09/03/2019  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   1  v  1  Edinburgh University

COLTS were held to their third draw on the bounce against a stubborn Edinburgh University side at Broadwood on Saturday.

After sharing the points against both Stirling University and Edusport Academy in recent weeks, the Cumbernauld men had intentions of achieving top grades this time around against the students from the capital.

But the Broadwood boys had to rely on Stephen O'Neil's second half strike cancelling out Patrick Baird's opener to settle for yet another share of the points.

Frustratingly the draw prevented Colts from leapfrogging East Stirling into the top six of the Lowland League with only eight games remaining of the campaign.

There wasn't much to separate the teams in the opening exchanges, but the visitors almost edged in front in 6 minutes.

Paul Nash lost possession on the half way line and the ball found its way to Santterri Kuivalainen who sent a curling effort from the edge of the box crashing against the Colts bar with Jordan Pettigrew rooted to the spot.

Colts created their first chance in 12 minutes when Craig Murray ran clear on goal, but his shot was straight at visiting keeper Mark Tait and the chance was gone.

The hosts had to wait until 33 minutes for their next effort on goal when Craig Holmes delivered a dangerous corner into the box and Jeff Fergus flashed a header narrowly over the bar.

But it was the visitors who edged in front in 35 minutes when a hopeful ball was played into the Colts penalty box causing some hesitancy and after a couple of attempts on goal Baird lashed the ball low past Pettigrew.

Edinburgh University started the second half brightly and almost added a second in 50 minutes when an audacious attempt from Finn Daniels Yeaomans from 40 yards almost caught out Pettigrew who just manged to tip the ball onto the bar.

Then in 56 minutes the visitors went close again when a swift breakaway allowed Lewis Hendry space at the back post unmarked, but fortunately for Colts the striker pulled his shot wide of the target.

Colts needed to find something to get back in the game, and just before the hour mark Holmes broke on the right and slid the ball to Fraser Team at the back post but Team couldn't divert the ball into the net with the goal gaping.

However, in 70 minutes Colts got their equaliser when Team showed good composure to thread a ball into O'Neil who showed neat footwork to round visiting keeper Tait and roll the ball into the net.

The hosts now had their tails up and another sweeping Colts move in 73 minutes saw sub Craig Henderson go close, but his effort deflected into the path of Arnault Bembo, who also tried his luck from 30 yards, but the ball cannoned off the cross bar.

And in 83 minutes Team was presented with the last real chance of the game and should have won it for Colts when he worked a great position inside the box to get a shot on goal but his close range effort could only find the side netting.

Colts travel to Fife next week to play Kelty Hearts where James Orr and Craig McKinlay's men will be hoping they can get back to winning ways.

Edinburgh University; Tait, Murray, Condie, Verkaik, Swan, Yeaomanns, Ritchie, Waters, Hendry, Baird, Kuivalainen. Subs; MacFarlane, McNicholas, Kemo, Sinclair, Waters, Davison.