Saturday 16 May 2015
Prestonfield
Fife & Lothians Cup Quarter Final
Linlithgow Rose
Starting XI | Christie, Thom, McKillen, Tyrrell, Ovenstone, MacLennan, Kelly, Batchelor, Strickland, Kelbie, R MacLennan
Subs | Shirra, Neilson, McKinven
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Bejaoui, Cunnison, McDermott, White, Young, Burrell, Ross, Gay, McCallum, Killin, Jancyzk Subs | Patterson, Bunyon, McCulloch, Meikle, Hill
Having lost last week at home to Linlithgow in the League, Penicuik were hoping to reverse that result and progress to the semi-final of the Fife & Lothians Cup. However the first forty five minutes belonged to Linlithgow, dominating play and possession. In the 13th minute, a quickly taken free kick by Linlithgow saw Ruari McLennan’s 25 yard effort go a foot over the bar. Linlithgow continued to press hard but without penetrating the visitor’s defence. However they were awarded a soft penalty in the 27th minute when McDermott was adjudged to have barged Ruari McLennan in the box. The spot kick was converted by KELBIE. Two minutes later a free kick to Linlithgow was crossed to the back post but Bejaoui tipped the header over the bar. From the corner, Bejaoui pulled off a superb, instinctive one handed save from close range to deny the home side.
HALFTIME | Linlithgow Rose 1-0 Penicuik Athletic
Penicuik came out for the second half full of determination forcing the home side on the back foot and in the 52nd minute, a corner to Penicuik was only partially cleared, crossed back across the right side of the penalty box where CUNNISON stroked the ball into thy far bottom corner of the net. Then a long range Linlithgow free kick was turned over the crossbar by keeper Bejaoui. Immediately afterwards, Kelly crossed the ball from the right wing to Roddy MacLennan, but his powerful shot fizzed a foot over the bar. In the 61st minute, a cross into the box by Penicuik was picked up by McCallum. As he shielded the bar he was pulled down from behind and a penalty awarded. McCALLUM coolly converted the spot kick to put Penicuik ahead. In the 75th minute, Roddy MacLennan came close with a curling shot that went inches wide of the upright. Then Ross won the ball in his own half and set off up the right wing leaving Rose players in his wake. He got round the back of the Linlithgow defence only to over hit his cross and a great opportunity was lost. Then came a blow for Penicuik when the ball was partially cleared by White and Batchelor set up KELBIE who slotted the ball past Bejaoui. In the 85th minute, with the game looking like it was going to a penalty shoot-out, Kelbie on the right wing, and a yard offside, received the ball. He cut across the box, passed to Ruari MacLENNAN who picked his spot and put the Rose through to the semi-final.
FULLTIME | Linlithgow Rose 3-2 Penicuik Athletic