Saturday 14 September 2013
Penicuik Park
East of Scotland Cup 1st Round
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Bejaoui, Ross, McDermott, Cunnison, Kerr, Dickson, Knight, Gay (c), McCallum, McPartlin, Harris
Subs | Patterson, Barr, Lister, Killin, Young
Dundonald Bluebell
Starting XI | Lennox, McCreadie, Graham, Laird, Shields, Walton, Terras, Duffy, Carr, Lally, Wallace
Subs | Brown, Mayne, Murphy, Wilson
Dundonald Bluebell were the visitors to Penicuik Park for this 1st round tie in the East of Scotland Cup and little did the fans realise they were to be treated to a nine goal thriller. The game started at a really high tempo with both sides showing some excellent first time passing and from the start Penicuik realised they would have to be at their best to continue their winning run of five games. As the game progressed Penicuik quickly gained the upper hand and opened the scoring in the 6th minute when KERR scored off a McDermott corner kick. His strike beat keeper Lennox and was rightly adjudged to have crossed the line despite a valiant effort to keep it out. Penicuik continued to press and chances fell to Harris on three occasions, but keeper Lennox pulled of great saves to deny the young winger. Then McPartlin saw his left foot strike beat Lennox, but the ball flashed just wide of the post. In the 21st minute Penicuik deservedly doubled their lead when KERR rose above the Dundonald defence to bullet home a header off a Ross corner kick. Minutes later, Dickson was denied by the post when his right foot shot crashed back off the woodwork and was cleared. Despite all their pressure, Penicuik could not add to their total before half time.
HALFTIME | Penicuik Athletic 2-0 Dundonald Bluebell
Manager Archie Wyse must have given an inspirational half time talk to his players, because within ten minutes of the restart, Dundonald were on level terms. First, through a snap shot by CARR in the 47th minute and then WALLACE finished off a classy passing move by the visitors seven minutes later. Penicuik were now under pressure but weathered the early storm to hit back in the 68th minute when a Gay pile driver fizzed inches past the upright followed by a goal three minutes later. A cross into the box was headed on by the outstanding McCallum and the ball fell to HARRIS who looked suspiciously offside, but he did not hesitate and stroked the ball home to restore Penicuik's lead. Shortly afterwards keeper Lennox was inured diving at the feet of Dickson and took no further part in the game. Then, in the 76th minute, a neat chip over the defence was picked up by substitute KILLIN who coolly lobbed the advancing keeper to make it 4-2. Killin had to go off with a hamstring injury immediately after scoring the goal. Three minutes later, substitute Patterson left his marker trailing behind him, curled the ball round the back of the defence and HARRIS slotted the ball home from close range. With everyone thinking the game was over, Harris took a knock and limped off, but with all substitutes used, Penicuik were reduced to ten men. Dundonald took full advantage and in the 81st minute, Bejaoui failed to hold a shot and CARR nipped in to make it 5-3. In the 87th minute, a fine solo effort by LALLY reduced the deficit to one. Immediately afterwards, Bejaoui redeemed himself with a fine fingertip save to keep Penicuik ahead. Penicuik survived five minutes of extra time to progress to the next round of the Cup.
FULLTIME | Penicuik Athletic 5-4 Dundonald Bluebell