Crandles replaced Olsson as Athletic strove to stay in the cup.

Inevitably, with their numerical advantage, Watt came close from time to time, such as an occasion when a corner from the right struck a defender in the six-yard box and headed for goal, but Walker was alert to the danger and saved. Ross Campbell made his entrance to replace MacKain as Watt sought to make the game secure and Ferrie came close to grabbing the clinching goal when Ujam's through ball gave him a race against Walker. Both players arrived at the ball at the same time, but as Ferrie fell in the challenge, he managed to play the ball away to Williams. Although the goalkeeper was now stranded well out of his area, Williams rushed his shot and missed the target. He was immediately replaced by Stoddart in a move which the coaches maintain was about to happen anyway.

With just a minute of normal time remaining, and as Athletic committed more and more of their diminished resources to attack, at long last Watt snatched a second goal. Banji picked up the ball thirty yards from goal and played a pass into the box, inviting Wells to run on to it. WELLS seized upon the opportunity, driving into the area and cracking a rising shot past Walker.

With so little time left, that looked like enough excitement for one day, but the drama was far from over. A minute into stoppage time, as Athletic bravely threw all their outfield players forward in search of a goal, a cross from the left was controlled on the edge of the Watt box by Ferrie, who then sent the unmarked Stoddart away straight down the middle of the pitch. Although he had been on the pitch less than five minutes, STODDART was ready to grasp the opportunity, and as Walker came out, he rolled the ball past him to the 'keeper's right and into the corner of the net.

Matheson replaced Brown in the Watt defence as the coaches sought to use up the remaining moments of the match, but in the fourth minute of stoppage time, as Watt were trying to see off the last few seconds, Ujam was brought down by McCallum. Suddenly, there was general mayhem, as McCallum and a second Athletic player tangled with Ujam. Players from both sides crowded round and it took some time to restore any semblance of order. When the dust settled, there were two further red cards brandished, to the original protagonists, McCallum and Ujam. This seemed harsh on the Watt player, who certainly hung on to his opponent, but made no aggressive movement. It was hardly to be supposed, however, that the referee would send off a third home player without also penalising a visitor.

Despite the unfortunate finish and the high card count, the game was actually played in a good spirit and there were very few bad fouls. At the final whistle, the Athletic players were very sporting in their congratulations and wished the Watt well in the semi-final.

TEAMS:

Edinburgh Athletic: Walker, Inglis, Olsson, Brownlie, Ross, Siegel, McCallum, C Black, Brough, McCrindle, Ingram.

Substitutes: Crandles, M Black, Baynes, Carney, Allan.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Steele, C Brown, Ferrie, MacKain, Banji, Williams, Lukowiecki, Wells.

Substitutes: Stoddart, Campbell, Matheson, Ritchie, Smith.

Referee: Mr J Binnie (Edinburgh)

Saturday 25th October 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 11

Watt complete Selkirk double

Selkirk 0 Heriot-Watt University 3

Watt climbed back into the top half of the table with a solid display against a Selkirk side which must be sick of the sight of the yellow and blue. Having accounted for the Souters six weeks ago at Riccarton by four goals to nil, the Watt plundered three more goals without reply in this return league fixture.

Following his return to action in the closing stages of the previous week's draw with Peebles Rovers, Suff Sutherland was back in the starting line-up. Craig Brown retained his position alongside him in central defence. Michael Steele and Jamie Brown provided defensive cover on the bench, with former student internationalist Stuart Matheson left out of the squad. Captain Andy Smith was not yet fit enough to claim a midfield berth, so Ross Leask and Mark Wells occupied the wide positions with Mark Lukowiecki and Simon Ferrie playing centrally. Koya Banji was suspended after his sending-off against Peebles and Stevie Williams returned to partner Duncan Stoddart in attack. Ross Campbell was back in the squad alongside Aiden Blake and Declan Doherty as forward substitutes. The imposing figure of Dan Caldwell was between the posts as usual and the full-back berths were occupied by Mo Ujam and Jimmy Rae.

Mr Rogers provided the day's first surprise by starting the match five minutes early, with Watt kicking off attacking the goal to the left as you look from the Bobby Johnstone Pavilion. The visitors were straight into attacking mode, forcing three corners in the first minute and a half, with Rae and Lukowiecki getting in early attempts on goal. But a real chance arrived after seven minutes' play. A through ball looking for Williams was partly blocked but continued into the stride of the Watt striker. He advanced on Selkirk goalkeeper David Cattlin and shot left-footed for the far post, but the 'keeper dived to his left to block the ball. Ferrie, running in to support the attack, met the ball at the edge of the penalty area, but scuffed his shot badly.

As Selkirk fought back, midfielder Euan Pritchard was prominent and a couple of minutes later he won a corner off Rae. The Watt defence was obliged to concede two more corners before the ball was eventually cleared.

Leask brought pressure on his own defence in the twentieth minute with a petulant foul midway inside the Watt half. When the ball was played in, Sutherland had to turn it behind. This time, Watt only had to give away one more corner before a foul on Ujam relieved the pressure. The free kick was taken short to Leask, but so effectively did the home forwards close him down that it was only at the third attempt that he was able to send the ball downfield into the path of Williams, who cut in from the right wing. When he was tackled on the edge of the penalty area, the ball ran to Lukowiecki, but his shot carried a couple of yards over the bar.

Further Watt attacking resulted from good work by Ujam, who won the ball inside his own half and made ground on the right. After a brisk exchange of passes, Williams won a corner on the right. Wells came across to take it, but his low kick was cleared at the near post by Aaron Biggs, who picked out Alan Kerr in midfield. His fine pass set Andrew Brown away down the right and when the cross came in, Caldwell had to look lively to grab the ball in front of Ian Potts.

A pass out of defence then sent Williams scampering down the left and his inviting cross fell just between Stoddart and Lukowiecki and was turned behind by Biggs.

In the thirty-fourth minute, Selkirk came close to scoring. The ball seemed to slide across the Watt defence in slow motion as Craig Wilson closed on it. In the nick of time, Brown arrived to thump the ball out for a throw-in.

Six minutes from half-time, there came a promising move which foreshadowed later success. Rae moved forward and played a diagonal ball into the box looking for the run of Lukowiecki, but on this occasion the ball was just a yard too far ahead of the midfield man. The half ended with Williams hobbling round the perimeter of the pitch after a painful collision with Cattlin as he tried to reach a cross from the left.

The second half began in unseasonably warm sunshine and this time it was Selkirk who applied the early pressure, Alan Kerr's long throws from the right giving problems to the Watt defence, but the visitors withstood these attacks and, eight minutes into the half, took the lead with a fine goal. A long throw-in from Ujam picked out Williams, who slipped the ball to Stoddart. He played it to Leask, whose well-judged pass into the area was reached by LUKOWIECKI, who lofted it on the half-volley over Cattlin. A sleety rain immediately began to fall and the injured Potts was replaced by Derek Whitehead.

Selkirk battled back and won a couple of corners in quick succession, but seven minutes after the first goal, Watt increased their lead. Again, it was LUKOWIECKI who did the damage, sweeping a low shot into the corner of the net to the right of Cattlin after Ferrie had played a Wells free-kick into his path.

Shortly after this, Blake replaced Williams as Watt sought to confirm the win with a third goal, but Selkirk, with Derek Kerr on as a substitute, battled back and kept the visitors pinned back for a time. Pritchard was again in the thick of things and his near-post cross in the seventy-second minute almost gave a chance to Brown, but Caldwell was able to collect.

Eventually, in the seventy-ninth minute, the clinching goal did arrive. A great crossfield pass by Ujam picked out WELLS in space on the left side of the penalty area. He collected the ball and bent an accurate shot round Cattlin and into the net. Campbell replaced Stoddart before the game restarted.

There were further near things as Selkirk began to lose heart. Ferrie in particular sensed the chance to add to his goals tally. His left-foot shot across goal was saved at full stretch by Cattlin, and from the resultant corner he had another attempt on goal. This was blocked out to Campbell, whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper, going to his right.

Ujam was the next to try his luck, letting fly from twenty yards, but his shot just cleared the crossbar. Then when Blake made an intelligent run to receive the ball and hold it up in the danger area, Ferrie appeared again and steered a shot with the inside of his foot away from Cattlin to his left, but the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced clear. This was the last real chance of the match and Watt returned to Riccarton satisfied with a good day's work.

TEAMS:

Selkirk: Cattlin, Anderson, Craggs, McShane, Moffat, Potts, Pritchard, Biggs, Wilson, A Kerr, Brown.

Substitutes: D Kerr, Whitehead, Farningham, Henderson.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, C Brown, Ferrie, Lukowiecki, Williams, Stoddart, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Brown, Blake, Steele, Doherty, Campbell.

Referee: Mr K Rogers (Glasgow)

Saturday 18th October 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 10

Another stumble in the league

Heriot-Watt University 2 Peebles Rovers 2

After a great display in the previous match, Watt hoped that more consistent form would follow, but another uncertain league performance dropped the team down one place to seventh in the table.

The Watt coaches had a defensive selection problem, with no fewer than five players who have appeared in central defence this season counted out of the starting line-up. Last week's debutant, Dom Samuel, was diagnosed during the week as having a fracture in his arm and will be out for four weeks. Frazer Paterson is a long-term injury victim and Stuart Matheson was unavailable for this match. Calum Mortimer has not trained for some time and Scott Sutherland is also still suffering the effects of his shoulder problem, although he took a place on the bench for this match.

The decision of John Kiernan and Jim Glover was to partner Craig Brown and Simon Ferrie in the middle of a back four, with Ross Leask and Mark Lukowiecki in central midfield. Declan Doherty and Mark Wells occupied the wide positions and Mo Ujam and Jimmy Rae were the full-back pairing. Up front, Koya Banji and Duncan Stoddart were the men to whom the Watt looked for goals.

The sides were well matched and the first half was more notable for effort than for creative play. Few real chances were fashioned, but Dan Caldwell had to move smartly from his goal after ten minutes to turn away a shot from Glen Harley, who had sprung the Watt offside trap. The half finished with the same pair in action, Caldwell saving to his left from Harley's snap shot. Peebles had three men cautioned in the first half: Harley, Brian Whitson and Gareth Smith.

The referee became an even more central figure in the first minute of the second period. There didn't seem much in a scuffle between Watt's Banji and Rovers' full-back Ross Cartwright, but Mr Eadie thought otherwise and sent off both players.

In the fifty-second minute, a good move on the left involving Rae and Wells almost produced a chance for Lukowiecki. A minute later, Rae was in possession again, but this time used Wells's run as a dummy and cut inside to the edge of the penalty area. He played a short pass to Leask and looked for the return, but the ball spun to the right from Leask's boot. This turned out to be fortunate, as the ball found its way through the Rovers defence just as Stoddart was arriving in the penalty box. Seizing his chance, STODDART struck a firm shot which goalkeeper Neil Sinclair managed to get a hand to but was unable to prevent entering the net to give the Watt the lead.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Peebles centre half Whitson was injured in a challenge with Leask and was replaced by Richard Todd. The substitute went into the front line and tall forward Brian Leavy dropped back into defence. This proved to be a turning point, as the pace and skill of Todd were a thorn in the side of the Watt defence for the rest of the match. TODD had been on the field only three minutes when he scored a superb equaliser, controlling a long pass from Paul Ross on the volley and with his second touch lobbing the ball over the advancing Caldwell with his left foot.

The signs were not good for Watt as Peebles began to see more of the ball and to play the more constructive football, with Craig Ferrier showing the best touch on the pitch. In the seventy-second minute, a change to the formation was made with the introduction of Scott Sutherland and Scott MacKain to replace Ujam and Doherty. The pace and trickery of Todd was still worrying the Watt defence, however, and Brown was booked for downing him. Steve Williams was the final Watt substitute, coming on to replace Stoddart.

Perhaps Watt's best move in the game came in the eighty-fifth minute. Caldwell's clearance was headed by Wells to Rae, who found Williams moving wide. Williams made good ground and played in a fine, deep cross. MacKain was in space to meet the ball, but Sinclair spoiled the plan with a good save.

Two minutes later, disaster struck Watt. As Sutherland and Brown tried to deal with a pass being chased by Todd, Caldwell ran from his goal calling for the defenders to leave it to him, but the ball was slowing more quickly than he had realised and by the time the 'keeper reached the point of the action, all three outfield players were on top of him. Caldwell dived for the ball, all four players went down in a heap and Mr Eadie blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. To the surprise of all, he gave the reason for the award as a handling offence by Brown. Ferrier stepped forward to send a well-placed shot just inside Caldwell's right-hand post to give the visitors the lead for the first time.

There was little time left for Watt to recover, but they piled forward in search of the equaliser. Sinclair once more rescued his side when, following a free-kick which was headed down by Leask, MacKain turned and hooked the ball towards goal from about three yards out. He could hardly believe it when Sinclair somehow managed to block the ball before it could cross the line.

Football can be cruel, though, and a couple of minutes later, in the last minute of stoppage time, Sinclair's blunder handed Watt a share of the points. MacKain weaved his way through the Peebles defence to the edge of the box, where he was brought down. Wells tried to penetrate the wall with a low shot, but the ball was blocked out to Sutherland on the edge of the box. He played it into the forest of legs again and when it emerged once more, Lukowiecki played it in for a third time. FERRIE made a run across the goal and eluded a defender to get a touch to the ball and Sinclair allowed it to slip through his hands into the corner of the net. This was for the goalkeeper a sad end to a match in which he had played particularly well.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Lukowiecki, C Brown, Ferrie, Doherty, Banji, Stoddart, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Matthews, Williams, Sutherland, Steele, MacKain.

Peebles Rovers: Sinclair, Cartwright, McKinnon, Linton, Whitson, Brown, Smith, Ferrier, Harley, Leavy, Ross.

Substitutes: Todd, Welsh, Forsyth, Easter, Carruthers.

Referee: Mr J Eadie (Cambuslang)

Saturday 11th October 2003

Image Printers' East of Scotland Qualifying Cup: Second Round

Match 9

Watt take it out on Coldstream

Coldstream 0 Heriot-Watt University 6

The league draw at the same venue a fortnight before had left the Watt players visibly disappointed and frustrated. They made it clear from the start of this match that they wanted satisfaction. There were two new students in the Watt ranks: Dom Samuel lined up in the centre of defence and Aiden Blake was amongst the substitutes.

A first-minute foray by Koya Banji and Mark Lukowiecki led to two corners in quick succession as Watt began with pace and drive. The Coldstream side, a more experienced one than that which had played in the league match, was also showing enterprise and determination, but Watt would not be denied. Despite a scare when Jimmy Rae appeared to knock the ball down with his arm whilst moving across the penalty box but was not penalised, Watt kept up almost relentless pressure until the breakthrough came in the fourteenth minute. Ross Leask, in a fine vein of form recently, swept down the right wing and played the ball into the danger area. When it arrived at the feet of BANJI, the big striker swivelled and drove an unstoppable shot high into the corner of the net to the right of goalkeeper Steven Young.

Andy Smith picked up an ankle injury and was off the field receiving treatment when the second goal arrived nine minutes later. This time, Banji was the provider, finding Mark Wells in acres of space on the left edge of the penalty box. WELLS steadied himself and drove an accurate low shot inside the far post.

Mo Ujam replaced Smith and Watt went in search of more goals. The third came in twenty-nine minutes when Wells's cross worked its way through to the right side of the box. LEASK, arriving at pace, hit a stunning first-time shot which zipped into the net before Young could even think of trying to stop it.

The ball was in the Coldstream net again before half-time, at the end of a fine move involving Rae, Banji and Lukowiecki. It didn't look offside from the technical area, but Mr Binnie spared the hosts further pain by giving that decision.

Two further shooting chances were created for Duncan Stoddart before the half-time whistle allowed Coldstream a breather, but the home side emerged for the second half with a new sense of purpose and for ten minutes gave the Watt back line a hard time, though Watt still looked dangerous on the break. Having weathered this spell of pressure, Watt came back thirteen minutes into the half with the goal which clinched the win. A free kick from Lukowiecki was cleared as far as Rae, but when he chipped the ball back into the box, the Coldstream got their timing wrong in trying to move up and catch the Watt front men offside. Leask and Stoddart both moved into the area, and it was LEASK who chested the ball down and stroked it past Young's right hand into the net.

Soon after this, Stuart Matheson came on to replace Samuel, who had an arm injury. With seventy minutes on the clock, the fifth goal arrived for the still-eager Watt side. A quick free-kick taken by Ujam sent Simon Ferrie scampering down the right. His cross was over the head of Young and when the goalkeeper, leaning back, was unable to hold the ball, it fell on to the waiting foot of STODDART, who volleyed in. Blake then replaced Stoddart and in the seventy-eighth minute the scoring was completed. The tireless FERRIE shot from twenty yards and although Young got a hand to the ball, he couldn't prevent it finding the corner of the net.

To their credit, Coldstream battled away and Derek Burnett almost scored as a long throw-in troubled the Watt defenders.

Watt were reduced to ten men for the last few minutes. All the substitutes had been committed when Craig Brown, troubled by an injury, had to leave the field. To confirm the symmetry of the proceedings, the match finished with another Coldstream penalty claim. This time it was Leask whose arm struck the ball, but again Mr Binnie judged the contact to be accidental.

TEAMS:

Coldstream: Young, Cowe, Dickson, Bell, Bertram, Wallace, Prampi, Stuart, Simpson, Tait, Burnett.

Substitutes: Phillips, Thomson, Wilson.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ferrie, Rae, Lukowiecki, C Brown, Samuel, Smith, Banji, Stoddart, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Matheson, Ujam, Williams, Doherty, Blake.

Referee: Mr J Binnie (Edinburgh)

Saturday 27th September 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 8

Only a draw despite domination

Coldstream 1 Heriot-Watt University 1

The trip home from Coldstream was a gloomy one for a Watt squad which had let two points slip in a match in which they held the upper hand for most of the ninety minutes.

Home Park was not looking its best for the visit of Heriot-Watt, but despite the unevenness of the surface after the dry, warm autumn, both sides began the match at a fast pace, playing passing football which was entertaining to watch. The high-energy style of the home side was effective in stifling Watt's attacking intent throughout most of the first half, but it might have been very different if an excellent chance created almost from the kick-off had been taken. Mark Lukowiecki, in his first start for the Watt, made good ground in midfield and tried a shot from around thirty yards. It went to the left of the goal, but came to Mark Wells, who was making a well-timed run. Given his time again, perhaps Wells would elect to shoot first time, but he tried to control the ball and his touch was heavy, allowing Steven Young to gather.

Eighteen minutes in, Watt claims for a penalty were surprisingly muted as Scott MacKain, cutting in from the right, appeared to be brought down, but Mr Hardie, who was in good position, allowed play to go on.

The only other chances of note in the first period were a shot from Ross Leask which went straight into Young's midriff and a Wells effort which cleared the crossbar, but the home side looked dangerous on the break, with Des Burnett particularly effective in the air.

As the second half went on, Watt had more and more of the possession, but failed to use it effectively. Too often, the ball was given away cheaply and too few chances were being created. The number of fouls conceded in midfield for pushing in attempting to reach clearances was also a worry. Wells was again prominent in such attacks as Watt could muster, and the timing of his runs was giving him possession in good areas, but the finish was missing. Home goalkeeper Young strained a thigh muscle early in the half and for the remainder of the match his mobility was limited, but he still managed to make several telling contributions to thwarting the Watt attack and gaining his side a point.

Although lacking forward penetration, Watt were looking comfortable at the back, so it came as a shock when they fell behind in the sixty-seventh minute. A throw-in on the Coldstream right was controlled by Burnett on the edge of the box and when he slipped a short pass to Brian Stuart, the Watt marking was missing. STUART's low shot was accurately placed inside the post to Dan Caldwell's right.

Duncan Stoddart replaced Steve Williams before the game re-started, and Watt went in search of an equaliser, but although there were more than twenty minutes left, their efforts were rather frantic. A good run into the area by Leask gave him a shooting chance, but Young again rescued Coldstream and Stoddart slammed the rebound against a defender. Declan Doherty replaced Mohammed Ujam in seventy-five minutes and Koya Banji came on for Wells four minutes later as Watt committed more and more to attack. The pace and energy of Stoddart, Doherty and Banji helped to find more and more space against the tiring home defence, but a touch of coolness was lacking. In his first involvement, Banji set the ball back to MacKain, whose first-time strike from twenty-five yards was accurate, but Young got down to tip it round the post.

Just as it looked as though Watt would never score, the equaliser arrived at last in the eighty-second minute. After all the good chances which had been fashioned, the chance came fortuitously. Stuart Matheson was quick to react to a clearance from the home defence and he rounded Keith Lough, advanced on the left and won a throw-in thirty yards from goal. The throw bounced through the Coldstream defence and reached Lukowiecki around the penalty spot. Under challenge, LUKOWIECKI cleverly hooked a left-footed shot past Young and into the corner of the net.

With almost all the possession now, Watt stormed forward seeking a winner against the beleaguered home defence. Doherty, Matheson and Leask had attempts on goal but all were off-target and Watt may reflect that they failed to put pressure on a goalkeeper whose movement was clearly restricted by his injury. When the end of the match came, Coldstream had weathered the storm and were doing some attacking of their own, using long throws to seek the head of Burnett, who was always a threat.

Due to Qualifying Cup and Alex Jack Cup ties next week, the Watt has no match. Four fixtures will be played in the First Division and Watt will drop a place to sixth in the table, below the winner of the Coldstream-Ormiston fixture. If this match should end in a draw, Ormiston will go ahead of Watt on goal difference.

TEAMS:

Coldstream: Young, Cowe, Gordon, Dickson, Bell, Thompson, Darling, Stuart, Burnett, Lough, Tait.

Substitutes: Simpson, Watson, Halfpenny.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Matheson, C Brown, Rae, Ferrie, Leask, Lukowiecki, MacKain, Williams, Wells.

Substitutes: Smith, J Brown, Banji, Stoddart, Doherty.

Referee: Mr J Hardie (Hamilton)

Saturday 20th September 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 7

Watt's dream shattered by Star

Heriot-Watt University 1 Dalbeattie Star 4

The euphoria induced in Watt ranks by the convincing win over Selkirk was shattered by a determined Dalbeattie Star side in the second match on the new Riccarton pitch.

The Watt vision of topping the First Division by five o'clock was already beginning to evaporate shortly after half-past two. Four minutes into the match, with the visitors having already forced one corner from which centre-half Dougie Campbell had headed over the bar, Star's first goal arrived. Though still firm from the long spell of dry weather, the pitch was greasy on top from a shower of rain during the Saturday morning, and when the ball was played through the middle to Brian Dick, his marker, Stuart Matheson, slipped in moving to cover and fell to the ground. Dick ran on unchallenged and as Dan Caldwell advanced, perhaps making it easier for the striker by going down a little too early, DICK gently lobbed the bouncing ball over the 'keeper and into the corner of the net.

Ross Leask had two opportunities to equalise during the next fifteen minutes. Firstly, after good work by Andy Smith and Simon Ferrie put him in possession, he shot across goal from a tightish angle; then, with a much better chance from Scott MacKain's pass, he missed the target to the goalkeeper's left.

There was a claim for a penalty in the twenty-first minute as Stevie Williams got in front of Campbell as he chased a bouncing ball into the box. As the Watt striker tried to head the ball into a shooting position, he was nudged in the back and the chance was lost. The contact was slight, however, and the award would have looked severe.

Two minutes later, Watt were in more trouble as DICK struck again. Dalbeattie won a throw-in ten yards from the corner flag on the Watt left and Rab Harkness's long throw was met unchallenged by the powerful front man. His downward header found the corner of the net to Caldwell's right.

The Watt were working hard to create chances but the battling Star side was making it difficult. Jimmy Rae's pass found MacKain, who managed to turn inside and strike a shot from twenty yards, but it was well wide of the goal. Then Scott Sutherland, picking up a clearance, had a go from distance. His shot was accurate but lacked the power to trouble visiting goalkeeper Fraser Wilson.

As Watt tried to find a way back into the match, Star continued to show plenty of attacking endeavour, and Caldwell was called into action to save with his legs at the edge of the penalty area as Grant Parker worked a shooting opportunity, then to save a fierce drive from Graeme True.

Ten minutes before half-time, Watt clawed a goal back. Matheson's mighty clearance turned into a pass tailor-made for Williams to exploit as he raced down the left. Evading the challenge of Harkness, he swept the ball to the near post, where MacKAIN got his timing right to beat Campbell to the ball and slide it low to Wilson's left into the net.

A similar move might have brought Watt level two minutes after the break. This time it was Leask's good work on the right which set up the chance for MacKain, but he was beyond the near post by the time he made contact and couldn't get the ball on target.

Unfortunately for Watt, Dalbeattie restored their two-goal advantage two minutes later. Dick held the ball with his back to goal at the edge of the penalty area, then played it back to the onrushing TRUE, who smashed a first-time drive low into the net to Caldwell's right.

It took Watt ten minutes to recover from this blow and fashion another scoring opportunity. When MacKain played in a deep cross from the right, it was headed down and came to Smith, who had taken up good position six yards out from goal. He was able to get a flick on the bouncing ball and it looked to be enough to find the net before Wilson arched his back to make a superb finger-tip save.

A minute later, Watt came close again, Mohammed Ujam striking a firm volley from ten yards from Mark Wells's near-post corner, but there were too many defenders crowding the goalmouth and the ball struck one and was cleared.

As Watt continued to seek a way back into the game, Duncan Stoddart and Craig Brown were introduced as the home side went to three forwards, but time was ebbing away without serious threat to the Dalbeattie goal. There was another bad moment as Suff Sutherland, having chased back fifty yards to make a saving tackle, felt his shoulder pop out. With great courage, he put it back in position and came back on to the pitch, but when Star confirmed their victory with a fourth goal eight minutes from time, he retired and was replaced by Jamie Brown.

The fourth goal was perhaps a product of Watt's enforced weakening of the defence in an attempt to get a goal back. When substitute Craig Wilson crossed low from the right, the ball found its way to PARKER, who stood alone on the edge of the six-yard box and promptly smacked the ball into goal.

Even at three goals down, Watt kept plugging away. There was another shout for a penalty as the ball seemed to strike Campbell's arm as he was put under pressure by Williams. Then MacKain made a good run across the defence and when he was tackled the ball ran to Williams, who shot first-time with his left foot, but the ball went inches past the post to the right of the diving Fraser Wilson. But by that time, it was just a matter of trying to make the score look better.

In a generally disappointing day, the worst news of all for Watt was the recurrence of Suff's shoulder problem. Clearly, this injury is going to be liable to happen again until a more permanent solution is sought. In the meantime, Watt will wait anxiously for a report on the fitness of the skilful defender.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, Matheson, Ferrie, Smith, MacKain, Williams, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Stoddart, C Brown, Wardman, J Brown, Banji.

Dalbeattie Star: F Wilson, Harkness, Tuchewicz, True, Campbell, Smith, Parker, Gulowsen, Dick, Milligan, Cook.

Substitutes: C Wilson, Tennant, Brownrigg.

Referee: Mr J McMurray (Airdrie)

Saturday 13th September 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 6

Return to Riccarton celebrated in goals

Heriot-Watt University 4 Selkirk 0

Watt's homecoming was a joyful occasion as the 4 - 1 defeat inflicted at Riccarton in last year's league fixture was amply avenged.

The new pitch developed by the ground staff looked excellent as Watt kicked off shooting away from the road. Early exchanges showed both sides displaying an appetite for attack. The first two shooting opportunities came the way of the Watt, with firstly Ross Leask connecting with a left-wing cross but slicing his shot wide, then Stuart Matheson advancing to pick up a loose ball from the visiting defence and striking a drive just over the Selkirk crossbar.

Steve Williams was in the mood and his cross after good work on the right was almost met by the head of the inrushing Mark Wells in the twelfth minute.

Watt took the lead after twenty-two minutes. Wells worked the ball to Jimmy Rae near the left corner flag; Rae worked half a yard of space and crossed to the far post, where Simon FERRIE had timed his run perfectly to meet the ball with a carefully-placed header between David Cattlin and his left post.

Three minutes later, Wells's fierce shot from 25 yards just cleared the bar, but Selkirk were by no means out of it and Ian Potts drove in a shot which was confidently clutched by Dan Caldwell. Gary McShane then did excellent work on the left, leaving both Mohammed Ujam and Leask in his wake and cutting into the box, but the imposing bulk of Caldwell seemed to unnerve him and his shot was easily collected by the goalkeeper.

Caldwell had to look lively at the start of the second half, too, rushing from his line to grab a bouncing ball as substitute Stuart Anderson tried to get a boot to it. Watt soon asserted their ascendancy once more, however, and six minutes after the restart, FERRIE struck again. He timed his run well to take the ball short from Wells's left-wing corner, quickly advanced into the penalty area and drove a powerful shot with great accuracy into the postage-stamp corner.

Seven minutes later, any doubt about the outcome was removed when Ferrie returned the complement to WELLS, threading a pass between two defenders to meet Wells's run to the edge of the penalty area. Wells had to drag the ball through Antony Craggs's tackle, but once he had done that he was through on Cattlin and finished with a low shot to the far corner of the net.

Scott MacKain replaced Koya Banji and Declan Doherty came on for Leask as Watt continued to press, but Selkirk were still making a fight of it and Jay Wilson headed narrowly past from a good left-wing cross.

A fine Watt move down the right brought the save of the game from Cattlin. MacKain won two tackles as he progressed down the wing and when he played the ball in to Williams, the striker struck a firm first-time shot. The Selkirk 'keeper threw himself to his right and diverted the ball over the bar.

Unfortunately for Cattlin, it did not take WILLIAMS long to make his point. Just a minute later, Wells's cross was diverted to the striker, who scored with a firm right-foot shot from twelve yards.

Watt were playing fluently now and MacKain had a chance to score just a minute later. Doherty won a corner on the right and when Wells played the ball to the near post, MacKain controlled it and hit a shot on the turn, but he got under the ball as he swung round and it flew over the bar.

Ferrie was looking for his hat-trick and when Williams headed on Mohammed Ujam's cross, he tried an extravagant hitch-kick which went past the post. Next up was MacKain, with a good turn and shot from 25 yards which drew a good save from Cattlin. The match ended with Watt still looking for goals, Wells just failing to get on the end of MacKain's cross.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, Matheson, Ferrie, Smith, Banji, Williams, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Mortimer, MacKain, McIvor, J Brown, Doherty.

Selkirk: Cattlin, Craggs, Farningham, Biggs, Moffat, Potts, J Wilson, McShane, C Wilson, Whitehead, Brown.

Substitutes: Dickson, Edwards, Anderson, Stuart, McCulloch.

Referee: Mr I Bristow (Edinburgh)

Saturday 6th September 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 5

Watt back on track with solid victory at Fernieside

Tollcross United 0 Heriot-Watt University 2

Heirot-Watt put their cup tie blues behind them with a competent performance. The match kicked off at 1.30 so that the players could see the second half of the Scotland - Faroe Islands intermational.

The first half was evenly contested, with a limited amount of goalmouth action, but already in that period there was some evidence of the indiscipline that was later to cost the home side dearly. David Henderson was cautioned as early as the eighth minute for an aggressive action towards Mohammed Ujam after a foul had been awarded to the Watt.

Watt took the lead in the twelfth minute. A penetrating run on the right by the lively Ross Leask ended with a low cross, but no Watt player was close enough to benefit. However, when the United defence cleared the ball to Richard McDonagh, he was immediately robbed by Ross Campbell, who promptly lofted the ball to Koya Banji, who had taken up good position deep in the Tollcross penalty box. BANJI controlled the ball on his chest with his back to goal, then swivelled and hooked the ball into the corner of the net to the right of the helpless Graeme O'Brien in the United goal.

Cautions for three more home players followed before half-time, as John Davidson, Mark Pagliarulo and Ryan Brown all incurred the displeasure of Mr McLennan.

Two minutes into the second half came a turning point in the game, as Davidson was sent off for gesturing with his head towards Campbell after an exchange of views. After this, Watt rapidly took control, passing the ball around well and keeping their opponents working hard, but without creating a significant number of chances. Mark Wells, Scott MacKain and Banji all had shots on goal, but none troubled O'Brien. Only when Leask again used his pace to outflank the United defence was a second goal created two minutes from full-time. Leask's cutback from the right found Banji in space and when he stepped past Brown, the defender brought him down. It was a clear penalty and Scott SUTHERLAND crisply despatched it to confirm the points were safe.

TEAMS:

Tollcross United: O'Brien, Tainsh, Stewart, D Henderson, McDonagh, Brown, S Henderson, Davidson, Crolla, Pagliarulo, Beaton.

Substitutes: Thomson, Trainer, Shaw.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, C Brown, Ferrie, Campbell, Banji, MacKain, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: Williams, Smith, Wardman, Matheson, J Brown.

Referee: Mr N McLennan (Broxburn)

Saturday 30th August 2003

Alex Jack Cup: First Round

Match 4

Stalemate in the sun but Watt lose direction

Easthouses Lily 0 Heriot-Watt University 0 (after extra time)

Easthouses win 3 - 2 on penalties

Two of the better sides in the First Division of the East of Scotland League subjected spectators to two hours of tedium followed by an incompetent penalty shoot-out. At the end of it all, Watt's chances in the Alex Jack Cup were over for another season.

This was all the more frustrating for the Watt, as this fixture was officially a home tie, but due to the unavailability of a pitch at Riccarton due to the delay to the building works there caused by the collapse of the main contractor responsible for the works, Watt had to give up home advantage and switch the game to Newbattle.

In a re-run of the League match a fortnight earlier, the Mayfield Park pitch was still baked hard and control was difficult. The Watt line-up showed no fewer than seven changes from the team beaten in the League fixture, with Mohammed Ujam, Jimmy Rae, Craig Brown, Simon Ferrie, Declan Doherty, Ross Campbell and Ross Leask in the starting eleven.

The ability shown by Lily in the previous encounter had clearly registered with the Watt players and they had a more determined look about them from the start, with the defence looking tighter and more cohesive. Nevertheless, the closer efforts of the first half came from the home side. First, a snap shot by David Edgar from outside the left corner of the penalty area soared over the hands of Dan Caldwell and crashed against the underside of the bar. Then, ten minutes before the interval, Scott Rutherford's accurate shot from distance was tipped over by the big Watt 'keeper.

The second half brought some increase in attacking intent from the Watt, Campbell striking a shot just over the junction of post and bar, then Mark Wells shooting over after good work by Ferrie.

Halfway through the second period, Invernesian Scott MacKain made his debut, replacing Wells. Five minutes later, Scott Sutherland hirpled off with an injury and was bizarrely replaced by midfielder Jonny Wardman, with Ferrie dropping into defence alongside Craig Brown despite the presence on the bench of the club's two most experienced central defenders. Wardman's first contribution was a highly-optimistic shot from around 45 yards.

MacKain was showing good touch and looked comfortable on the ball. Edgar was cautioned for bringing him down after a good turn gave him the chance to make ground on the left. Then, close to time, MacKain's weaving run set up a shooting chance as he cut in on to his right foot, but his drive from the edge of the penalty area rose a foot over the bar.

Watt had a major escape during the first half of extra time. Attempting a clearance, Rae sliced the ball high in the air and when it fell to earth, Lily substitute Paul Neilson got in a shot. Caldwell blocked, but Scott Borthwick headed in the rebound. Unaccountably, Mr Binnie ruled offside.

Just into the second period of extra time, Watt introduced their final substitute, and again the decision seemed a strange one as inexperienced defender Jamie Brown came on for attacker Doherty. During the final fifteen minutes, Watt came under increasing pressure and Caldwell was again forced to save from Neilson and from Craig Maltman.

And so to the penalty shoot-out. It started well enough for the Watt, Craig Brown placing the ball in the corner where Craig Weir was not. David Beattie made it 1 - 1, but then followed a sequence of four consecutive misses, as Weir saved from Wardman and Rae, Borthwick shot past the post to his left and Caldwell saved brilliantly from Maltman. When Campbell stepped up to hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net, Watt were almost there, but Jimmy Currie sent Caldwell the wrong way for 2 - 2. The magnetism of the left post then took over again as Ferrie shot past, then Edgar followed suit. Into sudden death we went, and it was left to young Jamie Brown to take the next kick for the Watt. Almost unbelievably, his shot struck the same post to which all the others had been drawn and when Rutherford thumped a no-nonsense shot into the net, Easthouses celebrated a 3 - 2 win after six penalties each.

TEAMS:

Easthouses Lily: Weir, Sives, Smith, Dorans, Conlon, Rutherford, Currie, Maltman, Beattie, Edgar, Borthwick.

Substitutes: Neilsen, Nisbet, Waddell, Barnard, Duncan.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, Ujam, Rae, Sutherland, C Brown, Ferrie, Doherty, Banji, Campbell, Leask, Wells.

Substitutes: J Brown, Matheson, Wardman, MacKain, Mortimer.

Referee: Mr J Binnie (Edinburgh)

Saturday 23rd August 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 3

Athletic just too wise for Watt

Edinburgh Athletic 3 Heriot-Watt University 1

Heriot-Watt missed a good chance to gain a morale-boosting win over Edinburgh Athletic by losing two crucial goals to a side reduced to ten men by the sending-off of striker Myles Allan.

In an even first half, Koya BANJI had given Watt the lead from close range, but the home side struck back through Graeme ROSS when he appeared unmarked at the far post to head in a misplaced shot.

Allan's dismissal seemed to have given Watt the platform to go for the win, but late goals from John COOGAN and Kevin THOMAS kept the points at Muirhouse.

As things have turned out, this was something of a farewell present to Athletic from former Hearts striker Thomas, who is now playing as a trialist for Bo'ness United in the Juniors' East Superleague. Although defenders may disagree, it is a significant loss to the East of Scotland League to say goodbye to a player of Kevin's ability and professional pedigree, but his presence in the First Division over the course of the last year or so has enhanced the reputation of the League and it has been good to have had him with us.

TEAMS:

Edinburgh Athletic: Walker, Inglis, Olsson, Ross, Brownlie, Siegel, Carney, McCallum, Allan, Crandles, Coogan.

Substitutes: McCrindle, Trail, Thomas, Fraser, McCann.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, J Brown, C Brown, Sutherland, Mortimer, Matheson, Smith, Banji, Williams, Leask, Wardman.

Substitutes: Wells, Kiernan, Lukowiecki, Campbell, Doherty.

Referee: Mr K Rogers (Glasgow)

Saturday 16th August 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 2

Down to earth with a thump

Easthouses Lily 2 Heriot-Watt University 0

If Watt had thought this East of Scotland season was going to be an easy ride - and perhaps there was a touch of complacency after the opening-day win over Ormiston - this one-sided affair laid that idea firmly to rest. Only a superb display by Dan Caldwell prevented the score mounting to embarassing proportions as Lily carved out frequent openings against a harassed Watt back line, whilst easily containing any goal threat the visiting front men could pose.

From the start of the game, Easthouses set a high tempo, with the lively David Beattie and Scott Borthwick proving hard to contain. A quarter of an hour into the game, Caldwell brought off his first amazing save, blocking twice from Borthwick as the striker seemed certain to open the scoring. Two more brilliant contributions by Caldwell in the first half had the Lily management shaking their heads in frustration: the first going to his left to save from Beattie; then, on the stroke of half-time, diving to his right to scoop away a delicate touch by the same striker following a throw-in. Even Caldwell would have been unable to prevent Lily taking the lead, however, had David Edgar's thumping shot been a couple of inches lower. The ball struck the bar and bounced down and out to safety.

Much to his frustration, Andy Smith did not make it to half-time, succumbing to a calf injury after forty minutes and being replaced by Ross Campbell.

Six minutes into the second half, Lily at last took the lead. BEATTIE cut in from a position on the right and fired a firm, low shot into the far corner of the net. The pattern of play was little changed by the goal. Lily continued to surge forward, seeking to increase their tally. Watt were still only seen occasionally as an attacking force. The visitors suffered a further blow seventeen minutes into the second half. Trying to get on to the end of a ball played into the Watt penalty area, Mark McCabe hauled down Frazer Paterson. The young defender, who had been Watt's most accomplished outfield player, was helped off in considerable pain with what transpired to be a broken bone in his foot. Craig Brown came on to replace him.

Three minutes later, Lily had the ball in the net again, but fortunately for Watt, referee Mr Hardie had already blown for an infringement.

Shortly after this, Watt had a great opportunity to carve out a scoring chance. Stevie Williams read a backheader in midfield to perfection and collected the ball with the last two Lily defenders retreating before him. Jonny Wardman made a good run to his left, but instead of the easy pass to pick him out, Steve went tried to thread the ball between the defenders. The ball was intercepted and the chance lost. A minute later, Declan Doherty came on to replace Stevie as Watt searched for a way to unsettle the compact home defence.

The next chance fell to Lily, however, and once again Caldwell was called upon to show his agility, tipping a hooked shot from Beattie over the bar.

Despite the home side's domination, Watt were still just a goal behind and in with a chance as the closing stages arrived, but with a minute to go, Lily eventually sealed the win with a second goal. Jamie Brown fouled Beattie thirty yards out and when the ball was played into the box and headed into the air, BEATTIE barged Craig Brown aside and slammed the ball past Caldwell. The goal was allowed to stand and Watt were buried.

TEAMS:

Easthouses Lily: Weir, Sives, Hamilton, Dorans, Conlon, McCabe, Smith, Maltman, Beattie, Edgar, Borthwick.

Substitutes: Neilsen, Currie, Rutherford, Waddell, Duncan.

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, J Brown, Matheson, Sutherland, Mortimer, Paterson, Smith, Banji, Williams, Wardman, Wells.

Substitutes: Kiernan, C Brown, Doherty, Campbell, Creighton.

Referee: Mr J Hardie (Hamilton)

Saturday 9th August 2003

East of Scotland League: First Division

Match 1

Watt get off to a winning start at last

Heriot-Watt University 1 Ormiston 0

For the first time in the recollection of anyone currently associated with the club, Heriot-Watt won their first match of the East of Scotland League season. Due to the unavailability of a pitch at Riccarton, an alternative location had to be found for this match. After an exhaustive search for a suitable venue not already in use on the opening Saturday of the season, Lothian Juniors side Edinburgh City kindly offered the use of their Paties Road ground and permission was granted for its use. This was a highly appropriate choice; before City moved to Paties Road, the land was owned by Heriot-Watt University and this was Watt's regular home pitch prior to the construction of the campus at Riccarton.

No longer is the Watt squad at the start of the season a thin and feeble thing. Regular players had made great efforts to be included: once again, Dan Caldwell had travelled from Lancashire; captain Andy Smith had come down from Aberdeen and Jonny Wardman up from Walkerburn. Other more local first-team men Scott Sutherland, Stuart Matheson, Callum Mortimer, Ross Leask, Mark Wells and Mohammed Ujam were listed. Stevie Williams was back in the squad after a season's absence due to the requirements of his academic course. In addition, a number of newer faces were included on merit: Koya Banji had made his top-team debut towards the end of last season; Frazer Paterson and Jamie Brown were known to the coaches as players about to break through into contention. Johnny Kiernan still couldn't get a game.

The match was not a classic. The recent hot weather had baked the ground and the fiery pitch made control difficult. The Watt side showed plenty of determination, however, and gained a valuable three-point reward. The deciding goal was a penalty, awarded for a trip on Stevie Williams by Graeme Renwick and fired home by Suff SUTHERLAND.

TEAMS:

Heriot-Watt University: Caldwell, J Brown, Matheson, Sutherland, Mortimer, Paterson, Smith, Banji, Williams, Leask, Wardman.

Substitutes: Kiernan, Ujam, Creighton, Wells, Scouller.

Ormiston: Daly, Donnelly, Renwick, Macdonald, Gerret, Brownlee, Smith, De Gaetano, Thomson, Cheyne, Murray.

Substitutes: Tulloch, McKechnie, Dickson, Cann, Purves.

Referee: Mr C Pennycuick (Edinburgh)