Match Report

Whitehill vs Penicuik 31.8.19

2nd Preliminary round Scottish Cup

Whitehill 0 Penicuik 1 Whitehill:      Bejaoui   (c),   Somerville,   Hamilton,   Meikle,   Connell,   Janczyk,   Connor,   Muir,   McCallum,   Lough,   Lister   Subs:     Sproule, Young, Hunter, Rogan, Wales, Devlin, Murray Penicuik :      Watt,   Baptie,   Young,   Connolly,   Jones,   Somerville   (c),   McCrory-Irving,   Ponton,   Stewart,   Stevenson,   Forbes Subs: Swain, O’Donnell, Page, Caddow, Watson, Williams, Viola Penicuik   travelled   to   Rosewell   to   take   on   Whitehill   Welfare   in   the   2nd   Preliminary   round   of   the   William   Hill   Scottish   Cup, having   defeated   Easthouses   Lily   in   the   previous   round.   Penicuik   looked   sharp   from   the   kickoff   and   Stevenson   tested former   Penicuik   keeper   Bejaoui   in   the   5th   minute,   but   the   big   keeper   saved   well,   the   first   of   many   excellent   stops   he   made throughout   the   game.   Shortly   afterwards,   a   Somerville   effort   hit   the   post   and   went   past   for   a   goal   kick.   In   the   20th   minute, Jones   got   his   head   to   a   Stewart   cross,   but   he   couldn’t   get   enough   power   on   the   header   and   Bejaoui   saved   comfortably. Only   some   strong   defending   by   Whitehill   kept   Penicuik   at   bay   and   the   scores   level. Then   in   the   42nd   minute,   a   chance   fell to   Whitehill   when   Lister’s   ball   over   the   top   of   the   Penicuik   defence   set   Connor   free,   but   he   blasted   the   ball   high   over   the bar.   Immediately   afterwards,   Stewart   showed   great   tenacity   to   break   through   the   home   defence   only   to   be   thwarted   by keeper Bejaoui. Half Time: Whitehill 0 Penicuik 0 Two   minutes   into   the   half,   and   the   Penicuik   defence   was   under   pressure   for   the   first   time   in   the   match.   Following   a   corner to   Whitehill,   the   ball   was   partially   cleared,   driven   back   and   deflected   away   for   a   second   corner   kick   that   was   well defended,   and   a   lightning   break   saw   a   Ponton   strike   finally   beat   Bejaoui,   but   the   ball   crashed   back   off   the   crossbar.   Then McCrory-Irving   tested   the   big   keeper   but   again,   he   was   up   to   the   task,   diving   at   full   stretch   to   turn   the   ball   away.      However, two   minutes   later,   a   sweeping   move   and   consecutive   dummies   from   Somerville   and   Stewart   bamboozled   the   home defence,   allowing   Scott   MCCRORY-IRVING    to   rifle   the   ball   past   Bejaoui   into   the   far   top   corner   of   the   net.   On   the   hour mark   Penicuik   should   have   doubled   their   lead   when   Jones   set   up   Stewart   but   his   effoert   went   over   the   bar. Then   Penicuik had   loud   claims   for   a   penalty   when   Stevenson   was   pulled   back   in   the   box,   but   the   referee   was   unmoved.   In   the   65th minute,   Stevenson   had   a   go   from   long   range   but   Bejaoui   was   again   on   hand   to   save.   At   the   other   end   it   was   Whitehill’s turn   to   claim   a   penalty   for   a   hand   ball,   but   once   more   the   referee   dismissed   the   claim.   Play   switched   quickly   to   the   other end   where   Bejaoui   saved   a   Jones   shot.   Right   on   the   90th   minute   keeper   Watt   was   at   full   stretch   to   save   a   strike   by   full back   Somerville.   Penicuik   comfortably   controlled   the   game   and   if   it   were   not   for   Bejaoui   the   score   would   have   been higher. Penicuik now progress to the first round proper of the Cup. Final score: Whitehill 0 Penicuik 1