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Kelty Hearts 2 Penicuik 1 Penicuik: Bald, Cunnison, McDermott, Bunyan, Kerr, Gay, McPartlin, Barr, Millar, Killen, Montgomery - Subs - Roxburgh, Meikle, Reid, Riley, Logan Kelty Hearts - Fleming, Kay, T Courts, Duffin, Philp, Smith, C Courts, C McCabe, Ritchie, D Gray, Cargill - Subs - A Gray, N McCabe, Tweedie, Winarski, Lunn Referee - Rhuaridh Kilgour, Assistant Referees - Ron Smith, Andrew McGachan. Attendance - 200 approx At the ninth time of asking the Scottish Junior Cup 3rd round tie with Kelty Hearts went ahead at Oakley United's Blairwood Park due to Kelty's Central Park being deemed unplayable for the 8 weeks previous. Neither side had seen competitive action since 10 November and the Super League side started stronger with several attempts on goal from a string of corners and crosses into the box but the Cuikie defence stood strong and limited Kelty efforts to shots from a distance with the best falling to Duffin who blasted past Bald's left hand post on two occasions. As Cuikie settled into the game the 12th minute saw a defence splitting pass from Gay put Millar in the clear but his shot was well saved by Fleming before a belated offside flag brought play back. The first clear cut chance fell to Kelty in the 20th minute when Conrad Courts floated in a cross which Gray met with a powerful header at the back post and as the ball crashed off the bar it was then clawed clear by keeper Bald. As Kelty pressed forward Penicuik were content to break the play up and in 25 minutes the best passing move of the game saw a Keith Barr volley from 20 yards just go over the bar. With 32 minutes on the clock Bald was forced to race out of his box to beat the onrushing Kelty forward to a loose ball and cleared the danger. As half time approached referee Kilgour produced the first yellow cards for Bunyan and McDermott of Penicuik and McCabe of Kelty as the half closed with no scoring. Half Time  0-0 The second half started in controversy when with 48 minutes gone a  McDermott challenge at the edge of the box was deemed to be worthy of a second yellow card and Cuikie were reduced to 10 men. Penicuik were content to play on the break as Kelty dominated possession without ever threatening and in the 59th minute a superb overhead kick by Killen, from a Millar knockdown, produced an even better save from keeper Fleming who kept the score level. In the 69th minute the visitors took the lead as a Millar knockdown at the right hand side of the box fell to BARR who hit it sweetly on the half volley from 22 yards and the ball flew past the despairing dive of Fleming into the net. It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for the ten men, who were still containing the Super League side and creating their own chances. Tweedie for Kelty missed a glorious chance in the 78th minute as he volleyed straight at Bald, whilst a minute later Montgomery saw his shot parried by Fleming at the other end but the loose ball evaded the onrushing Millar. In the 85th minute, a cross from the wide right by Kelty sub Neil 'Nelly' McCabe evaded everyone except for Neil McCABE who glanced the ball past Bald. A further chance fell to the Gray in the 86th minute when Bald saved well and the header from the rebound came off the post. 90 minutes had come and gone and referee Kilgour angered the Penicuik dug out and players by allowing plenty of injury time and their mood turned even darker when RITCHIE found himself in the right place deep into stoppage time to blast home the close-range clincher with 94 minutes on the clock. A further two minutes were played before the full time whistle had sounded and a superb Penicuik effort had been undone in injury time and Kelty go forward to a 4th round tie at 'home' against Cumbernauld United. Thanks to all at Oakley for hosting the game.

3rd Round Scottish Cup

My thanks go to fellow committee member Andy Penman for the match report and to stalwart supporter John Crawford for the match photographs (I hope your fingers have thawed out John!)