Established 1888

Match Report

Penicuik  vs Arbroath Vics 22 11.14

3rd Round Scottish Junior Cup

Penicuik 2 Arbroath 0 Penicuik: Bejaoui, Cunnison, Ross, White, Young, Lister, Rennie, McCulloch, Weir, Gay, Janczyk Subs: McPartlin, Killin, McCallum, Burrell, Hill Arbroath Vics:  Cargill, MacGregor, C Sturrock, Florence, Johnstone, D Sturrock, Chalmers, Swan, Thomson, Hester, Donald Subs: McWalter, Tindal, Lawson Referee:  Penicuik played host to McBookie.com North Division Arbroath Vics in the 3rd round of the Junior Cup with three changes to the side on league duty the previous week as Ross, Rennie and Weir replaced McDermott, Killin and McCallum in the starting line-up. Both sides were tentative in the early stages and with five minutes gone it was the visitors who had the first opportunity as a Hester cross across the six yard box was narrowly out of the reach of the onrushing Donald. Three minutes later a Janczyk cross into the box was just of the reach of an out stretched Weir who was injured in the process and replaced by McCallum. With ten minutes on the clock Ross had the ball in the back of the Vics net but was ruled out for an earlier offside against Rennie and in their next attack a Lister effort from 18 yards out squirmed wide. The home side were starting to dominate possession but goal scoring opportunities were kept to a minimal by a hard working visiting side. On 28 minutes Rennie was brought down by Sturrock on the right hand edge of the box and  Jancyzk’s free kick was deflected by FLORENCE past keeper Cargill at the front post to give Penicuik the lead. With 32 minutes gone a fine interchange between Jancyzk, Ross and McCallum saw Ross set up 20 yards out but his shot was held by Cargill before a minute later Jancyzk’s effort was well wide of the target. The home side were well on top and Cunnison set up Lister who blazed over from the edge of then box, closely followed by a Gay effort that went wide. The best chance of the half was then missed by Rennie in the 38th minute as he headed wide from a Jancyzk cross with the goal at his mercy! The home side finished the half on the attack as Rennie was brought down on the edge of the box but McCallum’s free kick was blocked by the defensive wall before Ross shot wide, and like so many efforts in the half failed to test the keeper. Half Time – Penicuik Athletic 1 – Arbroath Vics 0 It was two minutes into the second half before Bejaoui in the home goal saw any action as he comfortably claimed a Sturrock free kick. Seven minutes into the half McCallum got a touch to a Gay header but saw the ball squirm across the goal and narrowly past the far post. With 56 minutes gone a Young header from a Jancyzk corner flashed across the goal and went wide before a Donald shot on the turn for Vics went wide of Bejaoui’s right hand post. In the 64th minute McCallum and Gay combined to set up sub McPartlin whose shot from 16 yards brought a fine save from Cargill and a minute later the home side doubled their lead as McCALLUM headed home a Cunnison cross. The combinations of Jancyzk and Ross down the left and now Gay and Cunnison were starting to exploit the tiring Vics defence and the added energy of sub McPartlin running into the space behind and beyond McCallum was causing the experienced Sturrock and Florence problems. In the 68th minute a break by Penicuik saw Gay and McPartlin combine before Gay volleyed over from 12 yards out, and four minutes later a loose ball dropped to Cunnison at the edge of the box and his shot was touched by Cargill onto the post. With five minutes remaining McPartlin’s shot from 16 yards went wide of the upright and three minutes later Gay got on the end of a McPartlin through ball but shot over. As the game progessed into injury time Vics had a great chance to grab a consolation as Donald found himself one on one with Bejaoui but the big keeper ensured a clean sheet by blocking the striker’s effort. In the final move of the game McPartlin once again set up Gay but his shot went past both the onrushing keeper and the far post. A game dominated by the home side who were profligate with their chances against a hardworking and plucky Arbroath Vics side, and it’s Penicuik who go into the hat for the last 32 of the Junior Cup for a second year running.  Full Time - – Penicuik Athletic 2 – Arbroath Vics 0

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