Match Report

Penicuik vs Musselburgh 20.4.19

Penicuik 1 Musselburgh 1 Penicuik: Watt, Stevenson, Baptie, Young, Page, Connolly (c), Caddow, Jones, McIntosh, McCrory-Irving, Ponton Subs: Williams, Sampson, Notman, Somerville, Crabbe, Hamilton, Cordery Musselburgh:  Adams, Reid, Whyte, Myles, McNaughton, Thomson, King (c), Callaghan, Deland, Gregory, Evans Subs: M Moffat, Ralton, S Moffat, Tufail, Gillan Penicuik Are Champions. Penicuik   were   to   labour   hard   but   in   the   end   grabbed   the   necessary   single   point   that   saw   them   secure   the   2018/19 Conference A   league   title   at   Penicuik   Park   last   Saturday   In   front   of   a   400   plus   crowd   sweltering   in   23   degrees   of   sunshine   as the   Cuikie   with   two   wins   against   the   Burgh   already   this   season   looked   to   complete   the   hat   trick   to   become   champions.   But the   East   Lothianers   were   to   pose   a   huge   hurdle      for   anxious   Penicuik   who   missed   a   barrowload   of   chances      to   break   the deadlock   as   it   was   Musselburgh   who   did   just   that.   However,   following   a   second   yellow   and   subsequent   red   for   Burgh’s   Liam Reid   in   77   minutes   Penicuik   finally   got   a   simple   tap   in   goal   to   equalise   and   hold   on   to   secure   the   point   and   win   the   league with huge celebrations at the end and choruses of Championez! A   brief   strong   start   by   the   hosts   saw   home   hopes   high   but   it   was   the   visitors   who   had   no   fewer   than   three   early   chances   with firstly   Nathan   Evans   firing   a   fierce   shot   that   barely   missed   the   far   post   in   5   minutes   then   three   minutes   later   a   second   chance for   the   Burgh   fell   to   Jackie   Myles   but   he   side   footed   wide   then   a   Mathu   King   header   was   well   saved   by   home   keeper   Robert Watt.   In   between,   Sam   Jones   had   been   clean   through   for   Penicuik   but   a   blocking   leg   save   by   Burgh   keeper Ali Adams   denied the   chance.   Penicuik   did   enjoy   a   better   spell   of   possession   after   that   but   the   opening   goal   continued   to   prove   elusive   at   both ends.   A   Conor   Thomson   free   kick   was   forced   away   for   a   corner   from   which   the   ball   came   to   Michael   Deland   but   he   lashed the   ball   over   the   target.   With   so   much   at   stake   for   the   Cuikie   they   became   desperate   for   their   opening   goal   but   fell   too   often to   the   Musselburgh   off   side   trap   with   strong   defensive   work   also   keeping   Penicuik   goalless.   In   32   minutes   Wayne   McIntosh was   clean   through   again   but   again   a   brilliant   stop   by   keeper   Adams   denied   the   Penicuik   top   striker.   In   contrast   to   anxious Cuikie,The   Burgh   were   more   relaxed   with   the   pressure   on   the   hosts   telling   as   the   first   half   ended   with   a   Jordan   Caddow chance hit wide. Half Time: Penicuik 0 Musselburgh 0 The   big   home   crowd   were   looking   for   an   improved   Cuikie   second   half   display   but   following   a   goal   line   clearance   in   the   Burgh penalty   area   they   were   shocked   with   just   9   minutes   gone   into   the   second   period   as   Musselburgh   went   1-0   up   through   a composed   finish   by   Jackie   MYLES   beating   Watt   low   down   to   his   left   with   an   accurate   shot.   Penicuik   certainly   did   not   want   to concede   that   goal   adding   more   pressure   to   the   home   ranks   with   the   Burgh   seeking   even   more   with   a   Deland   shot   well parried   by   Watt   before,   at   the   other   end,   another   blocking   save   by   Ali   Adams   thwarted   McIntosh.   But   the   game   changed   in the   72nd   minute   when   Burgh   were   reduced   to   10   men   with   Liam   Reid   sent   off   for   a   foul   and   second   yellow.   Next   it   was Penicuik’s   Scott   McCrory-Irving   who   was   booked   for   a   foul   on   Scott   McNaughton,   but   it   was   McCRORY-IRVING    who   next became   the   Penicuik   hero   in   the   77th   minute   when’s   Penicuik   attack   left   him   with   a   simple   finish   to   square   the   match   and   see Penicuik   eye   the   title.   It   was   nail   biting   stuff   in   a   grandstand   final   few   minutes   with   a   Callum   Connolly   header   missing   the target   for   a   winner   and   in   time   added   on   a   Wayne   McIntosh   raging   shot   saw   a   final   blocking   save   by   Adams.   On   the   final whistle it was huge Penicuik celebrations as the worthy champions celebrated. Final Score: Penicuik 1 Musselburgh 1

My thanks to Brian Nimmo for the match report