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League

Armadale 1 Penicuik 1 Armadale Thistle - Walker, G Brown, Rarity, McKay, Morrison, Mauchline, McLeod, Bonnar, Feeney, S Brown, Milton. Subs - Swinburne (GK), Barker, Wardlaw, Taylor  & Roberts. Penicuik Athletic - Bald, Thomson, Kerr, Meikle, Bunyan, McPartlin, Montgomery, K Barr, Patterson, Cameron, McDermott. Subs - Roxburgh, Cunnison, Reid, Gay & Ryrie Referee - Euan Cairns Penicuik travelled to Armadale for this McBookie East Premier League match, looking to keep their promotion chances on track against an Armadale side with similar ambitions.  The visitors made five changes from the side beaten at Newburgh on Saturday, with Bald returning from suspension in goals, Cameron making his first start on his return, along with Meikle, McDermott and McPartlin, replacing McLeod, Cunnison, Gay, Roxburgh and Lewis Barr. On a bright evening, Cuikie pressed first with a Barr strike being deflected for a corner, before a header from Morrison for the home side was safely held by Bald. Cameron and Patterson linked up well to set up McPartlin whose shot was gathered by Walker. In the 13th minute McLeod and Feeney linked well for the Dale and Feeney's cross went tantalisingly across the Cuikie six yard box and was deflected for a corner. At the other end Cameron and Patterson combined again with Patterson's shot deflected for a corner from which Bunyan rose above the home defence only to see his header clear the bar. With 20 minutes on the clock another Patterson strike was saved by Walker and from the resultant corner Kerr saw his header spilled by Walker but there were no takers and the chance was lost. The home side were next on the attack and a shot from Mauchline was blocked by Barr, before Milton slipped in S Brown but the striker blazed his shot high and wide of Balds' goal. With half an hour on the clock a good passing move from Penicuik saw Montgomery shoot wide form 12 yards. The home keeper was the busier of the two but both sides were struggling to put together any real pressure and gain the upper hand with misplaced passes breaking up play regularly. As half time approached the game burst into life, a late tackle on McDermott saw McKay receive a stern lecture from referee Cairns, before Cuikie player/manager Meikle was the first to see yellow for dissent following a disputed handball claim. On the stroke of half time Bonnar fouled McPartlin in the middle of the park, and as referee Cairns played advantage, McPartlin retaliated with a bad foul on Bonnar and escaped with a yellow card for his troubles. Half Time 0-0 The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with Armadale first to show this time as Brown shot high and wide before Patterson set up Montgomery whose shot was deflected for a corner. From the resultant corner, with 53 minutes on the clock, Meikle rose at the back post only to see his header blocked, and the ball bounced around like a pinball, before it fell to BUNYAN who volleyed it high into the roof of the net past the despairing Walker. From the restart Penicuik gained possession again and a good break by Cameron and Barr was wasted when McDermott's final pass went astray with the Dale defence all at sea. In the 57th minute, Armadale's G Brown had a free header form a corner but headed over as both sides saw promising moves let down by the final ball. Milton on the left wing was threatening for Dale and after a good run he laid the ball back to G brown whose clean strike just went over the bar. The home side were not to be thwarted much longer and in the 69th minute Feeney beat three weak challenges to cut the ball back to S BROWN who coolly despatched the ball past Bald for the equaliser. Armadale continued to press in search of a winner and almost capitalised upon hesitation between Thomson and Bald but Thomson cleared off the line to concede a corner. Roxburgh replaced Cameron with 79 minutes gone for the visitors as Bonnar shot over for Dale. With seven minutes remaining Patterson and McDermott combined down the right and Roxburgh was inches away from connecting with McDermott's cross. As time ebbed away Cuikie stepped up the pace as they sought a winner, and both G Brown and Roberts saw yellow for the home side as they attempted to contain the visitors pressure. With 87 minutes gone, a McDermott strike from 20 yards struck the cross bar and after a series of corners Montgomery's dipping volley from 25 yards just dropped over the bar. As the full time whistle blew both side's promotion hopes had been damaged and leave both with an uphill task to finish in the top four and promotion to the Super League. Final Score: Armadale 1 Penicuik 1

My thanks to Andy Penman for the match report and to John Crawford for the match photos