Website designed and maintained by Jim Dick

League

Penicuik 2 Bathgate Penicuik: Bald, Thomson, Kerr, Meikle, Bunyan, McPartlin, Cunnison, Barr, Patterson, Roxburgh, Montgomery Subs: L Barr, McDermott, Gay, Reid, Cameron Bathgate: Murphy, McCulloch, Byrne, Heffron, Leiper, Hogg, Scott, Andrioni, Hunter, Brazil, Bonnes Subs: Livingstone, Hannah, McSween, Clark. Referee: Mr Duncan Smith Penicuik were quick out the blocks, playing some excellent passing football with great movement off the ball, but it was Bathgate who threatened first in the 5th minute when a long ball out of defence picked out Hunter who looked at least a yard offside. However no flag was raised and, fortunately for Penicuik, the striker's effort sailed high over the bar. Cuikie took the lead in the 11th minute when CUNNISON rose above the Bathgate defence to head home from a Barr corner kick.  Ten minutes later, a swift break down the right by Bathgate saw a shot deflected straight into the hands of Bald in goal. At the other end, a clever chip by McPartlin set Roxburgh free on the right, but his cross behind the defence into the box was missed by everyone. On the half hour, following a throw in to Bathgate, the Penicuik defence needed three attempts to clear the danger. Bathgate were now applying steady pressure on the home side and it was no surprise when they equalised. Thomson lost possession for Penicuik near the halfway line and Andrioni set BONNES free down the left. He raced to the penalty box, drew Bald and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net. Half time: Penicuik 1 Bathgate 1 In the 50th minute a Penicuik free kick was knocked down to Montgomery who turned quickly but saw his netbound strike deflected narrowly past the post for a corner kick. Ten minutes later, some real pressure by Penicuik had the Bathgate defence in trouble, but the danger was cleared when the ball was finally booted clear of their penalty box at the fourth attempt. In Penicuik's next attack, Barr, who was controlling the game from midfield, saw his powerful shot deflected wide of the post for another corner. Then at the other end, a tantalising Scott cross into the Penicuik box was just missed by Brazil. In the 70th minute, a Penicuik defensive header fell to Andrioni twenty yards out, but his first time strike was superbly turned round the post by Bald. One minute later, a Penicuik corner was cleared in similar fashion to Montgomery who let fly with one of his thunderous left foot strikes that screamed inches past the keeper's right hand post. Penicuik restored their lead in the 76th minute when Barr played a superb pass to Patterson, who despite almost losing possession managed somehow to lay the ball off the right where ROXBURGH coolly drilled the ball past Murphy. Three minutes later, Bathgate thought they had scored the equaliser when Heffron's shot appeared to have crossed the line, but referee Smith and his stand side assistant disagreed much to the annoyance of the Bathgate players and travelling fans alike. In the 82nd minute, a rare moment of hesitation in the Penicuik rear guard allowed Bonnes a strike on goal, but his effort flew two feet over the bar.  Then Scott had a chance at a Bathgate corner kick, but failed to hit the target.  With a minute to go, McDermott came to the rescue for Penicuik when he just managed to get a toe the ball to deny substitute Livingstone a chance to score. Final Score: Penicuik 2 Livingstone 1