Rooted to the bottom of the table and without a win to their name so far, Ross Campbell’s Heriot-Watt side came into this match desperate to kick-start their season. And kick-start it they did, effectively killing off the tie with four goals inside the opening 25 minutes.

Curiously, it was Glasgow who started the strongest, putting the Watt under pressure right from the kick-off. Less than ten minutes in, Scott Devenney’s pile-driver forced a smart save from Jamie Davidson, and from the resulting corner Sean Buchen capitalised on defensive uncertainty to give Glasgow the lead.

Unfortunately, that was to be by far their best moment. Within five minutes Omar Kader had slotted home from close range to level the score, after good work from the outstanding Gilbert Patterson on the left flank. Two more goals in quick succession from Luke Cassidy and Oliver Anthony put Heriot-Watt firmly in control, and by the time Ewen Watson had headed home Patterson’s inch-perfect cross they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The same could not be said of Glasgow. Robbed of several regulars by course commitments – the first-choice left back missing out in order to perform emergency surgery on a horse – they understandably lacked coherence, as many of the side were playing together for the first time. The back four in particular were unable to cope with the pace and trickery of wide-men Patterson and Kader, and only a stubborn display from third-choice goalkeeper Andy Livingstone prevented Heriot-Watt from racking up a real cricket score. Sadly the defence were less resilient, and Livingstone could do little more than look on admiringly as Cassidy’s athletic scissor-kick provided the finish that Kader’s excellent run and cross deserved.

Now four behind with 25 minutes played, the Glasgow side’s frustration began to show. The game threatened to turn sour as tempers began to flare, and a nasty clash of heads forced Campbell to replace Watson with Mark Bissett shortly before half time. But there was still time for Patterson to restore a touch of sweetness before the interval, catching Kevin Lee in possession and whipping another devastating cross towards Kader who, finding himself unmarked on the six-yard line, obligingly headed home.

Heriot-Watt kept up the pressure after the break, with Livingstone saving well from Patterson and Cassidy in quick succession, and they always looked to score more goals. Campbell brought on Andrew Forbes and Craig Gillen before the hour, and it was Gillen whose driving run down the left channel provided the ammunition for Cassidy to complete his hat-trick with a looping header twenty minutes from time.

To their credit, Glasgow refused to give up, with Sean Buchen twice testing the defence’s concentration in the final few minutes with a couple of driving runs into the Heriot-Watt box. But it was not to be, Davidson’s fingertip save denying Buchen just seconds before the final whistle. In the end the scoreline was a fair reflection of the difference in quality and organisation of the two teams.