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Penicuik  vs Fauldhouse 17.5.14

League

Penicuik Athletic 2 Fauldhouse 1 Penicuik: Bejaoui, Ross, McDermott, Young, Cunnison, Lister, Killin, Gay, McCulloch, Montgomery Subs: Millar, Dickson, Harris, McCallum, Hill Fauldhouse: Murphy, Fallon, Smith, Ross, Gallagher, Campbell, Deans, Scott, Chilton, Donnelly, Wilkins Subs: Martin, McCormack, Fairweather, Browne, Wilkins Referee: Mr Evan Cairns The game started at a high tempo with the visitors pressing hard for an advantage, but the Penicuik defence, marshalled by captain Dougie Cunnison, were solid and coped comfortably with the initial pressure from Fauldhouse. Then in the 6th minute a Montgomery cross was met first time by Killin, but his effort went wide of the target. At the other end, a timely intervention by Cunnison pressurised Chilton to hurry his shot and Bejaoui gathered comfortably. Minutes later Lister won the ball in midfield, set up McCulloch, but he dragged his shot just wide of the goal. Fauldhouse counter attacked quickly and Bejaoui dived low down to his right to turn away a strike by Chilton. Penicuik were awarded a penalty kick in the 20th minute when McCulloch was wrestled to the ground. CUNNISON stepped up and competently converted the spot kick. Four minutes later, a free kick to Fauldhouse was only partially cleared to the edge of the box but the volley by Deans went wide of the target. In the 33rd minute, Wilkins had a chance for Fauldhouse, but blasted the ball wide of the goal. Fauldhouse had a real let off three minutes later when keeper Murphy slipped as he kicked the ball out and it went straight to McCulloch. The ball hit McCulloch at pace, but before he could recover, the ball bounced straight back to Murphy to spare his blushes. Fauldhouse began to exert some pressure on Penicuik, and Deans came close with a shot that was deflected inches wide of goal for a corner kick. In the 41st minute, a Deans free kick left Bejaoui rooted to the spot, but the ball crashed back off the crossbar and the follow up strike by the same player flew high over the bar. Two minutes later, with Penicuik under severe pressure, another Fauldhouse strike came back off the woodwork and cleared. Penicuik survived the onslaught to protect their one goal lead at half time. Half Time: Penicuik 1 Fauldhouse 0 Minutes into the second half, the ball bounced off a Fauldhouse defender straight to McCulloch, but his strike was blocked at the last second and cleared. In the 62nd minute, a Gay free kick into the penalty box caused real problems for the visitors but was eventually scrambled clear. Immediately afterwards, a great pass by Gay set Killin free on the right, but another last gasp tackle by Smith deflected the ball away for a corner kick. Two minutes later, an interception by Killin saw him play the ball inside to McCulloch who fed the ball to Gay as he charged up the left side. GAY survived a tackle and drove on to slip the ball past the advancing keeper to double Penicuik’s lead. In the 72nd minute, Fauldhouse were awarded a penalty kick when Donnelly was felled from behind. CHILTON  made no mistake from the spot to give his side a chance to get back in the game. Three minutes later, Penicuik substitute Millar, made a driving run at the Fauldhouse defence and then set Killin free on the right. His pinpoint cross to the back post was powerfully headed by Gay, but Murphy pulled off the save of the game to turn the ball round the upright for a corner. In the 84th minute, a quick break by Penicuik involving Millar and McPartlin saw Millar’s shot blocked and McPartlin’s follow up go narrowly wide of goal. Penicuik comfortably saw out the remainder of the game beating their closest rivals and winning the McBookie.com East Premier League Title. Final score: Penicuik 2 Fauldhouse 1