Edinburgh University's Scottish Cup pioneers were brought uncomfortably back down to earth with a defeat against a hugely enterprising Heriot-Watt side at Peffermill on Wedenesday 7 November. With Heriot-Watt leading by two clear goals following strikes from Luke Cassidy, Aaron James and captain Oliver Anthony, only a smartly taken opportunity from Liam Hughes ignited a match that had hitherto been anything but a hostile local derby.

Fielding a slightly depleted line-up following their Cup heroics, Edinburgh appeared hesitant and were unable to re-discover the fluency that had epitomised their play in the latter half of the Deveronvale encounter. With Rimes replacing Bennett in goal, MacRae filling in at centre back, Makhouli picked ahead of Thompson in center midfield and Beesley being shifted to a position just behind Hazeldine, the spine of the Edinburgh side was unrecognisable from the previous match. It was therefore no surprise that Heriot-Watt, fresh from the 7-1 humiliation of Glasgow University, began the brighter, with Gillen on the Heriot-Watt left looking particularly impressive.

Indeed, Heriot-Watt took only five minutes to pierce the Edinburgh defence: Gillen burst down the left, skipped ably past the bemused Munro and delivered a low ball which was tucked home by Cassidy despite pressure from the lunging MacRae. This was symptomatic of how the first half unravelled: Heriot's two pacy wingers caused problems for the Edinburgh full-backs, often requiring Dean Jones and Christopher Woods on the flanks to help out defensively. With the added problem of the wind gusting in their faces, Edinburgh could not consolidate in midfield. Another problem was the incompetent place-kicking of rookie goalkeeper Rimes, whose weak right foot consistently delivered goal kicks into the dangerous area between his own defence and midfield.

Occasional openings presented themselves to the Edinburgh strikers but they were easily thwarted by the ever alert Heriot-Watt defence, for which Keast was exceptional, particularly in the first half. In spite of Heriot's superiority in midfield, their chances were limited too, reliant on snap-shots from defensive clearances and the frequent offerings of the Edinburgh midfield who could not secure possession for any significant period in the first half. Consequently, set pieces represented Edinburgh's most likely means of breaching the sturdy Heriot defence. So it proved to be the case in the 33rd minute as Fusco launched a free-kick into the Heriot box causing a flurry of swinging legs and scuffed connections from which the terrier-like Hazeldine latched on to the loose ball only to hook it over the bar from seven yards out.

At one goal down the match remained finely poised but a horrendous misjudgement from Rimes sent Edinburgh in at half-time in severe trouble. From 40 yards out on the far right touchline Heriot-Watt's left back, the impressive Aaron James, swung a wickedly swirling ball that succeeded in removing the main body of players from the game, causing hopelessly flailing Rimes to drop tamely into the net.

The second half began with Edinburgh evidently eager to reclaim the initiative. However, it was not until just before the hour mark that this energy was rewarded with anything approaching a chance and, when it came, it originated with another free-kick. From 35 yards out Fusco shaped to shoot only to deliver a chipped ball to the far post where it was headed onto the roof of Davidson's net by Hazeldine. Just three minutes later Edinburgh had reduced the deficit. Following a rare defensive mishap, Redman burst into the Heriot-Watt box, only to be eased off the ball by the converging centre backs. A harsh penalty it was but Redman's charity was in short supply as he stepped up and coolly slid the ball down the middle, sending Davidson plunging to his right.

The Watt responded in kind, Kader and Gillen stretching the home defence without finding the telling final ball. Indeed, with the wind once again playing far too influential a role in the match, Heriot's composure at the back was being gradually eroded under a volley of high balls delivered from the accurate right foot of Fusco. After one such passage of play the ball broke for Makhouli 25 yards out. His strike was clean and true but, deservedly in the context of the game, it struck the bar and Heriot-Watt maintained their lead.

From this it would have been expected for Edinburgh to push on and exploit the conditions that the wind and the visitors' increasing discomfort afforded them. However, it was not until the 83rd minute that Edinburgh threatened once again. With Fusco's free kick, Redman found himself alone at the far post, but the space evidently appeared so bewildering that he succeeded in kicking only air.

The miss proved costly as Heriot scored the decisive third. A quick exchange of passes between McLeish and Kader set the diminutive winger free, his cross evading the out of position Munro for Anthony to steal in at the far post to stoop and head the ball home.

Finally Edinburgh awoke to the fact that the match might be beyond them if nothing were done. A one-two on the right freed Hazeldine but he dragged the shot wide of Davidson's right hand post. Another one-two involving Hazeldine and Beesley released the latter to cross low from the right for substitute Hughes to notch what seemed a consolation. With just a minute remaining Hazeldine found himself alone in the Heriot box but Davidson saved well with his legs to seal the win for the visitors.

Understandably concerned with the imminent Cup match, Edinburgh nevertheless looked lackadaisical, unable to create anything in open play until the final stretched minutes. Heriot-Watt will prove to be a force to be reckoned with in this league as their combination of pace and sound technical ability was sufficient to neutralise the effects of the wind and the visit to a team who had been placed higher in the standings.