Wednesday 30 April 2014
Penicuik Park
East Premier League Fixture #24
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Bejaoui, Ross, McDermott, Young, Cunnison (c), Lister, McPartlin, Gay, McCallum, McCulloch (Killin 52, Millar 90+2), Montgomery
Unused subs | Barr, Robertson, Dickson
Bathgate Thistle
Starting XI | Reid, Watson, Nichol, Welsh, Robinson, Malone, White, Baird, Lurinsky, Jack, Swan
Subs | Wales, Easton, Tague, Brines
Penicuik started the game with pace and determination and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 5th minute when a McCulloch header was headed off the line for a corner kick. Four minutes later, McCulloch was one on one with keeper Reid, but the keeper did enough to force McCulloch into a shot that went inches past the upright. In the 10th minute, a Montgomery cross was met by McCallum but his effort was desperately blocked and cleared for a throw in. Two minutes later, Penicuik lost possession in their own half and Swan’s electric pace took him past defenders, but his strike went wide of the target. Immediately afterwards, Bejaoui was brought into action diving at the feet of Watson to deny the full back. A period of play then followed with neither team able to construct any threatening moves until the 42nd minute when Bathgate put together a fine passing move that culminated with a shot by Swan, but straight at Bejaoui who gathered comfortably. In their next attack, a long range effort by Jack saw Bejaoui well placed to save.
HALFTIME | Penicuik Athletic 0-0 Bathgate Thistle
Penicuik came out in the second half and immediately upped the pace of their game pinning Bathgate back in defence. McCallum had a header off a Ross cross saved by Reid in the 48th minute. Then a quick ball through the middle by Bathgate saw Swan again outpace the Penicuik defence. He tried to lob Bejaoui, but the ball went high over the bar. In the 55th minute, there was a moment of controversy when a Gay free kick came off the post and keeper Reid appeared to be behind the line when he pulled the ball back. Referee Stuart consulted his stand side assistant and awarded a corner kick. From the corner there were loud claims for a hand ball but again the referee was unmoved. Two minutes later, a surging move up the right wing by Penicuik split the Bathgate defence and only a great blocking tackle cleared the danger for a throw in. In the 60th minute, a long ball by McDermott picked out McCallum. In one flowing move he chested the ball down only to see his instant volley saved by Reid. Then another great cross by Ross saw McCallum’s header blocked and thumped up the park to set Swan free. Again his pace caused real problems for Penicuik, but this time Cunnison snuffed out the danger. Penicuik deservedly took the lead in the 66th minute when Ross sent over another great ball into the danger area and KILLIN nipped in to head home. Immediately afterwards, Montgomery got past his marker on the left wing, but his powerful shot hit the side netting. In the 75th minute, McCallum came close with a curling left foot shot that went narrowly past the post. At the other end, substitute Tague saw his shot deflected and comfortably gathered by Bejaoui. Minutes later, another Montgomery shot was deflected inches wide of the target. Bathgate then applied some pressure looking for the equaliser, but the Penicuik defence held firm. In the 89th minute, Killin was upended on the edge of the penalty box. McCALLUM took the free kick and curled the ball over the defensive wall into the top corner of the net to seal three vital points for Penicuik.
FULLTIME | Penicuik Athletic 2-0 Bathgate Thistle
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