14th October 2017 Edinburgh University v Fraserburgh 0-2
Hearts are playing today in Dingwall and I don't fancy the journey. However I had a choice of three Scottish Cup ties in Edinburgh and I chose to go to Peffermill for Edinburgh University against Fraserburgh. My dad was brought up in Fraserburgh and played a few games for them and I still have family connections in the Broch, as it is know by the locals. I therefore went along looking to see Fraserburgh for the first time and hoping they could get through to the next round of the cup.
Fraserburgh play in the Highland league. They are currently top of the table, one point ahead of Cove Rangers who have two games in hand. With forty-five goals in thirteen matches they certainly look like a team who know how to find the net. The Broch's moment of glory came in 1959 when they defeated then first division Dundee 1-0 at their home ground of Bellsea Park. They previously played Edinburgh University in the Scottish Cup in 1954 and beat them 9-0.
Edinburgh Uni have had an up and down season but recently drew with last years champions East Kilbride and defeated runners-up East Stirling. They were however disadvantaged as last seasons top scorer Jack Guthrie was only fit for the bench after recovering from a broken ankle. I caught a 30 bus to Peffermill and arrived about 2.30. The catering there is brilliant and I had a cup of decent coffee and a sausage roll in the cafe. I was joined by Jim who enjoyed coffee and a piece of carrot cake. After moving out to the park we were joined by fans from the Fraserburgh supporters bus. They had left at 8.30 this morning to drive down to Edinburgh. On arrival they had gone to Gilmerton Miners Club for the football essentials of pints and pies and were then driven to the ground to arrive ten minutes before the kick-off.
As expected Fraserburgh made the early running and took the lead after seven minutes. A cross onto the box was laid back to William West about sixteen yards out. He fired the ball high into the top corner giving Uni keeper Mark Tait no chance. Fraserburgh continued to pressure but the Uni were trying hard to get back into the game. From their first corner the ball fell to Rafa Calbacho about six yards out. He had to stretch for the ball and his shot flew high over the bar. After twenty-five minutes Fraserburgh scored a second when a free-kick from Ryan Cowie found West racing though on goal. His first attempt hit the diving keeper Tait but flew back to West who knocked home the rebound.
We had a good chat with some Fraserburgh fans at halftime. They were saying that the Broch are content to remain in the Highland League as if they moved into the SPFL through the pyramid system travel costs would rocket. While fans are happy to travel to Edinburgh for a Scottish Cup tie would they want to travel that distance for a League Two fixture?
For the second half it seemed that Fraserburgh were content to hold their lead. Although Edinburgh had a lot of the ball they made few clear-cut chances apart from a header by Nathan Evans, son of former Hibs forward Gareth, which went just over the bar. After 72 minutes Luke Murray fouled West in the Edinburgh penalty box. After a wait, while Murray was treated by the physio and then booked, West took the kick and fired the ball past the right hand post. Fraserburgh held on for a good victory. However for me the game was spoiled a bit by over fussy refereeing. Both sides had three players booked but there were probably only two bad fouls in the game. One of the Fraserburgh bookings came when a forward collided with a University defender outside the box. The forward fell and was booked for diving. Two other bookings came when players fell to the ground after heading duels. In both cases there was no malice in the challenges but the referee booked both the players who remained standing.
After the game I caught a 30 bus home. When I arrived home I caught up with the draw for the next round of the cup. Fraserburgh will be back in Edinburgh facing Spartans at Ainslie Park. With Hearts playing on the Sunday that weekend I know where I will be going on the Saturday ! Could be three games in three days if LTHV decide to play their game at Ainslie Park against St Mirren on the Friday night. I cannot see that game being played at Saughton Enclosure.
As expected Fraserburgh made the early running and took the lead after seven minutes. A cross onto the box was laid back to William West about sixteen yards out. He fired the ball high into the top corner giving Uni keeper Mark Tait no chance. Fraserburgh continued to pressure but the Uni were trying hard to get back into the game. From their first corner the ball fell to Rafa Calbacho about six yards out. He had to stretch for the ball and his shot flew high over the bar. After twenty-five minutes Fraserburgh scored a second when a free-kick from Ryan Cowie found West racing though on goal. His first attempt hit the diving keeper Tait but flew back to West who knocked home the rebound.
We had a good chat with some Fraserburgh fans at halftime. They were saying that the Broch are content to remain in the Highland League as if they moved into the SPFL through the pyramid system travel costs would rocket. While fans are happy to travel to Edinburgh for a Scottish Cup tie would they want to travel that distance for a League Two fixture?
For the second half it seemed that Fraserburgh were content to hold their lead. Although Edinburgh had a lot of the ball they made few clear-cut chances apart from a header by Nathan Evans, son of former Hibs forward Gareth, which went just over the bar. After 72 minutes Luke Murray fouled West in the Edinburgh penalty box. After a wait, while Murray was treated by the physio and then booked, West took the kick and fired the ball past the right hand post. Fraserburgh held on for a good victory. However for me the game was spoiled a bit by over fussy refereeing. Both sides had three players booked but there were probably only two bad fouls in the game. One of the Fraserburgh bookings came when a forward collided with a University defender outside the box. The forward fell and was booked for diving. Two other bookings came when players fell to the ground after heading duels. In both cases there was no malice in the challenges but the referee booked both the players who remained standing.
After the game I caught a 30 bus home. When I arrived home I caught up with the draw for the next round of the cup. Fraserburgh will be back in Edinburgh facing Spartans at Ainslie Park. With Hearts playing on the Sunday that weekend I know where I will be going on the Saturday ! Could be three games in three days if LTHV decide to play their game at Ainslie Park against St Mirren on the Friday night. I cannot see that game being played at Saughton Enclosure.
Teams
Edinburgh University:Tait,Murray,Condie,Verkaik,Sutherland,Daniels-Yeoman, Hendry, Ritchie, Evans, Kuivalainen, Calbacho.
Subs: Swan,McNicholas, Maskery
Subs: Swan,McNicholas, Maskery
Fraserburgh:Tait,Dickson,Hay,Cowie,Christie,Rae,Beagrie,West,G.Buchan,Young, Combe
Subs: Harris, C Buchan, Campbell
Subs: Harris, C Buchan, Campbell
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