Watsonians Mens 3rd XI v Inverleith 3rd XI

Not long after the season ended, new captain, Rob Stewart, had the men in maroon back on the pitch preparing for the 2016/2017 season. With big shoes to fill from the recent departed and long serving 3s captain Duncan Bell, Stewart must have felt the pressure passing the armband to veteran Richard Gray for the day. Keen to experiment with his team, a variety of youth and experience were brought to the squad. In addition, recent summer transfers, Rob Taylor and Robin Pyper, made their debut and keen to impress.

From the whistle, recently promoted Inverleith 3s looked keen to apply pressure to the Watsonians team. However, Chris Scholdis, a formidable central defender in 2015 season, was pushed forward to control the midfield for the first time. As though a duck to water, Scholdis looked sharp making his presence known linking well to the experienced Richard Booth in front of him, Ian Duncan and Sam Wilmot on either wing, with David Sweetman keeping an eye from behind.

It wasn’t long before the pressure proved too great for the Inverleith side. Wave after wave of attack down the wings stretched the defence allowing Booth an opportunity to work into the D slipping to Littlejohn at the back post, 1-0 Watsonians. The men in maroon were off and there was no holding back today.

More pressure with great use of wing backs Gray and Pyper allowed the boys in maroon to overload the opposition time after time. Goals from Taylor and Roddy Craig, eased the Watsonians into a comfortable 3-0 lead at the half.

The second half proved to be much the same. Watsonians were able to continue applying the pressure, allowing goalkeeper Doug Swanson and defenders, Will Evans and Paul Conkie, to enjoy the Scottish Summer sun and spectacle that the BBC would have been proud to broadcast. A converted penalty stroke from Littlejohn and second for Taylor (early contenders for the team’s top goal scorers?) both further adding to the tally.

A sixth goal from an unknown player sealed the 6-0 convincing victory to the boys in maroon and a good start to the pre-season campaign.