Match Preview: Ratho Athletic AFC vs Edinburgh Uni

Match Preview: Ratho Athletic AFC vs Edinburgh Uni

Premiership

📅 Saturday, 1st March 2025

📍 Currie High School

⏰ 1:00 PM Kick-Off

Ratho Athletic return to action this Saturday as we welcome Edinburgh University to Currie High School for a crucial Premiership showdown. With just two points separating the sides in the league table, this fixture presents a huge opportunity for Ratho to leapfrog the Uni and continue building momentum in the second half of the season.

Following last week’s hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Clermiston, the squad is eager to put in another strong performance and secure back-to-back wins. The players have trained well in preparation, and the camp is in good spirits ahead of this test. However, we will unfortunately be losing a few key players to suspension after this match, so there’s added motivation to finish this game with three points.

League Standings & Form

Ratho currently sit 6th in the league with a record of 4 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses. Over the last five games, we’ve secured three wins and two defeats, highlighting the need for more consistency if we want to push further up the table.

Edinburgh Uni, sitting 4th, have had a mixed run of form lately, with six wins and four losses so far. Their last five results show three losses and two victories, suggesting they can be vulnerable despite their strong league position.

Previous Encounter: A Controversial Fixture

The last time we faced Edinburgh Uni, back in September, was far from straightforward. The match was originally scheduled but didn’t go ahead due to what Uni claimed were issues with Comet (the league’s registration system). Despite the game being played and us securing a dominant 5-2 win, the result was ultimately overturned by LEAFA, who ruled in favour of the University side. While this was disappointing, we weren’t exactly shocked by the decision, given past experiences.

Now, we have a chance to set the record straight on the pitch and prove once again that we were the better side that day.

Squad Boost: The Return of Craig Smith

A huge boost for Ratho comes in the form of Craig Smith’s return from a long-term injury. The midfielder is eager to get back on the pitch and make an impact:

“Buzzing to be back in the team after a long period out injured. Hopefully, I can add something to the squad to help continue the good form we are currently in.”

Having a player of Craig’s quality back in the squad at this stage of the season is a massive lift, and his experience could prove invaluable.

Management Thoughts

Ahead of the clash, co-managers Bradley Crane and David Whelan shared their thoughts on the fixture and the challenges ahead:

🗣 Bradley Crane:

“We shouldn’t even be playing this game tomorrow. A comet issue from the 21st of September meant that we didn’t get the points in the original game, so this will be the third league game we’ve played against Uni. They’ve been very good this year, so we expect another tough test. We’re confident but also aware of the threat they pose as a young, fit side.”

🗣 David Whelan:

“Great win last week with the team never stopping. This is a brilliant chance to climb the table, but we’ll need to overcome a talented and energetic side to do so.”

Matchday Coverage

📲 Live goal updates will be available on USQOR.

Let’s hope everything goes to plan, and we get the result we rightfully deserve once again.

⚽ Come on, Ratho!