Match Report

Penicuik vs Stirling University 12 2.19

Penicuik 3 Stirling University 0 Penicuik:    Robertson,   Caddow,   Baptie,   Young,   Notman,   Sampson,   Connolly,   Somerville   (c),   Jones,   McCrory-Irving   Subs:     Cordery, McIntosh, Sproule, Williams, Hamilton, Ponton Stirling   University:    Walker,   Slattery,   Webb,   Mailer,   Peden,   Miller,   Hunter,   Emmott,   Ferris,   Kennedy,   McGale   Subs: Brown, McEwan, Lyons, Downie, McGuire, Kane, Allan A   cold   crisp   night   at   Penicuik   Park   saw   the   Cuikie   play   host   to   Lowland   League   opposition   for   the   first   time   in   a competitive   match,   as   they   faced   off   against   Stirling   University   for   a   place   in   the   Semi   Finals   of   the   Football   Nation Qualifying Cup at the second time of asking after the recent weather. The   fans   who   braved   the   chilly   conditions   didn’t   have   much   to   warm   them   up   early   on   with   the   first   chance   not   coming until   the   twelfth   minute   when   a   Jones   cut   back   across   goal   was   turned   over   the   bar   for   a   corner   by   Webb   with   Somerville lurking.   Slattery   would   go   close   for   the   visitors,   shooting   wide   following   Page’s   clearing   header   falling   to   him.   The   game was   beginning   to   come   to   life   and   some   excellent   goalkeeping   from   Walker   denied   both   Sampson   and   Jones   from opening   the   scoring.   With   play   going   from   end   to   end,   it   was   Penicuik   who   would   break   the   deadlock   just   before   halftime. A   throw   in   on   the   left   saw   a   nice   interchange   between   Baptie,   McCrory-Irving   and   Jones   saw   the   latter   get   in   a   shot   at goal.   However   the   effort   was   blocked   and   broke   to   debutant   Steven   NOTMAN    who   stroked   the   ball   into   the   bottom   right corner to end the half on a high. HALFTIME: Penicuik 1-0 Stirling Stirling   had   the   opening   chance   of   the   second   half   with   McGale   firing   over   while   Penicuik   claimed   the   ball   had   went   out   of play.   Somerville   would   force   another   excellent   save   from   Walker   as   he   sprung   the   offside   trap   and   attempted   to   lob   the ball   over   Walker,   who   managed   to   get   his   fingertips   to   it   and   push   it   over   the   bar.   Walker   would   again   deny   Jones   but   the second   goal   would   come   on   fifty-four   minutes   as   Walker   attempted   to   launch   the   ball   forward,   his   kick   rebounded   off   the back   of   Somerville   and   Kyle   SAMPSON   reacted   quickest   to   fire   the   ball   into   the   back   of   the   net   from   a   tight   angle   despite Stirling   protests.   The   third   goal   didn’t   take   long   to   arrive   as   two   minutes   later,   a   Ryan   Baptie   corner   was   met   at   the   back post   area   by   Darrell   YOUNG   whose   header   ended   up   in   the   bottom   corner   with   Sampson’s   dummy   catching   out   the Stirling   defence. A   couple   of   changes   for   both   sides   saw   Stirling   grow   into   the   game   more   and   create   a   few   half   chances, substitute   Lyons   and   Brown   both   having   opportunities.   Penicuik   would   come   close   to   a   fourth   as   a   Jones   drive   from twenty   yards   kissed   the   bottom   left   post   with   Walker   beaten.   An   entertaining   game   came   to   an   end   with   Penicuik   now advancing   to   the   Semi   Finals   where   they   will   travel   to   Ainslie   Park   to   take   on   last   season’s   Lowland   League   Champions Spartans on Friday the 22nd of March, their third semi-final in the past twelve months. FULLTIME: Penicuik 3-0 Stirling

My thanks to Dougie Penman for the match report