Seaforth Snatch Fourth Point

Seaforth Highlanders successfully came away from Peffermill yesterday with another point, having retained all three from the University side on the opening day of the season. The visitors were dominated throughout the entire game, yet snatched a later equaliser leaving the home side demoralised on the final whistle.

However, it was the Highlanders that had the opportunity to take the lead early on, after their attacking winger cut inside of Senior, only to be brought down by a backtracking Kenny inside the Burgh box. A penalty was awarded and all that stood between the striker and a goal was Tom “the bear” Agnew. The keeper had already saved one out of the two penalties taken against him this season so all hope was not lost. The striker fired the ball far towards the left corner of the goal, yet once more Agnew proved his worth, diving right across his goal, producing a save of the highest order to prevent a well taken penalty putting Seaforth 1-0 up.

This not only lifted Burgh’s spirits but made Kenny produce a huge sigh of relief. Edinburgh started to settle down, producing some neat football, whilst Tom Archer headed away anything that came in Agnew’s direction. Maxwell and Meehan were also beginning to dictate the play, in what was a crowded midfield due to Seaforth’s 4-5-1 formation.

Edinburgh eventually won a corner, thanks to a surmountable amount of pressure. The ball got poorly cleared and played back into the box, finding its way to the far post where it got met by a thunderbolt of a strike by the left foot of Kenny, sending it back across goal into the far corner of the net. Kenny had more than atoned for his previous error.

Despite Burgh domination the scoreline still bared the same result come half-time. The match was still there to be taken for Uni, yet the Highlander’s were by no means out of it, especially with such quick counter-attacking capabilities. Yet, the men in green were a solid unit, with Archer’s head still repelling any likelihood of a comeback.

At the other end of the field Edinburgh continued to carve open their opposition, who were definitely tiring, but still they hung on with some fantastic saves being produced by their number 1. Scott Macfarlane, who had come on for Maxwell, looked to have shaped a shot that was destined for the bottom corner, only for Seaforth’s keeper to turn out a fine save.

So the score remained 1-0 to Burgh with only a few minutes left on the clock, until Seaforth gathered the ball on the left wing and drilled a cross into the penalty area. Leslie tried to get boot to ball but unfortunately could only flick it on to the striker who guided it past the helpless Agnew from 5 yards out. The cross was undefendable, providing Seaforth with their one clear chance from open play in the whole game.

However, that is the beauty of football, unless of course you are an Edinburgh University fan. Then it is just sickening to see two, supposedly, already won points leave your grasp. Yet, the Highlander’s will be delighted. Few sides will face Burgh this season and take 4 points out of 6 and hopefully, that’s not just because the Uni boys fail to draw games…