22nd April 2019 Penicuik Athletic v Bonnyrigg Rose. 2-4

Easter Monday and a beautiful day which was perfect for an evening at the football. Headed out to Penicuik for this EoS League Cup second round tie. Bonnyrigg had clinched the League Conference B a few weeks ago and Penicuik were crowned Conference A champions on Saturday. In addition to being a cuptie this game also acted as a taster for the play-off round robin between the Conference champions, Broxburn having clinched Conference C. The winners of this will be promoted to the Lowland League, licensing requirements permitting. Caught a 47 bus in Lothian Road and arrived at Penicuik around 19.00. Paid my £6 admission and £1.50 for  programme. While not the normal Penicuik programme the issue contained a report of the Conference clinching game on Saturday, photo's of the celebrations and an update on other East of Scotland League games played at the weekend. Considering the Easter weekend was between the two sets of fixtures this was  great effort by the Penicuik programme team.

Team line-ups were along the usual lines although both sides had some key players on the bench to keep them fresh for next weeks play-offs. Penicuik top scorer Wayne McIntosh was on the bench while Bonnyrigg had last weeks hat-trick hero Aaron Murrell as a substitute. The teams however looked well matched with a good game in prospect.

The game started with a bang and Penicuik opened the scoring after five minutes. A good move found the ball at Craig Stevenson’s feet on the right wing. He passed to Dean Crabbe who knocked the ball back to Scott McCrory-Irving on the edge of the box. The midfielder shot through a crowd of players into the far corner of the net past the unsighted Micael Andrew in the Bonnyrigg goal. The keeper was not happy about conceding this goal and let his defenders know, in no uncertain terms, that he had been unable to see the ball through the crowd in front of him. The lead lasted four minutes when former Penicuik striker Keith Lough equalised for Bonnyrigg. Kerr Young found Ross Gray on the edge of the box who flicked the ball onto Lough. The striker turned quickly and shot into the far corner from around sixteen yards out despite claims of handball from the Penicuik support. Penicuik took the lead again after thirty-four minutes. Aaron Ponton was fouled by Bonnyrigg captain Jonathan Stewart on the left wing. After a heated exchange between Stewart and Lewis Turner about whose fault it was that the foul had been conceded, and a booking for Stewart, Craig Stevenson came across from the right to take the free-kick. The ball was swung into the six yard area where Sam Jones appeared to get to the ball first ahead of the bigger players waiting behind him. Jones got a glancing header to the ball but, although the announcer said it was Jones' goal, the final touch came of a Bonnyrigg defender for an own goal. The own goal was later confirmed on the Penicuik Twitter feed with the last touch from Neil Martynuik as well as being clear on the Penicuik match video. Bonnyrigg drew level after thirty-nine minutes and again Lough was the scorer.This time the ball was knocked back to him by Turner and from around twenty-five yards he hit a low shot passed Robert Watt in the Penicuik.

Te second half was much the same as the first with both teams working hard and attempting to put pressure on their opponents. Chances however were few and far between although Andrews got down well to save a Crabbe shot and Jones came close with a cross-shot which hit the far post before bouncing out of play. However as the game wore on I felt Bonnyrigg were the stronger side and more likely to win the game. Goalscorer Lough was replaced by Murrell after seventy minutes and his pace appeared to concern the Penicuik defence. With five minutes to go Bonnyrigg won a penalty after full-back Dean Brett was brought down by substitute Darrell Young in the box. Dead-ball expert Lee Currie stepped up and made no mistake with the kick shooting into the left hand side of the net despite Watt's despairing dive. As the game entered injury time and Penicuik pushing for an equaliser Bonnyrigg clinched the game. A long clearance found Murrell in the Penicuik half and he raced for goal pursued by John Williams. Murrell drove into the box and side-stepped Williams who could not tackle for fear of giving away a penalty and also there was no cover if he missed the tackle. Murrell shot across Watt from about ten yards out on the right hand side of the goal to put Bonnyrigg in to the next round.

When the final whistle went I left the ground and headed for the nearest bus stop. For once a bus was due and arrived within a couple of minutes. Took the bus to South Clerk Street and walked home along past the Meadows arriving in the house at 10.20 after seeing a really good game. I only hope the play-off finals ,which commence of Saturday with Penicuik  v Broxburn, are as good as tonight's match.

Teams

Penicuik: Watt, Stevenson, Williams, Caddow, Page, McCrory-Irving, Crabbe, Jones, Somerville, Sproule, Ponton

Subs: Andrews, Brett, Martynuik, K.Young, Moyes, Horne, Turner, Stewart, Lough, Currie, Gray.

Subs:Murrell, Brown