Match Report

Penicuik vs Linlithgow 4.5.19

Penicuik 3 Linlithgow 3 (aet) Linlithgow win 1-4 on penalties Penicuik Athletic: Watt, Stevenson, Baptie, Young, Page, Connolly, Notman, Jones, McIntosh, Somerville (c), McCrory- Irving Subs: Ponton, Williams, Caddow, Sproule, Crabbe, Hamilton, Sampson Linlithgow Rose: McKinven, Barbour, Turnbull, Thom, McKinlay, Batchelor, Ronald, Ru MacLennan, Strickland, Coyne, Smith Penicuik Athletic ‘s successful debut season in the East of Scotland League ended in dramatic fashion at Penicuik Park last Saturday as the King Cup 3rd round tie went to a penalty shoot out seeing Linlithgow dominate the shoot out winning 4-1 after the tie had finished after extra time at 3-3 with the hosts twice bravely coming back from behind initially after being 2-0 down. The Rose advance to the semi fourth round and an away trip to Olivebank to face Musselburgh Athletic for a place in the Semi Final. This local derby Midlothian v West Lothian saw both eager contestants looking for an elusive early breakthrough goal as the former Junior rivals went head to head. A 9th minute chance fell to the Rose‘s Blair Batchelor but was headed over keeper Robert Watt goal as the visitors looked to carry the early threat. Understandably the home fans had an ear on the goings on at Broxburn in the 3rd and final EOSFL Title play off with Penicuik still in with a chance as at one point Broxburn were leading Bonnyrigg by 2-1 but it wasn’t to be for the Cuikie as their focus on Linlithgow saw the Rose eventually break the deadlock in 25 minutes two minutes after a Rose free kick had been cleared but it was Ruari MacCLENNAN with a smart finish who outdid the home defence to beat Watt and open the Rose account at 1-0. Penicuik battled away fighting for the equaliser but Wayne McIntosh fired wide a chance after Greg Page was booked for a foul. An even more serious blow to Penicuik ‘s chances came 4 minutes before half time when a cross from the Rose left wing saw a CONNOLLY own goal  give the visitors a comfortable half time 2-0 lead. Half time: Penicuik 0 Linlithow 2 On the restart however Penicuik showed more determination but were having no luck in their finishing testing the Rose defence. A booking for Connolly next saw a Ross Barbour free kick produce a brilliant tip over save by keeper Robert Watt and seeing a double corner attack end with Kevin McKinlay ‘s header sailing over the Penicuik crossbar. In 58 minutes a booking for diving saw Owen Ronald yellow carded as the tie saw a wealth of free kicks. Changes then into the last quarter saw Sam Jones off and Aaron Ponton on with Jordan Caddow also into the action. It stayed at 2-0 to the visitors however then in 72 minutes a serious looking injury to Rose sub Martyn Shields saw him stretchered off as a late Penicuik goal flurry saw them draw level at 2-2. Wayne McINTOSH pulled The Cuikie  back to 2-1 in 87 minutes with a fine headed goal before in the dying minutes a penalty award to Penicuik for hand ball by Strickland saw Craig STEVENSON make no mistake from the resultant spot kick to square the tie dramatically at 2-2 needing next another half an hour of extra time. Barely 4 minutes into extra time and a penalty award to the Rose and a red card for Darrell Young for his tackle on Strickland saw Firstly Tommy Coyne’s spot kick brilliantly saved by keeper Watt but first to react to the rebound saw Ross BARBOUR send the ball home to restore the Rose advantage at 3-2. In reply Connolly was clean through but foiled as  keeper McKinven’s outstretched leg denied the Penicuik equaliser. However, late into the second half of extra time Penicuik pulled level at 3-3 following a header by Kyle Sampson finding Arron PONTON with the goal scoring finish that sent the tie finally into the penalty shoot out only for the Rose to beat Penicuik by 4-1 in the last decisive act of the tie. Full Time: Penicuik 3 Linlithgow 3 (aet) Linlithgow win 1-4 on penalties

My thanks to Brian Nimmo for the match report