Braves fight till the end against Edinburgh Uni

The Braves held strong against a dogged Edinburgh University side at East Peffermill.

An early header from Andy Dowie and an Alex Hamilton own goal secured all three points for Ricky Waddell's side.

It was the perfect start for the Braves, scoring with their first two forays into the box. 

Neil McLaughlin - making his first start of the season since returning from Coronavirus - chipped a sumptuous corner into the box, where Dowie powered a header in at the back post.

Their second came seven minutes later. Jamie Walker made a good run down the flank and played a low cross into the corridor of uncertainty. Uni defender Alex Hamilton got a toe to it, wrong footing his keeper as the ball trickled into the net.

With two early goals, Jack Smith smelt blood and peeled off his man to fire a shot into the bottom corner - only for the offside flag to rule his effort out. He soon flashed another long distance drive just wide, before Uni had their best chance of the first half. 

Nice link up play from Patrick Baird and Max Condie on the left ultimately found David Maskrey at the back-post, but the Uni's no. 9 saw his strike tipped round the post by Marshall.

Smith had another chance before the half, when he was played in on goal by a lovely looping ball from McLaughlin. The striker shifted it onto his right and drilled low, but the ball was met by the outstretched foot of Connor Barnes.

Half-time came and went, and the sun set over Corstorphine Hill as the game became dogged. Braves had fewer chances in this half as the uni went searching - mainly through Baird and Maskrey.

Ahmed Bouchentouf had a fantastic chance to make it three for the visitors after he was picked out from a right-hand cross. The big Belgian was totally free in the box, but prodded a tame effort towards Barnes - a shot which summed up his frustrating afternoon.

The Uni then pulled one back, and in some style too. Scott Forrester squandered on the edge of the area, allowing Maskrey to send a fierce left-footed effort flying past Marshall and into the net. 2-1. Game on.

Both teams pushed for the next goal, with Jack Smith sending a volley inches over the bar before the Braves cleared a spilled corner off the line.

Calum McDonald would go close with the final touch of the game - sending a 30-yard drive inches over the bar - but ultimately, the Braves travelled back up the M8 with all three points.