Saturday 17 November 2018
Penicuik Park
East of Scotland Conference A Fixture #10
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Cordery, Caddow (Sproule 72), Baptie, Young, Page, Connolly, Somerville (c) (Kateleza 12), Jones, McIntosh, McCrory-Irving (Crabbe 77), Ponton
Unused subs | Sampson, Williams
Newtongrange Star
Starting XI | Renton, Swaney, Mitchell, Melvin , O'Hara, Hunter, Porteous, Thomson, Forster, Sclater, Richardson
Subs | Currie, Bracks, Scott, Wilson, Lowson, Lander, Dunsmore
Something had to give here as both teams contested their 10th league match of the season and both had been unbeaten so far but in the end it was a dazzling display by 4 goal Penicuik hero Wayne McIntosh who netted all four Penicuik goals to sink the Star and net his own 24th goal of the season as top of the league Cuikie hit the 30 point mark this week with ten wins in ten league games played !Pre match punters had fancied a draw in this latest Midlothian local derby and for some 36 minutes the scoreline remained goalless before a double whammy from McINTOSH put the hosts in at the break 2-0 in the lead in front of a big crowd at Penicuik Park. It was a high speed clash starting with a 3rd minute double blocked Dale O'Hara free kick following Callum Connolly's foul on George Hunter as Kevin Milne's men got into the action at the other end with an 11th minute glancing header from Arran Ponton hitting the side net. Just two minute's later and Penicuik skipper Aaron Somerville was forced off the field injured following a tackle by Wes Mitchell as substitute Lumbert Kateleza came on to replace him making an immediate impression with his play. The opening goal however proved elusive with defences on top in a pacy encounter and several threatening corners dealt with by both defences. In 32 minutes Star's Ryan Sclater was booked for a foul as Scott McCrory Irving's resultant free kick saw a scramble in the visiting penalty area but eventually cleared away with next a Scott Swaney header clearing another Penicuik flag kick. But it all changed in the 36th minute as McINTOSH opened the scoring with a close in finish into the corner of the Star net for a crucial strike to finally break the deadlock at 1-0 to Penicuik. And just 4 minutes later it was 2-0 to Penicuik and the Star reeling as good play from Arran Ponton and Kateleza saw the latter cut the ball back into the box to see McINTOSH sweep home from close in as the first half finished with Penicuik holding that two goal cushion and late bookings for Dale Richardson for a foul and a Ryan Baptie hand ball.
HALFTIME | Penicuik Athletic 2-0 Newtongrange Star
The floodlights lit up the second half as Richardson was substituted by Kyle Lander for the Star with it all to play for now as a 53rd minute free kick from Dale O'Hara just whizzed past the far post as the Star battled hard to get back into the game with spells of strong possession. In 59 minutes a Ryan Baptie free kick nearly hit the target but it was still 2-0 to the hosts going into the last quarter of the game as Star were left frustrated as Mitchell was next yellow carded for a foul before double tip over saves by Cuikie keeper Thomas Cordery saw resultant corners for Star but well cleared by the home defence as Thomas kept a good clean sheet. Wayne Sproule came on as substitute in 73 minutes as Penicuik sought closure and it was just 3 minutes later that Penicuik went 3-0 up as McINTOSH completed a stunning hat trick after creating space for himself and shooting home to cue huge celebrations. Dean Crabbe replaced Scott McCrory-Irving for Penicuik before in 80 minutes a booking for Connolly for a foul preceded the fourth McINTOSH goal of the afternoon . And again it was Kateleza the supplier and McIntoh the finisher as Penicuik eased to the finishing line with a stunning 4-0 scoreline though finishing with 10 men having used all three substitutes as an injury saw substitute Wayne Sproule off injured.
FULLTIME | Penicuik Athletic 4-0 Newtongrange Star