On a bitterly cold day at Gardiners Park Lochgelly, Penicuik struggled to get a team together because of a string of injuries, but got off to the perfect start in 90 seconds when CAMERON headed home a free kick. He should have made it 0 –2 minutes later, but dallied to long on the ball and the danger was cleared. Then Steel came close for Penicuik when he burst into the box only to see his shot well saved by Rushford. In the 15^th minute, Lochgelly attacked up the left wing and the ball was laid off to Brown who had two shots on goal blocked by Meikle. Three minutes later, a free kick to Lochgelly was headed back across goal and keeper Sandison did enough to put off Harrow and his shot went high over the bar. Then Field saw his shot spin off the boot of Meikle allowing Sandison to save comfortably.

In the 23^rd minute, a deep cross by Gallagher had Rushford back pedalling and he did brilliantly to tip the ball over the crossbar. On the half hour, an excellent diagonal pass picked out JEFFREY on the left wing and he curled his shot over the head of Sandison for the equaliser. Four minutes later Sandison got down well to save a well placed shot by Harrow. At the other end, Steel was inches away from touching home a Penicuik free kick. In the 39^th minute, a defence-splitting pass by Ryrie picked out McKean. He got past the keeper, but McReadie blocked his strike on goal for a corner. From the corner Montgomery sent over a curling cross that keeper Rushford got a hand to, but the ball cam back off the crossbar and was cleared. Right on half time, Jeffrey was set free with only Sandison to beat, but he blasted the ball high over the crossbar.

Half Time: Lochgelly 1 Penicuik 1

In the opening minute of the second half, Meikle stumbled leaving Brown with only the keeper to beat. However, Sandison spread himself well and Brown’s shot went inches wide of the target. In the 50^th minute, GAY turned quickly in the box and his left foot shot flashed past Rushford to restore Penicuik’s lead. Then in the 56^th minute, Montgomery passed the ball to Gay who rounded the keeper and was brought down. GAY scored from the spot kick, sending keeper Rushford the wrong way. In the 61^st minute, the Penicuik defence were caught out when trying to pass their way out of defence, but Sandison again came to the rescue when he rushed out to block the shot. Shortly afterwards, a neat passing move by Penicuik culminated with a shot by Barr that just missed the target.

Lochgelly refused to give up and in the 78^th minute, Sandison pulled off a super save when he rushed from goal to deny Brown. Three minutes later, following a corner to Lochgelly, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box and was immediately struck for goal, but Sandison pulled off the save of the game getting across his goal to beat the ball away. In the 88^th minute, a quick break from defence by Lochgelly saw Brown free on goal, but Sandison was again alert to rush out and dive at Brown’s feet to save the day again for Penicuik. One minute later, a flowing move by Penicuik up the right wing, saw McKean cross a low ball across the six yard box and Gay rushed in to slot the ball home for what he believed was his hat trick. However, the referee inexplicably ruled the goal out for offside. One minute into injury time Penicuik were saved by the woodwork when Jeffrey saw his shot hit post, run along the goal line and booted clear by Gallagher.