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Spartans 0 Penicuik 4 Spartans: Jackson, Bruce, Kidd, Summers, Boyle, Milligan, Stewart, Etale, Cunningham, Ghamgosar and Roberts. Subs: Boyes, Rusin, Laidlaw, Armstrong and Zavaroni. Penicuik Athletic: Haldane, Cunnison, McDermott, Meikle, Kerr, Bonthrone, Gay, Elliott, Roxburgh, Patterson and McPartlin. Subs: Miller, Knight, Montgomery, Riley and Trialist. Referee: Peter Stuart. After two successive defeats in the league cup without scoring a goal, Athletic travelled to Ainslie Park in Edinburgh to play Spartans. The game took place on an artificial pitch behind the main pitch with spectators confined to an area behind the goals. As a mark of respect to Spartans player, Lee Zavaroni, who had suffered a family bereavement, a minute's silence was held before the kick off. Spartans started the match on a warm afternoon with a slight breeze behind them and almost immediately, Cunnison was penalised in a dangerous position but the Penicuik defence cleared the free kick. Penicuik surged upfield and were pulled up for off side resulting in a lecture for Craig Meikle for disputing the decision. In the 10th minute, David Etale, who made his comeback to Spartans East of Scotland team late last season after injuries sustained on active service in Afghanistan, and now playing for the juniors, suffered a head injury and had to leave the field. An ambulance was called but fortunately, David recovered sufficiently and no hospital treatment was required. With quarter of an hour gone, Bonthrone was cautioned for a late challenge on Bruce as Penicuik struggled to come to terms with the artificial surface. Summers pace was vital for Spartans at the back as he matched Patterson and Roxburgh's runs onto through balls. Boyle squandered a great chance for Spartans in the twenty third minute when a huge wind assisted kick out from Jackson struck Kerr on the back and fell kindly for Boyle. However, the Spartan's attacker's weak shot was well saved by Haldane. Penicuik then enjoyed a spell on top but could not make the breakthrough. The Spartans defence were coping comfortably with the high balls fired in Roxburgh's direction. Good work by Roxburgh set up Patterson but he shot past the post. A Roxburgh shot was then turned out for a corner by Jackson. Roxburgh knocked Elliott's corner past the post before a McPartlin shot also went past after more good work from Roxburgh. An Elliott free kick was cleared before Spartans almost caught Penicuik on the break. Penicuik heaved a sigh of relief as Robert's cross from wide on the left was headed narrowly past. McDermott was cautioned for remarks to the referee as frustration was setting in. However Penicuik's nerves were settled in the thirty sixth minute when Roxburgh was rewarded for his hard work with his first competitive goal of the season. A throw in bounced high over Summers head and ROXBURGH powered on to the ball to drive a right foot shot into the net low down to Jackson's left.  Penicuik piled on the pressure as Spartan's wobbled and Bonthrone, Gay and Meikle all had efforts to add to the lead. Spartans hit back and only the cross bar denied Rusin's fiercely struck right foot free kick. Meikle then fluffed a clearance straight to Stewart but his hesitant shot was deflected for a corner. Rusin had a strong run in from the left but his left foot shot sailed out of the park as poor finishing continued to let the home team down. Half Time: Spartans 0 v 1 Penicuik Athletic. An early Spartans corner was cleared before Penicuik returned to the attack and a dangerous McDermott cross was cleared. Penicuik made a double substitution replacing both Roxburgh and Patterson with Miller and a trialist. Almost immediately, Elliott set the trialist free on the left and he almost made an immediate impact by side stepping his marker but he curled his shot just wide. With thirteen minutes gone, Kerr's free kick was touched onto the bar by Jackson and the trialists follow up hit the bar. However, MILLAR was on hand to bundle the ball over the line to double the visitor's lead. Riley replaced Bonthrone in Penicuik's midfield as the home team's heads went down. With twenty two minutes of the second half gone Penicuik's TRIALIST finished off a sweeping move when he controlled Gay's deep cross before hitting the ball into the net. Penicuik were right on top and only a great Jackson save from Miller prevented the visitor's increasing their lead. The trialist brought down a Miller cross but his parting shot slipped past the post. Penicuik were eying a clean sheet but a Meikle mistake allowed Bruce a clear run in on goal. To Penicuik's relief he pulled his shot wide of Haldane's goal. With ten minutes remaining, Penicuik's TRIALIST hit his second and Penicuik's fourth goal when he controlled Gay's cross from a Kerr free kick to beat Jackson at his left hand post. Penicuik eased off but a late flurry from Spartans failed to find a consolation goal. A dipping Boyle pot shot from distance was comfortably held by Haldane. Roberts found the net but he was off side when he picked up Rusin's through pass. The Penicuik goalkeeper then had a good save from a Rusin drive as the Penicuik defence held firm. Result: Spartans 0 v 4 Penicuik Athletic   

League Cup

My thanks to John Fraser for the match report and photos this week