Saturday 2 May 2015
Olivebank Stadium
East Super League Fixture #25
Musselburgh Athletic
Starting XI | Adams, Martin (Christie 46), Hamilton, Hunter, Beveridge (Sheerin 46), Thomson (Myles 46), Russell, Ralton, Davie, Wilson, Doig
Unused sub | Jackson
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Bejaoui, Ross, McDermott (Janczyk 46), White, Young (Bunyan 85), Cunnison (c), Gay, Burrell (Lister 72, McCallum, Killin, McCulloch
Unused sub | Hill
Penicuik travelled to meet Junior Cup Finalists Musselburgh who had defeated them at the Quarter Final stage of the competition with both sides making several changes from that match six weeks ago. Penicuik kicked off and straight away Ryan Gay tried an ambitious effort from inside his own half which went over the bar and when play went to the other end and hesitancy in the Penicuik defence almost allowed Ralton a clear scoring opportunity. With five minutes gone Burgh had an excellent chance as Hunter headed wide after good play down the Penicuik left flank by Beveridge and Thomson. Five minutes later a McDermott cross was nodded down by McCallum to the onrushing Killin but he failed to make clear contact and the chance went a begging. As the half entered the halfway point, Ralton set up Thomson but he failed to get his shot on target from a narrow angle. With 27 minutes gone the ball broke from Burrell to Gay 20 yards out but his curling effort went narrowly over the bar. The pace of Beveridge and Ralton was causing the Penicuik back three problems and again Ralton set up Thomson but his final shot was poor and easily collected by Bejaoui. The deadlock was broken on 34 minutes as an Adams kick out saw White out jumped by Hunter and THOMSON ran onto his flick on and slotted past Bejaoui from 16 yards. The visitors attempted to hit back and Gay’s free kick from wide left had Adams scrambling as it hit the outside of the base of the post and a minute later a Davie shot from 20 yards had Bejaoui diving to parry his shot and the danger was cleared. With 40 minutes played a Penicuik attack was broken up and Beveridge latched onto the ball deep inside his own half and raced the length of the park leaving Burrell and Young in his wake to cross for HUNTER to volley past Bejaoui from eight yards.
HALFTIME | Musselburgh Athletic 2-0 Penicuik Athletic
A tactical tweak at half time saw Penicuik go to a conventional 4-4-2 and the pattern of the game changed as the space on the flanks was limited, but it was the hosts who had the first chance on 50 minutes as a Sheerin shot from 20 yards was easily saved by Bejaoui. Four minutes later a Gay cross set up Killin but his acrobatic overhead kick went wide and a minute later the visitors got one back as McCallum collected a long kick out and his cross from the left was met by JANCYZK who nipped in front of Adams to slot home. Penicuik were starting to create chances and as Killin played in McCulloch his shot cleared keeper Adams but drifted wide of the upright, before McCulloch set up Ross and Adams saved with his outstretched leg. Just past the hour mark a Sheerin free kick from 25 yards rebounded off the wall to Ralton whose rasping shot brought out the best in Bejaoui and with 67 minutes gone Sheerin had the ball in the back of the net was ruled offside Adams saved well from McCulloch and Sheerin and Ralton brought out a top double save from Bejaoui. With 70 minutes gone Ross found Gay in space but his shot was easily saved by Adams, but in their next attack Penicuik equalised as McCALLUM’S diving header from a Jancyzk cross beat Adams. Both sides were now pressing for a winner and Sheerin for the hosts and Killin for the visitors passed up opportunities before with two minutes left McCallum rose to meet a Gay cross but his header was pushed away by Adams. On the 90 minute mark Sheerin hit the post from 18 yards out and Ralton ‘s follow up was well saved by Bejaoui.
FULLTIME | Musselburgh Athletic 2-2 Penicuik Athletic
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