Edinburgh edge through on penalties

Written by Matthew Riley Wednesday, 22 October 2008 11:16

University of Edinburgh 2-2 St. Cuthberts Wanderers

After extra time, Edinburgh win 4-2 on penalties

Edinburgh University fought their way into the fourth round after finally beating a resilient St Cuthbert Wanders in a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw after extra time.
In normal time Edinburgh looked to find holes in St. Cuthbert’s back line. However, this tactic was largely ineffective as aerially, St. Cuthbert was far superior and it soon became clear that an aerial assault would produce nothing. At the other end, however, an unexpected turn of class from St Cuthbert’s large number 9 took him away from his marker, giving him the time to compose himself and chip the onrushing Mark Tait. A few half-hearted pleas came from the defence for off-side but these were ignored by the referee.

Within a minute, St Cuthbert’s celebrations were silenced as Edinburgh equalised. Showing an urgency and attacking focus which had been lacking from the opening 15 minutes, Ruaradidh Scott drove into the St Cuthbert box, drawing a reckless tackle from an opposition defender. Up stepped Stephen Maxwell who drilled his penalty just beyond the sprawling goal keeper.

As the first half drew to a close, Edinburgh never looked like scoring. The build-up play was intricate, accurate and teasing, but the final incisive ball was lacking. At half time, Edinburgh trudged off with the sky darkening and the rain beginning to fall.

The teams were greeted back on to the pitch with hammering rain. St Cuthbert took control of the opening exchanges, pinning Edinburgh into their half for long periods. Long balls were played in and around the penalty areas looking for mistakes. St Cuthbert looked to utilise their physical edge over Edinburgh, with the two strikers ploughing into the defence at every opportunity.

Just as Edinburgh began to wonder if it would be their day, they took the lead through Jamie Redman in the 72nd minute who controlled Woods’ cross-field ball and lifted it over the goal keeper. From then on, Edinburgh sat back in a bid to protect their slender lead. Up until the 87th minute, they achieved just that. However, a surging run from a St Cuthbert midfielder drew a desperate tackle from an Edinburgh defender. The set peice was curled into the top corner of Tait’s net, bringing the score level.

Within two minutes of extra time kicking off, Hazeldine had struck, wriggling free in the area and placing his shot beyond the keeper. The sound of relief and delight came from bench, stand and team. However, it was ruled offside, to the frustration of manager and talisman.
From then on, the tie descended into a scrap, with neither team prepared to commit too many players forward in search of the illusive winner. Thus the game was to be settled on penalties. Mark Tait made it easy for his team mates, expertly saving both of St Cuthbert’s first two. Hazeldine, Maxwell, Fusco and Woods stepped and put their efforts away with ease to send Edinburgh into the next round.

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