Established 1888

Match Report

Penicuik vs Bonnyrigg Rose 8.6.16

Fife & Lothians Cup Final

Penicuik 3 Bonnyrigg 1 Bonnyrigg Rose: Rooney, Archibald (c), Donaldson, Stewart, Moyes, Hoskins, Gray, Turner, McGachie, Nelson, McIntosh Subs: Brown, Kidd, Tobin, McLaren, Horne Penicuik Athletic: Bejaoui (c), Devlin, McDermott, Meikle, Young, Lister, Barr, Jancyzk, McCallum, Somerville, Lough Subs : Patterson, Fraser, Blaikie, White, Gay Referee: Mr Scott Miller Assistant Referees: Messrs Ryan Lee and Mark Rennie Fourth Official: Mr Duncan Smith On a warm night at Musselburgh with the kick off delayed for 15 minutes to let the large crowd in, manager Meikle made one change from the team who had won at home to Carnoustie on Saturday with Gay being replaced by Somerville.After the early exchanges Penicuik stunned the league champions by taking an early lead when Darrell YOUNG headed home in seven minutes after Keith Lough’s corner was flicked on by Bonnyrigg’s Gray at the front post. Bonnyrigg fought back and a couple of free kicks into the Penicuik box came to nothing. Both sides were being restricted to set piece opportunities and a couple of Jancyzk efforts midway through the half were dealt with by the Bonnyrigg defence before McCallum fired a free kick over the bar in the 27th minute. Bonnyrigg had plenty of possession but they struggled to create any real chances and it was McGachie who was on the end of their best opening after half an hour but he found himself offside as he shot wide and in the 32nd minute Turner blazed over. Bejaoui made his first save as he smothered McIntosh’s header in the 38th minute closely followed by a long range Stewart effort which he held comfortably. In the 40th minute Bonnyrigg got the equaliser when McIntosh chipped a perfect ball into the box and NELSON glanced a header past Bejaoui. This didn’t prove to be a setback to Penicuik and in first half injury time Lough laid a ball back to McCALLUM at the edge of the 18 yard box and his exquisite curling left foot shot into the corner of the net gave Rooney no chance. HALFTIME: Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Penicuik Athletic 2 Bonnyrigg had the first chance of the second half but Gray fired over from the edge of the box before Archibald had to head a dangerous McCallum cross behind for a corner. Rose had a penalty appeal waved away on 57 minutes as Bejaoui challenged McGachie in the box, but referee Miller waved away his plea. Bonnyrigg were resorting to long range efforts as the Cuikie defence marshalled by Meikle stood firm and it took until the 70th minute before Bejauoi was called into action as he easily saved a McGachie shot. With 73 minutes gone, Devlin beat two men out wide and his cross was met by Somerville at the back post and his cut back was met by the in rushing PATTERSON who slammed home from six yards out. Bonnyrigg responded and first Archibald headed straight into Bejaoui’s arms before McGachie fired wide in the 77th minute. With ten minutes left on the clock Moyes saw his header easily gathered by Bejaoui before the big keeper pulled off a fine save from Archibald and as referee Miller prepared to blow for time McLaren could only head straight at into the safety of the keeper’s arms. The final whistle blew after three minutes of injury time and as they had done in the semi-final at Kelty, Penicuik had upset the odds and defeated Super league Champions Bonnyrigg Rose to win the Conservatory Convertors Fife and Lothians cup for the first time since 1981 and for only the third time in the competitions 48 year old history. Final Score: Bonnyrigg 1 Penicuik 3 After the initial celebrations had quietened down the presentations were made by SJFA General Secretary Tom Johnston, firstly to the runners up Bonnyrigg Rose, then the match officials to be followed by the Man of the Match award to Neil Jancyzk. As the victorious Penicuik team received their medals they lined up and there was an explosion of celebrations as captain Youssef Bejaoui lifted the trophy. Our thanks to Musselburgh Athletic for hosting the match and to the Fife and Lothians Association for their excellent organisation of the competition.

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My thanks to Andy Penman for the match report and to Andy Watson for the match photos