EDINBURGH CITY will almost certainly have to beat Whitehill Welfare by large margin tomorrow to have any chance of stopping the Rosewell club being crowned Tyreman Premier Division champions.
Even then, Whitehill, who are three points clear of the students but, more tellingly, are 12 goals better off in the goal difference stakes, would also have to lose their final fixture away to Annan Athletic to be denied their first title in five yea
rs. A draw tomorrow will ensure the Midlothian outfit take the crown, regardless of the result at Annan.
Whitehill beat Easthouses 1-0 last night despite playing for 70 minutes with only ten men after defender Shaun Woodburn was sent off for a foul on Scott Borthwick in the penalty box. The result could have been so different had David Beattie not watched agonisingly as his penalty was well saved by Whitehill goalkeeper Ryan McGurk.
Easthouses then proceeded to miss a host of chances and, with a slice of luck, the Lily striker Kenny McMillan could have had a first-half hat-trick.
However, Alan McDonagh notched the only goal of the game with his trusty left foot early in the second half. Raymond Carr, the delighted Whitehill manager, said: "It was entirely down to my players. They deserve all the praise anybody can give them because they dug deep and they were absolutely superb, especially in the second half.
"Things could have been so different had Easthouses scored from the penalty but Ryan did his job and then made another good save shortly afterwards.
"I spoke to the players at length at half-time and asked them to give even more. They played for one another, encouraged each other and they came off the pitch with their heads held high. We were bound to tire after our hectic schedule but the players threw their bodies on the line in a great team performance. The boys know it will be hard against Edinburgh University tomorrow and they understand there is still a lot of football to be played.
"The students will be nice and fresh so we will have to contain them. They will come to Ferguson Park wanting to score goals which means we might be able to sneak some at the other end. Dougie Samuel has them very well organised but we want points so we will be battling our corner. My players deserve the utmost credit."
Dougie Samuel, the University head coach, admits it will take a minor miracle to prevent Whitehill winning the championship.
"Any game against Whitehill is a big game but we have already beaten them this season so we want to do that twice," he said. "I take my hat off to Raymond Carr and his team and really have to congratulate them on what they have achieved this season.
"We want to give a good account of ourselves and go out on a high. We will be very positive and look to score goals.
"Whitehill's track record is such that they do not lose many goals so realistically they are the champions in waiting although there is enough motivation within my team to go and win the game."
Samuel is likely to be without six regular players including Jack Beesley, Steven Maxwell, Michael Hazeldine, Liam Hughes, Stewart Hogg and James Hair.
The action kicks off at Ferguson Park at 2.30pm with admission adults £4 and concessions £2.
The full article contains 577 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
