Saturday 29 April 2017
Keirs Park
East Super League Fixture #26
Hill of Beath Hawthorn
Starting XI | Hall, Grierson, Conners, Allan, Dair (c), Moffat, Adamson, Leishman, G Smith, Hay (Reid 68), Bryce
Unused subs | Black, Dick, B Smith, Morris
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Easton, Forbes, Noble, Hume (c), Young, Janczyk, Gay (K Scott 74), Barr, Lough (S Scott 80), Somerville, Montgomery (Jones 80)
Unused sub | McCallum
Penicuik finally got a win in April as they completed the double over the Haws in a match of few goal scoring opportunities in a stark contrast to the previous Saturday when they had no fewer than 26 attempts on goal against Jeanfield Swifts. A goal in either half from full back Andy Forbes proving to be the difference and keeping the visitors on track for a third-place finish. The home side started on the attack but a 2nd minute corner proved fruitless, before Gay sent Forbes galloping down the right five minutes later only to see his cross diverted behind for a corner. Penicuik took the lead in the 17th minute when a Noble cross was headed goalwards by Somerville and keeper Hall saw his punch land at the feet of FORBES on the right-hand angle of the 18-yard box and he found the opposite corner with a sweet strike for his seventh goal of the season. The visitors were comfortable in dominating possession without creating any further real goal scoring opportunities and it took until a minute before half time for Easton to be called into action as a Smith shot from 18 yards was easily held and the Midlothian side went in at the interval a goal in front.
HALFTIME | Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0-1 Penicuik Athletic
The second half was a more even affair and in 52 minutes Montgomery at his best, beat his man and crossed but Hall gathered. The home side responded a minute later Adamson and Leishman combined but the final ball fired across the six-yard box found no takers and just before the hour mark the visitors saw a Lough header from Jancyzk’s free kick blocked in the six-yard box. Easton was called into action in 62 minutes to produce an excellent save from Moffat’s well hit volley before Hay fired straight into the keeper’s arms. A flurry of substitutions and yellow cards kept the game interesting and with fifteen minutes to go Penicuik wrapped up the points as FORBES picked up a loose ball on the right touchline midway in the Hill of Beath half, drove towards goal and exchanged a pass with Lough before firing an unstoppable shot behind Hall into the roof of the net for his eighth of the campaign. Three minutes later Hall pulled off a great save to thwart Kyle Scott from a Montgomery cross and the visitors closed the game out and left Keirs Park with a vital three points.
FULLTIME | Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0-2 Penicuik Athletic