Saturday 12 January 2019
New Victoria Park
East of Scotland Conference A Fixture #15
Newtongrange Star
Starting XI | Renton (c), Swaney, Currie, Mitchell, Lowson, Young, Scott, Richardson, Bracks, Forster, Hunter
Subs | Jamieson, Forbes, Kettrick, Calder
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Cordery, Stevenson, Baptie, Young, Page, Connolly (c), Sampson (Somerville 66), Jones, McIntosh, Crabbe (Sproule 6, Caddow 84), Ponton
Unused subs | Robertson, Williams, Hamilton, Montgomery
Penicuik made the short journey to Newtongrange for the last league derby of the season and had a mountain to climb after going two behind within the first twenty minutes. However Cuikie showed great character to come away with all three points scoring four goals without reply. In addition, Aaron Somerville’s 90th minute goal saw him reach 70 goals for the club and become the Club’s second highest goal scorer in the modern era, surpassing for skipper Ryan McCallum.The home side took the lead in the 9th minute when a FORSTER header off a corner kick deceived keeper Cordery. Immediately afterwards, keeper Renton had to rush off his goal line to dive at the feet of Jones to deny the midfielder. Star doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when HUNTER headed home at the back post. After getting over the initial shock, Penicuik worked hard to get back in the game and their efforts were rewarded five minutes later when McINTOSH drilled the ball low past Renton. Then Star were awarded a soft free kick that saw the strike head for the top corner of the net, but Cordery pulled off a tremendous save to turn the ball away for a corner. Minutes later, Sproule curled in the perfect cross from the right wing only to see McIntosh’s volley go inches wide of the far post. Penicuik equalised in the 34th minute when JONES followed up to slot home after Renton had beaten out a Ponton shot.
HALFTIME | Newtongrange Star 2-2 Penicuik Athletic
Seconds into the second half and Penicuik attacked up the right wing, Jones crossed the ball across the box to pick out PONTON swept the ball into the net at the second attempt. Shortly afterwards, Cordery came to the rescue for Penicuik with a fingertip save, turning a header round the post for a corner. Newtongrange were starting to exert pressure on Penicuik looking for the equaliser an in the 70th minute they finally got round the back of the Penicuik defence. The low hard cross saw Cordery dive low to punch the ball away, and the return strike went wide of the target. Ten minutes later, with Penicuik holding on, a strike from the edge of the box was well held by Cordery. With the home side pushing forward for the equaliser, they left themselves short at the back and a driving run and cross by Jones in the 90th minute picked out SOMERVILLE who slammed the ball past Renton into the roof of the net for his 70th Penicuik goal.
FULLTIME | Newtongrange Star 2-4 Penicuik Athletic