How Glenrothes FC's Paul Beveridge earned his first ever managerial win v Heriot-Watt Uni
Playing against the super fit footballing students of Heriot-Watt University can often be tough for East of Scotland Football League first division rivals, but Glenrothes got the better of their Oriam hosts last weekend to record a morale-boosting 3-2 victory.
Opportunist Stuart Cargill goals brought Glens back to 1-1 and 2-2 in a game riddled with defensive errors, before a superb second half winner for the visitors when Lewis Kerwin converted a fantastic cross by Mikey Ness.
“We knew the standard of opposition and the threat Heriot-Watt would pose,” said Glenrothes manager Paul Beveridge. “I’d never won against Heriot-Watt as a manager so to finally get a win against them was great.
"I thought we were the underdogs going into it so I didn’t expect us to get the three points, albeit we knew that if we played like we could play then we would definitely be competing.
"Heriot-Watt were fit, well drilled and all knew their drills individually. They were good on the ball and their movement off the ball was really good, although they left themselves quite open and vulnerable at the back which is where we got our first two goals from.
“For Cargy’s first goal he put a bit of pressure on them and it was a slack backpass from their defender which allowed him to get something on the keeper’s clearance.
"The second goal was really pleasing as well because it started off with our keeper and then within two or three passes we’re up the other end and Cargy managed to take it round the goalie and score.
"We definitely could have defended better for the two goals that we conceded, the first one especially.
"But it was a great delivery for our winner and a great header as well. The cross was perfect, flat, loads of pace on it and a bit of whip, right on the money.
"And I think the manner of the win was brilliant, the way we dug in at the end of the game, we got the third goal, defended really well and managed to see the game out so that was pleasing.
"It’s another three points on the board and a couple of teams around us got beaten as well so we’re just looking to get as many points as we can and climb that table.”
Glens continue their league campaign at home to fifth-placed Crossgates Primrose on Saturday in a 2pm kick-off.