Wednesday 1st February Round-Up
This Wednesday saw all 3 EUWAFC teams in action in 3 big games. The 3rd Team played at home with a 2pm Kick Off, the 2nd Team played away in St Andrews with a 4pm Kick Off and the 1st Team played away in Stirling with a 6pm Kick Off.
The 3rd Team faced Abertay in a Division 3A clash who, only just relegated from division 2A, had a point to prove. The game was very evenly contested with Edinburgh creating a number of chances and defending well at the back. The score remained 0-0 for the duration of the 90 minutes however Edinburgh managed to hit the crossbar in the dying moments of the game leaving the hosts frustrated not to come away with more.
The 1st Team played away against big rivals Stirling Uni and, previously unbeaten in the league, were hoping to extend their good run of league form. Both teams started strongly with Stirling scoring first on the stroke of half-time due to a well taken strike which found the top corner and clipping the post on the way in giving the keeper no chance. Edinburgh were then presented with the opportunity to equalise when new player Melinda was fouled in the box, having drawn the foul she then stepped up to take the penalty she won. Despite the Stirling keeper's best efforts and diving to the right side of the goal, there was little she could do to stop the shot which hit the back of the net to make it 1-1. The score remained tied for a good period of time before Stirling went ahead again thanks to a good long range effort from outside the Edinburgh box. Even at 2-1 down the 1st team fought hard for the rest of the game and were unlucky to concede again in the 95th minute to a Stirling free-kick. Despite keeper Charlotte Parker-Smith somehow getting a hand to it, it wasn't enough to keep the ball out and the game finished 3-1 to Stirling. A disappointing result for Edinburgh which sees them end their unbeaten league run which lasted over a year however this is still a fantastic achievement and the team still sit top of the table with 2 games left to play.
The story of the day however goes to the 2nd team who travelled all the way up to St Andrews to play their 1st team. The sides met before Christmas where St Andrews recorded a convincing 0-5 victory over the 2s however, the 2s went in this time with the belief they could steal a point off the team currently sitting in 3rd place of Division 1A. The score remained 0-0 until half-time with some excellent defending from Man of the Match and debutant Alex King, and plenty of chances created by Edinburgh's front 3. Delighted with a first half clean sheet, the 2nd team continued to battle hard when, in the 70th minute, Sarah Thompson played a great diagonal ball into Amy Gilroy who put it past the keeper making it 0-1 to Edinburgh. Edinburgh were determined not to lose the lead they had worked so hard to get and gave 110% the entire game, with the performance being topped off by a wonder strike from super sub Carolina Sousa E Sa in her first game back after injury. This left the final score 0-2 to Edinburgh in a massive result for the newly promoted 2nd team.
Picture was taken by and belongs to photographer Craig Doyle.
