Saturday 14 December 2019
Penicuik Park, Penicuik
East of Scotland Premier Division Fixture #12
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Watt, Baptie, Page, Connolly, Jones, Somerville (c) (Watson 77), Tansey (Kateleza 67), McCrory-Irving, Ponton, Stevenson (O'Donnell 46), Forbes
Unused sub | Young
Sent off | None
Tranent Juniors
Starting XI | Adams, C Donaldson, Berry, B Donaldson, Whitson, Hill, Watson, Miller, McDonald, Lander, Barrett
Unused subs | Rutherford, Hawkins, McGovern, Jones, McKenzie, Stirling
Goalscorers | None
Sent off | Miller (74)
On a cold wet blustery day, Tranent were the visitors for yet another Midlothian derby match and the first opportunity fell to the Belters, but Barrett’s effort flew over the bar. In the 11th minute, a Somerville strike flashed narrowly past the left hand post. The Penicuik striker was again in action, this time with a header that went straight into the arms of keeper Adams. Four minutes later, a fine move by Tranent saw an excellent cross by Berry was hooked wide by Watson. Tranent were in charge and controlling the game then, in the 28th minute, Berry had a chance but he fired over the bar. On the half hour, a Baptie free kick flashed over the crossbar. Just before half time, a powerful Lander strike flew over the crossbar. Despite the Belters strong performance and control in the first half, they neither hit the target nor tested keeper Watt at any time.
HALFTIME | Penicuik Athletic 0-0 Tranent Juniors
Penicuik came out for the second half with determination and one change, Stevenson off with a dead leg, replaced by O’Donnell. In the first minute, Hill for Tranent and McCrory-Irving both had attempts on goal. Three minutes later, a glancing header by Ponton forced Adams to dive out and punch clear. In the 50th minute, Tansey broke free of the Tranent defence, round keeper Adams, but C Donaldson cleared his goal bound shot off the line. Shortly afterwards, Tansey was replaced by Kateleza. The deadlock was finally broken in the 68th minute when Somerville passed to McCrory-Irving wide on the right. The ball was crossed deep into the box and SOMERVILLE dived in to bullet home a header past Adams for the opener. Two minutes later, almost a second for Penicuik when Somerville’s defence splitting pass set up Kateleza, but his powerful strike crashed back off the crossbar with Adams well beaten. Then in the 74th minute, Tranent’s Ben Miller received a straight red card for a foul on Somerville. With five minutes to go, Tranent applied some pressure, had a shot blocked for a corner, and a header off the corner go narrowly wide of the target. However in the 89th minute, Kateleza was pulled down in the box and McCRORY-IRVING stepped up to slot home the spot kick sending Adams the wrong way. Definitely a game of two halves with Tranent in charge in the first and Penicuik in the second.
FULLTIME | Penicuik Athletic 2-0 Tranent Juniors