Saturday 31 August 2019
Ferguson Park, Rosewell
Scottish Cup Second Preliminary Round
Whitehill Welfare
Starting XI | Bejaoui (c), Somerville, Hamilton, Meikle, Connell, Janczyk, Connor (Devlin 61), Muir, McCallum, Lough (Sproule 27), Lister (Wales 74)
Unused subs | Young, Hunter, Rogan, Murray
Sent off | None
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Watt, Baptie, Young, Connolly, Jones, Somerville (c) (Caddow 84), McCrory-Irving, Ponton, Stewart, Stevenson, Forbes
Unused subs | O'Donnell, Page, Watson, Swain, Viola
Goalscorer | McCrory-Irving (57)
Bookings | Baptie
Sent off | None
Penicuik travelled to Rosewell to take on Whitehill Welfare in the 2nd Preliminary round of the William Hill Scottish Cup, having defeated Easthouses Lily in the previous round. Penicuik looked sharp from the kickoff and Stevenson tested former Penicuik keeper Bejaoui in the 5th minute, but the big keeper saved well, the first of many excellent stops he made throughout the game. Shortly afterwards, a Somerville effort hit the post and went past for a goal kick. In the 20th minute, Jones got his head to a Stewart cross, but he couldn’t get enough power on the header and Bejaoui saved comfortably. Only some strong defending by Whitehill kept Penicuik at bay and the scores level. Then in the 42nd minute, a chance fell to Whitehill when Lister’s ball over the top of the Penicuik defence set Connor free, but he blasted the ball high over the bar. Immediately afterwards, Stewart showed great tenacity to break through the home defence only to be thwarted by keeper Bejaoui.
HALFTIME | Whitehill Welfare 0-0 Penicuik Athletic
Two minutes into the half, and the Penicuik defence was under pressure for the first time in the match. Following a corner to Whitehill, the ball was partially cleared, driven back and deflected away for a second corner kick that was well defended, and a lightning break saw a Ponton strike finally beat Bejaoui, but the ball crashed back off the crossbar. Then McCrory-Irving tested the big keeper but again, he was up to the task, diving at full stretch to turn the ball away. However, two minutes later, a sweeping move and consecutive dummies from Somerville and Stewart bamboozled the home defence, allowing Scott MCCRORY-IRVING to rifle the ball past Bejaoui into the far top corner of the net. On the hour mark Penicuik should have doubled their lead when Jones set up Stewart but his effoert went over the bar. Then Penicuik had loud claims for a penalty when Stevenson was pulled back in the box, but the referee was unmoved. In the 65th minute, Stevenson had a go from long range but Bejaoui was again on hand to save. At the other end it was Whitehill’s turn to claim a penalty for a hand ball, but once more the referee dismissed the claim. Play switched quickly to the other end where Bejaoui saved a Jones shot. Right on the 90th minute keeper Watt was at full stretch to save a strike by full back Somerville. Penicuik comfortably controlled the game and if it were not for Bejaoui the score would have been higher. Penicuik now progress to the first round proper of the Cup.
FULLTIME | Whitehill Welfare 0-1 Penicuik Athletic