Vale of Leithen 0
Edinburgh Univ2
Vale slumped to a miserable defeat in the final cup competition of the season as the students secured victory with a goal in each half, writes Dave Ryce.
Uni, currently sitting midtable in the East of Scotland Premier Division, are a decent outfit, demonstrating enthusiasm, fitness and the ability to move the ball about well. But weaknesses in certain areas were all too evident and a failure to effectively exploit them was Vale’s downfall.
A Luke Murray free kick put the visitors ahead after 26 minutes, although it was only thanks to a goal line clearance by Stuart McFarlane from a Ross Aitchison effort that they took the lead into the dressing room.
Early in the second half, Scott Gormley smacked a free kick off the crossbar and Aitchison forced a good save.
But in the 62nd minute a quick break forward by the visitors found the Vale defence posted missing and Jan Maelgar presented substitute Jack Guthrie with an opportunity he couldn’t miss.
Gormley hit the woodwork again, before the referee turned down appeals for a penalty when McFarlane appeared to handle in the box. Keeper Graham O’Brien received a straight red card for protesting the decision and coach Mickey Weir was sent to the stand for comments to the official.