17th November 2018 Penicuik Athletic v Newtongrange Star. 4-0


International break and so Hearts not playing. Decided to head for local derby at Penicuik against their rivals Newtongrange Star. Both teams are unbeaten in the East of Scotland League Conference A so should be a good game. Caught a 47 bus at Lothian Road at 1.15 and arrived at the ground an hour later.

Penicuik have appointed Kevin Milne as their new manager replacing Johnny Harvey who has moved to Berwick Rangers in the SPFL. However Andy Forbes, Craig Hume and Lewis Barr have elected to take advantage of release clauses in their contracts and followed Harvey to Berwick. They can only play as trialists until January when they will be be able sign after the transfer window opens. Penicuik have signed defender Greg Page and midfielder/striker Dean Crabbe from Tynecastle to bolster their squad and both were included in the squad today. Newtongrange manager Steve McLeish was the coach when I did my level 2 coaching badge while I was helping at Crammond Boys Club. I was knackered after the two hour session as we all had to do the routines  but I learned a lot. 

The game started with an early chance for Newtongrange when Steven Thomson fired a shot across goal from the right hand side of the penalty box. The shot went wide with no forwards being able to follow up to tap it in. Penicuik had an early problem when Aaron Somerville had to be substituted with an ankle injury after about fifteen minutes. He was replaced by Lumbert Kateleza. Kateleza is a good player and has a lot of skill but his final ball and finishing can be awkward at times.Penicuik took the lead shortly afterwards when Wayne McIntosh latched onto a long pass from Scott McCrory-Irving. McIntosh nudged the Newtongrange centre-half out of his way and shot past keeper Renton from the edge of the box. Three minutes later  Kateleza and Ponton linked up well on the left hand side of the pitch following a pass from McIntosh. Ponton's pass into the box was met by McIntosh six yards out who passed the ball into the net for his second goal. Newtongrange's central midfielder Scott Richardson was passing well but his bulk made it difficult for him to keep up with the play. He made me feel skinny!

 The second half started fairly even as Newtongrange pressed for a goal but they could not make any clear chances. Penicuik then scored a third when a long ball from McCrory-Irving was chased down by McIntosh. From the edge of the six yard box McIntosh fired in his hat trick past the helpless Renton. The fourth goal goal arrived after about eighty minutes when Kateleza ran on to a Crabbe through ball and fired a low pass into the box. McIntosh got in front of his defender and shot home from six yards out. Penicuik had to play the last five minutes with ten men after substitute Wayne Sproule had to leave the field after an injury. However another good win for the Cuikie who are now clear at the top of the league.

 Wandered to Cuiken Avenue and caught a fifteen bus home. Arrived home in tine for Scotland v South Africa rugby match then watched Scotland v Albania in the Nations Cup. All in all not a bad day.

Teams
Penicuik: Cordery, Caddow, Baptie, Young, Page, Connolly, Somerville, Jones, McIntosh, McCrory-Irving, Ponton.
Subs: Kateleza, Sproule, Crabbe.
Newtongrange: Renton, Swaney, Mitchell, Melvin, O"Hara, Hunter, Porteous, Thomson, Forster, Sclater, Richardson.
Subs: Lander, Lowson

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