Match Report

Bonnyrigg vs Penicuik 1.5.19

Bonnyrigg 2 Penicuik 1 Bonnyrigg Rose: B.Young, Brett, Brown, K.Young, Moyes, Horne, Turner, Stewart, Lough, Currie, Gray Subs: Martyniuk, Hoskins, Nelson, Murrell, Swanson, McGachie, Andrews. Penicuik Athletic: Watt, Stevenson, Williams, D. Young, Page, Connolly, McCrory-Irving, Jones, McIntosh, Notman, Ponton Subs: Somerville, Baptie, Sproule, Crabbe, Hamilton, Sampson, Caddow. Both   teams   were   given   a   huge   welcome   on   to   the   pitch   at   New   Dundas   Park   with   over   1000   fans   in   attendance   for   this second   play   off   clash   between   Conference   B   Champions   Bonnyrigg   and   Conference A   Champions   Penicuik Athletic   following Penicuik’s   opening   play   off   3-2   win   over   Conference   C   champions   Broxburn   at   Penicuik   the   previous   Saturday.   Broxburn officials   and   players   were      in   attendance   too   in   anticipation   of   Bonnyrigg   ‘s   visit   to   Broxburn   on   Saturday   4th   May   in   the   final play   off   game   where   Rose   will   bid   to   win   the   ultimate   East   of   Scotland   League   Title   for   2019.   Bonnyrigg   need   to   avoid   defeat in   that   Broxburn   match   as   Broxburn   would   need   to   win   by   2   clear   goals   while   Penicuik   would   be   top   if   Broxburn   beat Bonnyrigg   by   1-0   or   2-1.   And   with   so   much   at   stake   it   was   a   tense   struggle   at   times   with   initial   play   seeing   Penicuik   force   a threatening   brace   of   corners   ending   with   Rose   keeper   Bryan   Young   punching   the   ball   clear.      Gradually   Bonnyrigg   got   settled and   play   switched   to   the   other   end   as   a   fine   run   by   Lewis   Turner   saw   his   parting   shot   only   just   miss   the   far   post   then   Keith Lough   gained   Rose’s   first   corner   but   well   dealt   with   by   the   strong   Penicuik   defence.   By   the   10th   minute   the   Rose   were   at   the helm   with   the   Cuikie   featured   in   counter   attacks.   Jon   Brown   next   in   10   minutes   had   a   great   run   and   shot   well   taken   low   down by   Penicuik   keeper   Watt   with   the   huge   crowd   looking   for   the   opening   goal.   Then   a   close   call   for   the   Rose   in   the   21st   minute as   Penicuik   skipper   Calum   Connolly   saw   his   shot   deflected   on   to   the   Rose   crossbar   for   a   corner   kick   which   then   saw   two Bonnyrigg   players   Jon   Brown   and   Alan   Horne   accidentally   head   collide   both   requiring   lengthy   attention   before   resuming   the action.   The   match   continued   goalless   into   31   minutes      as   next   Lough   set   up   Lee   Currie   for   a   finish   but   again   it   was   well saved   by   keeper   Watt.   But   just   3   minutes   later   and   it   was   the   Rose   breakthrough   goal   as   a   right   wing   cross   from   Lewis Turner   picked   out   Lee   CURRIE   and   his   header   ended   in   the   Penicuik   net   to   set   the   home   fans   alight.   Penicuik   then   survived a   spell   of   inspired   Rose   play   but   keeper   Watt   was   again   their   hero   as   he   produced   another   excellent   save   just   on   the   break   to deny Ross Gray a second Rose goal before the interval. Half Time: Bonnyrigg 1 Penicuik 0    On   the   resumption   an   excellent   first   Rose   attack   saw   Keith   Lough   with   the   chance   to   score   but   that   man   Watt   again   saved the   shot.   Sam   Jones   was   then   caught   offside   as   Penicuik   struggled   to   make   any   serious   inroads   towards   keeper   Young’s penalty   area   as   the   Rose   looked   the   likelier   to   score.   Lee   Currie   earned   a   booking   to   join   Lewis   Turner   in   the   referee’s   book for   a   foul   on   Sampson   as   next   a   good   Sam   Jones   interception   saw   a   chance   open   up   but   he   fired   his   shot   wide   of   the   target again. Aaron   Murrell   came   on   to   substitute   for   Ross   Gray   as   Rose   chased   a   crucial   second   goal,   and   it   was   to   come   for   the hosts   in   63   minutes   as   a   free   kick   by   Kerr   Young   to   Dean   BRETT   saw   his   parting   shot   take   a   slight   deflection   to   elude   Watt skipping   into   the   net   to   push   Rose   2-0   in   the   lead.   In   65   minutes   more   drama   at   the   Rose   end   as   Sampson   was   toppled   in the   penalty   area   but   referee   Peter   Stuart   waved   aside   Penicuik   penalty   claims   and   subsequent   protests   by   Penicuik   boss Kevin   Milne   at   the   referee   saw   Milne   sent   out   of   the   technical   area   with   some   25   minutes   left   for   play.   Ewan   Moyes   next   sent a   chance   header   wide   before   Bonnyrigg   brought   on   Kieran   McGachie   for   Keith   Lough.   In   80   minutes   Jon   Brown   limped   off with   a   hamstring   injury   with   Dean   Hoskins   coming   on   as   the   match   moved   into   the   final   minutes.   With   one   minute   to   go, Aaron   SOMERVILLE   glanced   home   a   header   at   the   front   post   off   a   Stevenson   corner   kick.   Then,   in   the   very   last   minute   a clear chance fell to Steven Notman but his effort ended up in keeper Bryan Young’s grasp. Final Score: Bonnyrigg 2 Penicuik 1

My thanks to Brian Nimmo for the match report and to Gus Cockburn for the match photos