Saturday 30 August 2008
Penicuik Park
East Premier League Fixture #1
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI |Ramage, Gallagher, Steel, Lynch, Meikle, Ryrie, Jones, Moonie, Cameron, Milne, Montgomery
Subs | Munro, Gay, Foster, Barr, Cole
Goalscorers | Cameron (31), Barr (86)
Arniston Rangers
Starting XI | Baillie, Cunnison, Moriarty, McNicholl, Shand, Lucas, Darling, Noble, Umotong, Stevenson, Martin
Subs | Sheerin, Howitt, Donlevy, Laird, Godfrey
Goalscorer | McNicholl (8)
In this opening game of the East Premier League campaign, the fans were treated to an exciting game of football with the home side scoring the winning goal late in the second half.
In the opening minute of the game, Penicuik keeper Ramage pulled off a great save to deny Umotong. Having regained their composure, Penicuik settled into the game, but it was Arniston who took the lead in the 8th minute when McNICHOLL rose above the Penicuik defence to head home from a corner kick. One minute later, Moonie had a chance for Penicuik, but he dragged his shot wide of the target. In the 13th minute, a pinpoint cross picked out Cameron, but his header crashed back off the crossbar and Moonie saw his shot from the rebound flash past the keeper’s right hand post.
In the 28th minute, a cross by Lucas struck the arm of Lynch and, amidst loud claims for a penalty, referee Weir waved play on. Three minutes later, Penicuik were back on even terms. A long pass from defence by Meikle picked out Montgomery on the left wing. He crossed the ball first time to the back post from where CAMERON headed home powerfully into the opposite corner of the net. One minute later, a timely intervention by Lynch cut out a dangerous Martin cross. From the corner, Umotong out jumped the Penicuik defence, but his header went over the crossbar. In the 40th minute, Arniston failed to take advantage of a free kick on the edge of the Penicuik penalty area. One minute later, Montgomery nipped past three Arniston defenders only to see chances missed by both Cameron and Moonie.
HALFTIME | Penicuik Athletic 1-1 Arniston Rangers
Thirty seconds into the half, and keeper Baillie was at full stretch to get a hand to net bound shot by Ryrie. In the 49th minute, a clearance by Arniston fell to Montgomery fully thirty yards from goal, but Baillie tipped his powerful left foot shot round the post. From the corner kick, Lynch’s header hit the bar and then the hand of the defender on the goal line, but again referee Weir waved play on. In the 53rd minute, Umotong was allowed to drive to the edge of the Penicuik box unchallenged, but fortunately for Penicuik he skied his shot high over the bar. Three minutes later, a dangerous Moonie cross was desperately cut out by McNicholl. Then in the 59th minute, substitute Barr had half a chance, but he could not direct his shot on target. Arniston should have taken the lead in the 65th minute when Umotong got round the back of the Penicuik defence to send the ball along the edge of the six yard box. Stevenson, at the back post, only had to stick out a foot to score, but he completely missed the ball, much to his own disbelief.
In the 82nd minute, Arniston broke quickly from defence and an excellent pass found Stevenson. He fired off a swerving left foot shot and Ramage pulled off a tremendous one handed save. One minute later, Ramage came to the rescue again for Penicuik with another superb one handed save, this time to deny Howitt. In the 86th minute, Penicuik got the winner, when Cole crossed the ball into the box where Cameron headed on to BARR, who drove the ball into the net from 12 yards. Then at the other end, Ramage was at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Into injury time and Meikle won a tackle in his own half, drove forward and laid the ball off to Cole. He crossed the ball to the unmarked Cameron who would normally have scored with his eyes shut, but his control let him down and the danger was cleared.
FULLTIME | Penicuik Athletic 2-1 Arniston Rangers