Established 1888

Match Report

Tranent vs Penicuik 9.6.18

Final DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup

Tranent 0 Penicuik 2 Penicuik Athletic:  Allison, Forbes, MacDonald, Hume  Young, Connolly, McCrory-Irving, Jones, Somerville,  Kateleza, Ponton Subs:Hamilton, Williams, Sampson,  Sinclair, Sproule Tranent:  19. Horne, 2. Hawkins, 4. Christie (c), 5. Smeaton, 6. Fisher, 7. Walker, 8. Miller, 9. Devlin, 10. Patterson, 11. McCallum, 14. Fiddler, Subs: 1. Downie, 3. Fairnie, 12. Smith, 15. McCrorie, 16. McMurdo Tranent Juniors: Horne, Hawkins, Fiddler, Christie, Smeaton, Fisher, Walker, Miller, Devlin (McCrorie), Paterson (Fairnie), McCallum. Penicuik Athletic: Allison, Forbes, McDonald (Sproule), Hume, Young, Connolly, McCrory-Irving, Jones, Somerville (Sinclair), Kateleza (Sampson), Ponton. Things looked to be going the way of cup holders Tranent in the first half, with Penicuik striker Lumbert Kateleza forced to go off with an ankle injury early on. Neither side were able to test each other’s goalkeeper in an opening period devoid of many clear cut chances. Penicuik midfielder Callum Connolly had their best chance on the half-hour mark when he got on the end of Scott McCrory-Irving’s free-kick, but his header bounced just wide of the back post. Tranent’s Kayne Paterson looked to give the Belters an early second-half lead when he was through on goal, but just as he looked set to pull the trigger, Cuikie defender Andy Forbes got in the way to block. Kenny Fisher then brought Penicuik keeper Kyle Allison into action for the first time, the former Kelty Hearts stopper having to rush back to his line to push over from Fisher’s lobbed attempt from the edge of the box. Penicuik then warmed the hands of Tranent keeper Douglas Horne, with McCrory- Irving’s free-kick straight at him. Half Time: Tranent 0 Penicuik 0 Horne could do nothing to stop Penicuik taking the lead after 63 minutes when HUME’S bullet header crashed into the back of the net from McCrory-Irving’s corner-kick. Penicuik should have been celebrating again less than ten minutes later, with Somerville’s cross from the right just needing a touch to be poked home, but none of his team-mates could get on the end of it. The turning point in the match came five minutes from the end with Tranent’s Fisher through on goal, he had to hit the target, but Allison flung out his right hand to make a stunning save. Tranent would be made to pay for that miss, as three minutes later, Bruce McCrorie’s throw in back to keeper Horne was short, and SOMERVILLE nipped in between them to score into the empty net. Tranent boss Max Christie thought his side were well in the game until they gave away the opener. He said: “We lost a goal, a header in the middle of our six yard box and then the young lad makes a mistake for the second goal. “Other than that we were totally comfy. I thought both teams huffed and puffed and it was probably going to be a mistake that done it. “It’s been a long season. We will go again next season.” Opposite number Johnny Harvey was delighted to end an impressive campaign with silverware. He said: “I think we’ve had a great season. Cups in Junior football are hard to come by and getting over the line, I think it rewards the players for all the hard work that they’ve put in all season, and I’m over the moon for them. “The hardest thing in finals is just winning the game. Performance-wise I could be critical, I don’t think we were quite at our best, but we done enough to win the game. The boys have shown that winning appetite that they have now.” Final Score: Tranent 0 Penicuik 2

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