Saturday 15 February 2020
Foresters Park, Tranent
East of Scotland Premier Division Fixture #18
Tranent Juniors
Starting XI | Adams, C Donaldson, Jones, B Donaldson, Hawkins (c), Miller, Hill, Black, MacDonald, Lander, Barrett
Subs | Berry, McKenzie, McGovern, Watson, Stirling
Sent off | None
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Watt, Baptie, Young, Page (Watson 46), Connolly, Kateleza, Somerville (c) (Devlin 65), Tansey (Jones 70), McCrory-Irving, Stevenson, Forbes
Unused subs | Wilson, Ponton
Sent off | None
Despite the horrendous weather, the game went ahead at Forrester Park on a pitch that held up remarkably well considering the conditions. The howling gale blew straight down the pitch pinning Penicuik down in their own half with the hosts piling on the pressure. The first opportunity fell to Tranent in the 7th minute when Miller tried to chip Watt, but Young turned the ball away for a corner. However the Tranent pressure told in the 19th minute when a corner kick was only partially cleared to DONALDSON who drilled the ball into the net. In a rare Penicuik attack, McCrory-Irving came close with a shot that dipped over the crossbar. One minute later, Barrett saw his strike go narrowly past the post. On the half hour, Watt pulled off a great save to deny Hill, but the rebound was slotted home by LANDER. One minute later, it was 3-0 when HAWKINS headed home off a corner kick. Penicuik attacked immediately afterwards, but Kateleza’s strike was blocked. Then Stevenson tried a long range shot the flashed over the bar. However in the 38th minute Penicuik’s woes continued when MACDONALD added a fourth for Tranent. Right on half time a powerful Tansey strike was tipped round the post by Adams.
HALFTIME | Tranent Juniors 4-0 Penicuik Athletic
With the wind behind their backs, Penicuik piled on the pressure and it only took four minutes to open their account when McCRORY-IRVING slotted home at the third attempt. Minutes later Penicuik should have scored but Forbes hooked the ball over the bar. In the 63rd minute, Penicuik pulled back another goal when KATELEZA slammed the ball home. Penicuik now had their tails up and were threatening to add to their tally until disaster struck when Tranent were awarded a dubious penalty kick. Watt saved the penalty kick, but MACDONALD followed up to slot home the rebound. That goal seemed to deflate Penicuik and despite a couple of substitutions, the visitors never really got back into the game to the same degree. The nearest Penicuik came to scoring was a McCrory-Irving effort that flew over the bar and a deflected shot off Kateleza that drooped over the crossbar with Adams back peddling.
FULLTIME | Tranent Juniors 5-2 Penicuik Athletic