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Penicuik 4 Newtongrange 5 Penicuik: Bald, Cunnison, McDermott, Meikle, Kerr, Gay, McPartlin, Barr, Miller, Killin, Montgomery Subs: Roxburgh, Bunyan, Patterson, Reid, Paliczka Newtongrange: Renton, McManus, Swaney, Tolmie, Donnelly, Cherrie, Dunbar, Shiels, O'Reilly, King, Tansey Subs: Delan, Gillon, Turner, Graham, Amos Referee: Mr P Stuart Penicuik got off to a flying start when, in 40 seconds, when McPARTLIN latched on to a poor clearance and his 25 yard strike took a slight deflection past keeper Renton. However their joy was short lived when a shot by King was blocked and former Penicuik player O'REILLY gathered the rebound to score, again with the help of a deflection. The play was swinging from end to end and in the 5th minute Dunbar went on a run from inside his own half leaving Penicuik players in his wake. Bald denied him with a great save, but DUNBAR got the rebound and stroked the ball into the empty net - a superb solo effort. Five minutes later a pinpoint free kick by Gay was headed home by BARR to level the score. Then in the 15th minute, a carbon copy Gay free kick saw KERR get his head to the ball before keeper Renton and Penicuik were back in front again. Three minutes later, Newtongrange came close to equalising when a curling shot went narrowly past Bald's right hand post. At the other end a clearance from defence saw McDermott hit a powerful shot from 20 yards, but it took a slight deflection off Kerr and whistled inches over the crossbar. In the 23rd minute Cunnison intercepted the ball, drove through the middle of the Newtongrange half, beating three players only to see his effort go a foot wide of the target. Immediately afterwards, Bald had to look lively to rush from goal and dive at the feet of Tansey to smother the ball. Newtongrange started to gain a territorial advantage and on the half hour only superb defending by McDermott prevented Dunbar from scoring. Then a great cross in from the left by Tansey was instantly controlled by O'Reilly, but his strike on goal wide high, wide and not very handsome. In the 36th minute, keeper Renton blocked a too hot to handle McDermott strike and the ball was booted clear. However, three minutes later, the visitors were on level terms again when KING blasted home an unstoppable right foot volley. Half time: Penicuik 3 Newtongrange 3 Two minutes into the half and a Newtongrange corner kick was glanced narrowly over the crossbar. Then a flowing passing move by the visitors ended with a King strike that was well saved by Bald low down to his left. In the 55th minute a King free kick was headed by Donnelly, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Bald. The rebound fell to McMANUS who had the easiest of tasks to head the ball home. Immediately afterwards, Penicuik broke through the Star defence and just as Millar was about to score, a last gasp tackle took the ball off his toe. In the 63rd minute a Montgomery cross from the left wing found Millar, he turned quickly and let fly, but Renton was well placed to save. One minute later, a quick break from defence down the left by Newtongrange saw the ball crossed into the box where KING got his boot to it and the ball trundled past Bald's outstretched leg into the net to make the score 3-5. Despite this, Penicuik refused to give up and continued to battle for every ball and were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box. Kerr took the free kick and the ball flew over the wall, but curled narrowly past the upright. Then in the 79th minute, a little bit of magic by Tansey left Cunnison for dead. He then drove down then left, but his shot on goal went just wide of the target. One minute later, a Gay corner was headed on to the back post where BARR coolly controlled the ball and thumped it into the roof of the net. Penicuik were now pressing Newtongrange back into their own half looking for the equaliser and in the 88th minute another corner to Penicuik saw Meikle get his head to the ball, but Renton pulled of a great diving save. Try as the might, Penicuik just could not get the equaliser and the visitors were more than relieved to hear the final whistle. Final Score: Penicuik 4 Newtongrange 5

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