Wednesday 7 May 2014
Station Park
East Premier League Fixture #26
Livingston United
Starting XI | D Dolan, Burns, McWilliams, Cane, S Dolan, Forbes, Russell, Drummond, Murphy, Jaconelli, Kay
Subs | Stewart, Valentine, Crawford
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Bejaoui, Ross, McDermott, Young, Cunnison (c), Lister, Killin, Gay, McCulloch, McPartlin, Montgomery
Unused subs | Millar, Dickson, Harris, Hill
Goalscorer | McCulloch (40)
Penicuik secured promotion to the East Super League with a hard earned 0-1 victory over Livingston United and will look forward to their next game at home against Jeanfield Swifts where a win will see them win the McBookie East Premier League Championship. Penicuik started the brightly and the first chance came to Penicuik in the 3rd minute when a Killin cross was headed by McCulloch but his effort dipped over the bar. Minutes later a great Gay pass set Killin free, but his shot flashed inches past the post with Dolan beaten. In the 12th minute, another accurate ball by Gay was punched clear by Dolan but McCulloch just failed to make contact to drive the ball home and the danger was cleared. Immediately afterwards, Killin’s glancing header off a McDermott cross flew a foot over the bar. Then in the 17th minute keeper Dolan turned a McCulloch drive away for a corner. At the other end, Bejaoui was brought into action for the first time, turning a pile driver of a shot round the post for a corner kick to Livingston. In the 27th minute Kay had a chance for the home side, but his effort went straight to Bejaoui. Shortly afterwards, Livingston were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box, but Jaconelli’s strike went wide of the goal. Penicuik took the lead in the 40th minute when McCULLOCH turned quickly to slot the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Two minutes later, a powerful Montgomery shot was deflected away for a corner kick. Right on half time a driving Killin run past three defenders saw his strike deflected away for yet another corner.
HALFTIME | Livingston United 0-1 Penicuik Athletic
Two minutes into the half and Bejaoui had to rush from goal to smother the ball at the feet of Drummond. At the other end keeper Dolan pulled off a great save to deny Penicuik. Penicuik piled on the pressure looking for the second goal and, following a series of corner kicks, Dolan saved the home side twice before McCulloch blasted the ball wide of the target. Minutes later, Killin was just about to finish off a sweet Penicuik move, but Cane came to the rescue for the home side. Livingston then had a great chance to equalise, and with Bejaoui rushing from goal, Murphy tried to chip the keeper but his effort sailed high over the bar. In the 62nd minute, Bejaoui was well placed to save a Drummond strike. Five minutes later, Penicuik attacked up the right wing. Ross sent in a dangerous cross that substitute Harris, under pressure from Cane, just missed with a diving header. In the 70th minute, a McDermott cross was headed narrowly wide by McPartlin. At the other end, Bejaoui pulled off a tremendous save to deny Jaconelli. In the 80th minute, Ross came close for Penicuik with a strike that flashed inches wide of the base of the upright. Then Jaconelli showed delightful skills to beat two men only to see his shot go narrowly past the post. Livingston pressurised a solid Penicuik defence in the closing minutes of the game, but Penicuik held firm to secure the victory that ensured promotion to the Super League next season.
FULLTIME | Livingston United 0-1 Penicuik Athletic