Blairgowrie started the game with determination and won a free kick in the opening minute that, fortunately for Penicuik, was headed straight into the arms of Sandison. One minute later, another free kick was awarded to Blairgowrie, but the strike went high over the bar. In the 13^th minute, a deflected Brash free kick was goal bound, but Sandison pulled off an superb one handed save. Penicuik were second best in every department at this point and things got worse when referee Ross harshly red carded Milne in the 17^th minute. However, in the 27^th minute it was Penicuik who took the lead when MONTGOMERY headed home a Steel cross.

Five minutes later, Montgomery went from saint to sinner when his weak pass back was picked up by Neave. He got past Sandison, but the keeper pulled him down. Sandison was red carded and IRELAND converted the spot kick. In the 38^th minute, Cameron, who had taken over in goal, denied Neave with a great save when he tipped his 30 yard shot over the bar. Three minutes later, it was a case of déjà vu when a Gallagher pass back was intercepted and Neave again was upended by the keeper and Cameron was sent off. IRELAND blasted the spot kick past Gay who now donned the keeper’s jersey.

Half time: Penicuik 1 Blairgowrie 2

In the 48^th minute, substitute Ryrie combined well with McDonald and set up Montgomery, but his effort sliced wide of the goal. Then in the 52^nd minute, a long range shot by BRASH squirmed through the hands of Gay in goal to make it 1 – 3. Six minutes later, to rub salt into the wound, referee Ross allowed a goal to stand when BRASH was clearly yards offside. Penicuik were down and out at this stage and were struggling to cope with the pressure of being three men down, and in the 67^th minute, CRUIKSHANKS added a fifth.

Three minutes later, a Blairgowrie attack down the left saw the ball laid into the path of Pirie, but his low drive was well saved by Gay. Then, a surging run by Meikle culminated with Ryrie turning his marker and firing off a right foot shot that skimmed over the bar. In the 83^rd minute, the under siege Penicuik defence once again cracked and CRUIKSHANKS added his second and Blairgowrie’s sixth goal. This was a game better forgotten by Penicuik but with lessons to be learnt, and perhaps if they had started the match with a more enthusiastic and positive manner, the result would probably not have been as bad as it was.