Heriot-Watt concluded their East of Scotland League season yesterday with a 1 – 1 draw with Preston Athletic at Riccarton. It was a match which ended with expressions of satisfaction on most faces – Watt had already secured the championship and received the trophy at the end of the match, while the point they had gained confirmed Preston’s promotion on goal difference ahead of Gala Fairydean, who had eased out Ormiston 2 – 1 at Netherdale. But although the Watt players concentrated on the trophy presentation and enjoyed the moment, there was some frustration at failing to finish the season with a victory.
The disappointment was greatest for Erik Thomson, who was sensationally sent off within the first ten minutes of the match. There were differing views about the decision of the referee, Mr Boulstridge, but it was generally felt to be a harsh judgment and it was particularly severe on Erik in the circumstances. Having played for the Watt during the five years of his engineering course, this was his last match before taking up a job in Aberdeen and for the occasion his mother had come down from the family home in Shetland. Even half an hour later, Erik was visibly shaken by the decision and devastated that what was intended to be a memorable day for positive reasons had gone so wrong for him. No-one would ever accuse Erik of being a malicious player and it was impossible not to sympathise.
Despite the loss of a key man, Watt played well throughout the match and took the lead in the first half when Mikey Connor slipped the ball to Michael Webster to open the scoring. Having gone ahead, the Watt kept their defence secure and tried to hit on the break. Craig Saunders in the home goal did have a couple of good saves to make, but the Watt appeared generally in control of the situation until veteran marksman Phil Hobbins pounced to drive home a loose ball after a corner kick was contested by a player from each side.
Watt pressed hard for the winner as Preston ran the clock down, but being short of an attacking player was too much of a handicap and the home side was unable to score again.
The Under-21 side was also in action at Riccarton, playing a Stuart Brown Memorial Trophy Quarter-Final against Broxburn Athletic Colts, who had on Monday inflicted on the Watt side its heaviest League defeat of the season in a 4 – 0 victory. Broxburn again scored four, but this time the Watt matched that and eventually won the penalty shoot-out by 5 – 3.
In the LEAFA Amateurs, the Saturday side has finished its fixtures with an absolutely mid-table result – eleven wins and eleven defeats – but the Sunday team still has a couple of games to play. Last Sunday, the side achieved a tremendous 4 – 3 win away to second-placed LBC, to give hope of finishing above Roslin Da Vinci in seventh position in the table. Today, Watt plays Roslin and a win would take them to sixth position, overtaking Lothian Athletic. Curiously, both Roslin and the Watt finish their programmes with away matches against mid-table Pavilion FC – Roslin on Thursday, Watt next Sunday.
