Well, how to start this report… It was very windy at East Peffermill. Sorted.

That may seem like lazy reporting but the blustery conditions did noticeably hamper the game in the early stages as an unchanged Rose side took the short trip to the capital to take on Edinburgh University, with a fantastic support backing the lads for the full 90.

A few half chances fell our way, Mark Weir took a goal kick that nearly blew all the way back to him, and a sidelined Dean Brett hounded us media team nerds for access to the club’s Twitter account. It broke our hearts to say no but we do really love our positions at the club – and don’t fancy losing them anytime soon.

After almost 15 minutes, Ross Gray created the first clear cut chance of the tie when he rolled the ball into Lee Currie’s path on the edge of the box. The playmaker opened up his body and took aim, but his low strike dragged wide off the post.

Two great chances came by half-time but the Students’ number one was in no mood to concede. Ross Gray was sent in behind for a one-on-one and looked destined to score when he let fly with a fierce volley on the bounce, just for a poised Buxton to provide a superb stop.

The next time Buxton was called into action, it was Bradley Barrett he thwarted after he was nimbly slipped in behind by Callum Connolly. The wing-back attempted a slotted finish underneath the Buxton but the shot-stopper worked wonders to get low and smother the ball.

It took 58 minutes for Buxton to finally be bested. With plenty of men crowded around the ball on the left side of the Students’ box, Currie stabbed the ball across to the right-hand side of the area where Scott Gray was waiting in acres of space to control the ball and hastily lash it into the top corner.

Scott also opened the scoring the last time Rose travelled to East Peffermill but our next goalscorer wasn’t even in red and white hoops when that meeting took place 28(!) months ago.

That second goal came when Scott Gray dragged two men out of position with some neat dribbling on the right flank before teeing up Jonny Stewart, who floated in a deft cross to the head of Connolly. Cal’s header was blocked and dropped perfectly to Barrett, who made no mistake in thrashing the ball home with a thumping volley.

The last half hour petered out slightly as a professional Rose remained in control of the tie. Late on, substitute striker Nathan Evans twice surged beyond the Uni backline and was unfortunate to see both his solid efforts rebuffed by the arms and legs of a buoyant Buxton.

Without a gilt-edged chance falling their way all afternoon, the Students could have made the final moments of the clash uneasy for Rose when David Maskrey attempted the spectacular from distance. The magic wasn’t there, however, and Weir collected the ball with ease.

A solid performance at a windswept East Peffermill earns the Rose another three points. Victory against Cumbernauld Colts on Tuesday will mathematically secure a Pyramid Play-Off spot for Robbie Horn’s men. Kick-off is 7:45pm at New Dundas Park, see you there!

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