30th May 2018 Penicuik Athletic v Bo’ness 3-2

Interesting journey out to Penicuik tonight. Caught an X15 at Fontainbridge and thought I would in plenty of time. However we we got to Buckstone a woman came down the stairs and said she had been sick on the stairs. Driver then asked everyone on upper deck to come to to lower deck and be careful when coming downstairs. Everyone eventually came down but journey was delayed as whenever anyone got on bus driver had to tell them to stay downstairs. Arrived a Penicuik at 6.55 for 7.15 kickoff. Ex-Hearts player Ryan Stevenson was included in Bo'ness squad in programme but was not in final starting line-up. I wonder if he really wants to play football now after his recent trials. I later found out that this was a different Ryan Stevenson, although he had also played for Hearts. This Ryan had only played in the youth side and was not the ex-first team player I was thinking about.

It was a lively start with the PenicuikI looking the most dangerous and and Murphy in the visitors goal was called into action and made a good save to keep the score at 0-0. The visitors tried to push forward but there was no immediate threat towards the Penicuik goal. The visitors then found themselves a goal down when a poor defensive pass was sent across the box and the loose ball was pounced on and sent into the net underneath Murphy, trying to make the save, by Andrew Sinclair. Finally Bo'ness got a cross into the home sides box but no one was there to get on the end of it, The clearance made it to the edge of the box and the first shot on goal from Bo'ness was hit towards goal but past the post. With the home side having more of the game so far they could have been further ahead than 1-0 and they were made to pay by the visitors. A good move sent the ball through to Fraser Keast just inside the box. wirith shouts to "shoot" he instead squared the ball to Marty Wright. He took a touch and then realised a shot wasn’t on so he knocked the ball into the path of Ryan Millar who made no mistake knocking the ball into the bottom corner of the net for 1-1.

Into the second half and as a bit of fog descended the floodlights were used to light the park and it was soon a case of half time seemed to have come at the wrong time for the visitors as after having the their best spell of the game towards half time they fell 2-1 behind within a minute with a goal for the home side restoring their lead. It came from a good run by Kyle Sampson who squared the ball to the unmarked Arran Ponton who shot into an empty net. A change for the Bo'ness United saw Marty Wright replaced by a Trialist.  A shout for a penalty from the home side was waved away by the referee as Murphy in the BUs goal gathered the loose ball.The home side quickly came forward again but Stuart Hunter did well at the back and as everyone expected a corner a goal kick was given to Bo'ness. The visitors were then on the attack and a good shot was blocked followed by the rebound being saved. Penicuik were next to threaten with a good ball in the box only for the resulting shot to go well over the bar. The game was settled with minutes remaining when a corner by Ryan Baptie was headed home by sub Aaron Somerville with a good, although deflected, header at the near post as the ball somehow squeezed in past the defence.The home side were through on goal again this time offside stopped the one on one with Murphy. Into injury time and the visitors again had a good spell pressing the Penicuik goal and soon pulled a goal back came as Hunter headed home for 3-2. As the fog got thicker and the lights kept the park well lit the visitors desperately looked for an equaliser and a final shot on goal went well over the bar.

After the game a 140 bus was due in two minutes but as that goes to Bonnyrigg then Musselburgh I walked to Tesco in the main street and caught a 37. This goes through Roslin and Loanhead before getting back to Edinburgh. However bus was diverted in South Clerk Street so I got off at the Meadows and walked home in time to take Rufus for his last walk of the day.

Teams

Penicuik Athletic: Cordery, Forbes, Baptie, Hume, Hamilton, MacDonald, McCrory-Irving, Jones, Sinlair, Kateleza, Ponton.

Subs: Somerville, Sampson

Bo'ness; Murphy, Shirra, Trailist, Campbell, Hunter, Gray, Millar, MacKenzie, Wright, Kelly, Keast.

Subs: Rintoul, Trailist.