19/09/2015  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   2  v  2  Edinburgh University

Game number ten in their inaugural Lowland League season and the Colts welcomed Edinburgh University to Broadwood looking to give the home fans something to cheer following their last home game against Spartans.

One change from last week's 2-2 draw with Gala saw Tilley replace Black and there was finally some good news on the injury front for the home side with David Brown returning to the bench having broken his wrist in the first minute of the first game of the season.

The Colts started brightly, passing the ball well with a good tempo against an away side who from the off were content to drop deep and invite their hosts on before looking to hit on the counter attack. Despite dominating possession in the opening stages there was nothing in the way of clear cut chances, Selkirk going closest showing some nice footwork in a tight area before firing at the keeper from 18 yards.

There was a sting in the tail for the home side as they gifted their visitors an early lead. George in home goal was a complete spectator until a long cross field pass was misjudged by Kirwan who, while attempting to head back to his keeper, dropped his header right into the path of the University forward who with George rushing out kept a cool head to lift it over him into the net.

It was the first time the visitors had ventured forward and they certainly made the most of the opportunity with which they were presented.

Oliver drove forward from right back and linked with Selkirk, firing a shot on goal with his left from 20 yards which the keeper gathered comfortably before Tilley beat his man on the right and delivered a fine cross that had no takers, the Edinburgh defence heading out for a corner.

For all their possession the home side were struggling to create against a well organised deep lying defence and things got worse as poor defending gifted their hosts a second, only their second effort on goal. Under little pressure the University attack were allowed to play a simple 1-2 on the edge of the area with the cut back finding the solitary attacker unmarked to tap past the helpless George from 6 yards.

Selkirk tried to pull his side back into the game as he turned well inside the area but his left footed effort sailed wide before the striker perhaps should have given his side a foothold back in the game. Kirwan, looking to atone for his early error, picked up the ball inside his own half and drove forward, beating a number of away players before drilling a shot off the foot of the post which cannoned off the keeper and high into the air. Selkirk got to the high ball first taking it down before lifting over the bar from 8 yards under pressure with his left.

As the home team continued to dominate the ball there was a moment of real controversy as some fine play on the right found O'Neill running through on goal. The wide man, inside the box, was the recipient of a heavy sliding challenge from the University centre back. With the linesman only yards away there was no flag, the referee calling no foul on what appeared to be the clearest penalty you are ever likely to see.

The home players were clearly unhappy, doubly so moments later as Ward made an identical tackle on half way which was awarded as a foul and a yellow card (which would have repercussions later in the game). Either both are fouls or neither are, a fact the home players were clearly pointing out to the match official!

As it ticked towards half time there was a let-off for the home side as Edinburgh again broke at pace and Benton elected to step up to play offside, the linesman calling it spot on as the attacker ran from 5 yards deeper onto a through ball, drilling wide with his right when 1 v 1 as he may well have made the game safe.

2-0 to the visitors at half time and in truth the Colts had made their own lives hard, gifting Edinburgh 2 goals when dominating the ball.

A half time change saw the Colts replace Tilley with Black as the opening stages of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first. Realising something had to change the colts management team replaced Benton with Duncan, Duncan going to right back and Oliver moving to centre back.

It was a change that was to pay almost immediate dividends as Duncan gave the Colts more of an attacking impetus from right back to mirror that of Kirwan on the left, Oliver and Ward holding a higher line that allowed their team to start attacks from higher up the park. It was to lead to an excellent goal that got the home sides tails up.

Oliver found Ward who played to Duncan on the right. Duncan dropped into Ballantyne before offering in behind, the matching of that run by the visiting midfielder giving Ballantyne time to shift to Broadfoot who quickly found O'Neill on the left. With Edinburgh still trying to re-shape following the quick change of play O'Neill skipped inside and picked out a wonderful through pass from inside left, dissecting the defence finding and Selkirk who slotted into the net from 6 yards.

A fine goal and the home side weren't finished there. Moments later Ballantyne strode forward centrally before finding Broadfoot who won the Colts a corner. Broadfoot took it himself, delivering a wonderful ball that Black nipped in ahead of the keeper to nod home from 2 yards. 2-2 and game on!

Amazingly the Colts nearly made it 3 goals in 15 minutes as more fine play released Kirwan on the left, his cutback finding Selkirk only yards from goal with the Edinburgh keeper making a fantastic save to turn it round the post and keep the score at 2-2.

Ballantyne and Selkirk both had efforts from distance and Black saw an effort deflected wide as it looked to be heading towards to corner before that first half yellow came back to haunt skipper Ward. With the visitors breaking quickly the striker showed great feet to nip inside Ward tripping him on the turn, a definite second yellow which obviously led to a red.

From the free kick George in the Colts goal went one better than his colleague at the other end diving full stretch to his right to make a wonderful save, tipping the free kick around the post when it looked to be heading for the top corner.

2-2 it finished with the Colts again left to rue defensive mistakes that cost them all three points, but the home side will be encouraged by their second half display as they showed a great desire to claw their way back into the game.

Next up is another bit of history for the club, taking on Glasgow University in the first round of the Scottish Cup.