Match Report

Penicuik vs Whitehill 21.12.19

League

Penicuik 2 Whitehill 2 Penicuik :   Watt,   O’Donnell,   Baptie,   Page,   Connolly,   Kateleza,   Jones,   Watson,   Somerville   (c),   McCrory-Irving,   Forbes‬ Subs: Young, Tansey, Ponton, Stewart, Stevenson Whitehill :   Bejaoui   (c),   Somerville,   Hamilton,   Meikle,   Rogan,   Janczyk,   Wright,   Devlin,   McCallum,   Muir,   Lough   Subs: Connor, McQueen, Hunter, Cowie, Connell, Sproule, Swanson The   first   chance   fell   to   Penicuik   in   the   11th   minute   when   Jones   failed   to   take   advantage   of   a   Somerville   cross,   driving   his shot   wide   of   the   target.   Two   minutes   later,   it   was   Whitehill   who   took   the   lead   when   Keith   LOUGH   drilled   a   free   kick   past Watt.   Two   minutes   later,   Whitehill   had   the   ball   in   the   back   of   the   net   but   the   goal   was   ruled   offside   by   the   stand   side assistant. This   served   as   a   wakeup   call   for   Penicuik   who   promptly   went   up   the   park   but   keeper   Bejaoui   denied   Jones   with an   excellent   fingertip   save   for   a   corner.   Then   in   the   24th   minute,   Callum   CONNOLLY   rose   above   the   defence   to   head home   the   equaliser.   Shortly   afterwards,   Lough   and   the   Kateleza   had   efforts   for   their   respective   sides.   In   the   36th   minute, a   ball   over   the   top   of   the   home   defence   by   Muir   picked   out   Lough,   but   Watt   raced   from   goal   to   smother   the   ball   at   the striker’s   feet. Two   minutes   later,   Lough   was   again   in   the   thick   of   the   action,   but   this   time   for   the   wrong   reason. The   referee adjudged   his   tackle   on   McCrory-Irving   to   merit   a   red   card   and   the   visitors   were   down   to   ten   men.   Just   before   half   time, Kateleza hat a powerful shot blocked for a corner. Half Time: Penicuik 1 Whitehill 1 Seven   minutes   into   the   half   and   a   chance   fell   to   Kateleza,   but   his   effort   went   just   past   the   upright.   The   Penicuik   dugout made   a   couple   a   changes   that   had   immediate   effect. A   Tansey   cross   was   headed   into   the   crossbar   by   Somerville   before McCrory-Irving’s   effort   was   cleared   off   the   line   by   Meikle,   with   Somerville   firing   wide   from   the   clearance.   Then   a   swift Penicuik   counter   attack   saw   Somerville   fire   straight   into   the   hands   of   keeper   Bejaoui.   In   the   66th   minute,   McCrory-Irving tried   a   high   shot   from   25   yards   but   Bejaoui   at   full   stretch   tipped   it   over   for   a   corner   kick. At   the   other   end,   McCallum   had   a chance,   but   dragged   his   shot   wide   of   the   target.   Then   a   long   range   strike   by   Watson   flashed   over   the   Whitehill   crossbar. In   the   74th   minute,   a   lightning   break   down   the   right   wing   by   Whitehill   saw   Wright   cross   the   ball   from   the   right   wing   to   the back   post   where   McCALLUM   headed   home   to   restore   their   lead.   Penicuik   piled   on   the   pressure   looking   for   the   equaliser but   the   Whitehill   defence   were   solid   with   former   Penicuik   players   Meikle   and   Hamilton   outstanding.   In   the   85th   minute, Forbes   tested   Bejaoui,   but   the   big   keeper   saved   well.   Minutes   later   Somerville   had   a   chance,   but   his   header   went   wide. Just   when   Whitehill   thought   they   had   secured   all   three   points   Paul   TANSEY’s   curling   cross   deceived   everyone   and   went in   off   the   post   for   the   equaliser.   Whitehill   must   be   terribly   disappointed   with   the   result   having   played   more   than   half   the game with only ten men and Penicuik must be relieved to have rescued a point. Final score: Penicuik 2 Whitehill 2