Edinburgh United 0

Blackburn United 5 (Downie 50mins, 63mins & 80mins, Drummond 55mins, Campbell 90+1mins)

Blackburn travelled to Paties Road knowing that a win would bring with it EoSFL Premier League football next season, while any other result would mean that Preston Athletic would claim the remaining Tier 6 spot for season 2019/20. The hosts had all but put to the sword the hopes of Heriot Watt the previous week in a surprise 3-0 victory and they were keen to show that result was no fluke when, in the opening quarter, they held sway both in terms of possession and territory, although the only worthy chance carved out came when Auriemma hit the left byeline and cut a ball back for Swanson who was ultimately denied a clean strike at goal by the intervention of John Drummond. McKinlay then burst clear heading towards the interval only for Darren Mitchell to rush from his goal line and block the forwards resulting toe poke of a shot before Blackburn eventually threatened, Michael Browne sending a pass in front of Danny Campbell wide on the right but his square ball was just behind the arriving Richie Hutton, although there were loud claims that he had been impeded in going for the ball.

Four minutes after the resumption the capital side almost squeezed in front but for a brilliant double save from Mitchell, first denying a twenty yarder from Auriemma at full stretch before somehow quickly scrambling back to his feet to bravely block Conlon’s follow-up from point blank range. This was to herald the turning point in the match and not much more than a minute later Blackburn had grabbed the all-important opening goal, Laurie Devine turning Watson first one way and then another before clipping a ball across the six yard box which Darren DOWNIE controlled expertly and lifted past Dowie into the waiting net. Within five minutes the single goal lead was duly doubled when DRUMMOND rose highest at the back post to head home a Craig Young delivery. Mitchell was then the hero at the other end again, tipping over a net-bound Swanson header and this was the platform for Blackburn to score once more and make the game, the three points and Tier 6 football safe when a deep Campbell corner was headed back across goal by Drummond for James Mildren to nod goalward and although his effort was scrambled off the line DOWNIE was perfectly placed to head it back past a jumble of bodies and into the net. Now looking capable of scoring in every venture forward, Blackburn added a fourth ten minutes from time when young substitute Take Hirooka rolled a perfectly weighted pass inside the right full-back for DOWNIE to latch onto and lash past Dowie and the scoring was complete a minute into added time when Downie was put through on goal yet again and when his shot was half blocked it fell to CAMPBELL to apply the finishing touch. At the final whistle the second half performance deservedly saw the Blackburn players applauded from the park by the travelling support who had made up the majority of the Paties Road crowd.

Blackburn United line-up: Mitchell, Mildren, Drummond, Lawrie, Williamson, Browne, Hutton (Trialist – Landels 84), Young, Downie, Campbell, Trialist – L.Devine (Trialist – Hirooka 65mins)  Subs (not used): M.Campbell, McDowall, Sinnet

Edinburgh United line-up: Dowie, Watson, S.Murray, Spalding, Guiney, Conlon, Swanson, J.Murray, Robertson, McKinlay, Auriemma  Subs: Swinney, Kerr, May, Maughan, Ritchie, Brockie, Hutchison

Referee: Mr. Iain Gallacher

Att: 70