Saturday 3 August 2019
Penicuik Park, Penicuik
East of Scotland Premier Division Fixture #2
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Swain, O'Donnell, Baptie, Page, Connolly (Jones 65), Somerville (c) (Watson 80), Williams, McCrory-Irving, Ponton (Tansey 57), Stewart, Stevenson
Unused subs | Watt, Young, Caddow, Sampson
Sent off | None
Blackburn United
Starting XI | Mitchell, Welsh (Young 46), Lawrie, Mildren, Browne (c), Kane, Hutton (L Devine 27), MacLeod, McQuillan, Campbell (Kirooka 61), McDowall
Unused subs | S Devine, Robertson, MacKay, Clements
Sent off | None
Penicuik got off to a flier when Aaron SOMERVILLE drilled home pass from Stewart in the 1st minute. However, Blackburn soon got over the initial shock and rattled in two goals in two minutes, both scored by Danny CAMPBELL. Penicuik should have equalised in the 22nd minute when Ponton was set free with only keeper Mitchell to beat, but his effort was sliced wide of the goal. On the half hour, a clever pass by Connolly found Somerville in space. He tried to lob the keeper, but the ball went straight into the keeper’s arms. At the other end, a long range effort by McQuillan flashed past the upright. Then keeper Mitchell was at full stretch to turn a McCrory-Irving strike round the post for a corner. Penicuik got back on level terms in the 42nd minute when SOMERVILLE glanced home a header off a Baptie corner kick.
HALFTIME | Penicuik Athletic 2-2 Blackburn United
Two minutes into the half and Somerville saw his delicate head flick go inches wide of the post. In their next attack, a Baptie diagonal pass picked out Connolly on the right wing. He drove the ball low into the six yard box where keeper Mitchell dived down at the feet of Stewart to smother the ball. In the 57th minute, a quick break from defence saw McQuillan’s strike for goal hit the side netting, but in any case he was adjudged to be offside by the far side assistant. Penicuik were now exerting constant pressure on the Blackburn goal and Somerville had a chance but Mitchell saved comfortably. One minute later, a brilliant free kick looked goal bound all the way, but Swain pulled off an equally brilliant one handed save. Then, following a corner to Penicuik, Stewart tried a spectacular overhead kick but the ball skimmed the top of the crossbar. At the other end, following another free kick to Blackburn, Swain was well placed to save a looping header. With Penicuik’s attacks coming in waves, substitute Tansey saw his strike flash inches past the post. The pressure finally told in the 82nd minute when substitute JONES rifled home from the edge of the box to give Penicuik the lead. Four minutes later the game was put to bed when Man of the Match, McCrory-Irving set up JONES who coolly stroked the ball into the top corner of the net.
FULLTIME | Penicuik Athletic 4-2 Blackburn United