British Universities and Colleges League, Northern Premier B Division: Edinburgh University 3, Leeds Beckett 2
Former Great Britain international Dan Coultas yesterday (WED) fired home from a second-half penalty corner to clinch the British Universities and Colleges League (BUCS) Northern Premier B Division title for Edinburgh University.
The Scottish international defender’s goal was the first time that Edinburgh had been ahead against plucky Leeds Beckett who shocked the home side by powering to a 2-0 lead after only ten minutes.
Edinburgh, the reigning champions, dug deep and Scottish international Jamie Wong deflected a shot home to cut the deficit Ross Jamieson slammed the ball home to level before the break.
That left the stage for Yorkshire-born Coultas and the margin could have been greater but Gordon Amour failed with a penalty flick with 15 minutes remaining.
The win secures a play-off to break into the top student league, BUCS Premier A Division, and they will not know the opposition for several weeks as there are still games to play.
Edinburgh play the bottom club but yesterday’s victory capped a consistent season for Edinburgh who are also third in men’s domestic Division One in Scotland.
The Scots men won five and drew four of their ten games in the student league, losing only one fixture, and Graham Moodie, their coach, revealed that they used 29 players in the process.
Edinburgh drew 2-2 at Lees Beckett two weeks ago with a weakened team and Moodie said: “Winning the league put us into a play-off to get promoted to BUCS Premier A, but this was not pretty.
“We were 2-0 down but rallied. This was a real squad effort as we have won the title using 29 players because of academic work and injury. Every one of the players deserves real credit.
“They have had to work really hard in some of the away games to earn points and today was not pretty. They got the job done.”
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