18th February 2020 Tranent Juniors v Penicuik Athletic 2-3
I had intended to go out to Bonnyrigg tonight for their cuptie against Dundonald Bluebell but tat game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. I therefore decided to head to Tranent for their first match under the recently installed floodlights against Penicuik in the Football Nations Cup. I left home around 17.50 and walked down to Haymarket to catch a 26 bus to Tranent. The journey normally takes around an hour and I had taken my Kindle to keep me occupied on the way. The journey was fine until we left Musselburgh and the bus headed down the road towards Prestonpans rather than the usual route along the old A1 to Tranent. I thought for a moment I had got on a 26 to Seton Sands by mistake but on checking the bus app on my found found that the bus was heading to Tranent. Unfortunately due to roadworks it could not take the normal direct route and was diverted through Prestonpans before arriving in Tranent. After a tour of the scenic delights of East Lothian in the dark the bus arrived in Tranent to encounter temporary traffic lights and more roadworks before arriving at the stop nearest to Foresters Park around 19.20. I checked the bus-stop across the road was in operation for going home before heading into the ground. I paid my £6 entry and headed towards the covered area to watch the match. Tranent do not issue programmes but I recognised most of the Penicuik side and there were are few familiar faces in the Tranent side. The new floodlights gave an excellent view of the game as the photo's above show.
Both sides are in the East of Scotland Premier league with Tranent currently fourth and Penicuik sixth. It could be said that they are both under-performing with Tranent having brought in a number of good players from other sides during the close season and Penicuik reaching the play-offs last season before losing out to Bonnyrigg season. Manager Colin Shand recently left Tranent and has been replaced by former Penicuik and Berwick Rangers manager Johnny Harvey. This is Harvey's first game in charge of Tranent with assistant David McGlynn having lead the side in their match against the same opponents of Saturday. Tranent won that match 5-2, with six of the goals being scored in the goal facing the howling gale, and confidence will be high for tonight. It looked as if former Edinburgh City captain Josh Walker who recently retired from the SPFL club following a knee problem was making a comeback in the Tranent midfield after signing as player/assistant manager. Penicuik made changes from Saturday's side for tonight with new goalkeeper Mark Tait, previously with Edinburgh University, making his first start for his new side. Greg Page and Aaron Somerville joined Saturday's goalkeeper Robert Watt on the bench.
Tranent started the match well with former Hearts player Ian Black dominating the midfield with his range of accurate passing. The only issue was I felt he was picking up the ball too deep as he was receiving the ball only twenty-five yards from his own goal. Tranent took the look after eight minutes after a good run down the left by their full-back Andy Jones. He was dispossessed as he cut into the penalty box and Penecuik’s Craig Stevenson attempted to clear the ball to Paul Tansey on the edge of their penalty box. The striker was challenged to by Tranent's Adam Watson and the ball broke to Bradley Barrett. The winger shot low from around sixteen yards into the left hand corner of Tait's goal put Tranent one up. Penicuik then came more into the match but were unable to trouble Alasdair Adams in the Tranent goal until thirty-four minutes had passed. Penicuik forced a corner of their left which was taken by Ryan Baptie. His cross found Tansey on the edge of the six yard box and he jumped unchallenged to head home the equaliser. Shortly after this Lumbert Katezela beat Tranent's offside trap but his low cross was fired high over the bar by Callum Connolly from about ten yards. Penicuik went ahead after forty-one minutes. Tansey sent a high cross towards the far post from the Penicuik left. Jones seemed to have time to clear the ball but mis-controlled and was only able to touch it towards Brad Donaldson. Kateleza intercepted and took a touch to get away from Donaldson before shooting low into the net. As the half-time whistle was about to blow Penicuik scored a third. Adams gathered a passback and looked to pass to Ciaran McKenzie on the edge of his penalty area. Kateleza intercepted and sent the ball through to Sam Jones. The midfielder ran into the area and from around ten yards shot past Adams for a three one lead.
It was not very warm on the terracing and at halftime I went to the tear for a coffee. As I came out I met Alan who I first came across when he ran a football programme shop in the 1970's. We have chatted at a number of matches in recent years and as we were both on our own decided to take up a position on the fence near the goal Penicuik were attacking for the second half. There was an early scare for Tranent when a short passback forced Adams into a hasty clearance However to be honest the second half was nowhere near the standard of the first for entertainment. Penicuik knew they had the game won and although Tranent had most of the ball they were unable to make any real chances. Tait did well to rush off his line to block Barrett just after the hour mark and later made a good save from a Steven McDonald header. Penicuik looked dangerous on the break and substitute Somerville forced a good save from Adams after a through ball from Connolly. Tranent's Black was booked for dissent after arguing with the referee but surprisingly he kept his cool after he was the victim of a bad challenge in midfield which resulted in treatment from the physio. Tranent pulled a goal back in injury time when Penicuik failed to clear a high cross from Lewis Hawkins and McDonald shot home from the right hand side of the six yard box. The final whistle confirmed Penicuik's place in the semi-finals where they will meet the winners of the tie between Bonnyrigg and Dundonald.
After the final whistle Alan and I crossed the road to get a bus bak into town. Alan suggested that rather than get a 26 we should get a 104 as it took a more direct route. The 104 was a couple of minutes after the 26 but we were back in central Edinburgh by around 22.15. From that we both caught a 22 and I was home before 22.30 after watching an excellent advert for lower league football. We were chatting about football on the journey home and the time passed far quicker than the journey I had going out to Tranent. When I got home I thought that tonights match was a bit like watching Hearts recently given that four of the five goals scored came from players losing possession in defensive areas.
Teams
Tranent: Adams, Hawkins, Jones, B. Donaldson, McKenzie, Walker, Berry, Black, McDonald, Watson, Barrett.
Subs: Miller, Hill.
Penicuik: Tait, Stevenson, Baptie, Forbes, Young, Connolly, McCrory-Irving, Jones, Kateleza, Watson, Tansey.
Sub: Somerville
Both sides are in the East of Scotland Premier league with Tranent currently fourth and Penicuik sixth. It could be said that they are both under-performing with Tranent having brought in a number of good players from other sides during the close season and Penicuik reaching the play-offs last season before losing out to Bonnyrigg season. Manager Colin Shand recently left Tranent and has been replaced by former Penicuik and Berwick Rangers manager Johnny Harvey. This is Harvey's first game in charge of Tranent with assistant David McGlynn having lead the side in their match against the same opponents of Saturday. Tranent won that match 5-2, with six of the goals being scored in the goal facing the howling gale, and confidence will be high for tonight. It looked as if former Edinburgh City captain Josh Walker who recently retired from the SPFL club following a knee problem was making a comeback in the Tranent midfield after signing as player/assistant manager. Penicuik made changes from Saturday's side for tonight with new goalkeeper Mark Tait, previously with Edinburgh University, making his first start for his new side. Greg Page and Aaron Somerville joined Saturday's goalkeeper Robert Watt on the bench.
Tranent started the match well with former Hearts player Ian Black dominating the midfield with his range of accurate passing. The only issue was I felt he was picking up the ball too deep as he was receiving the ball only twenty-five yards from his own goal. Tranent took the look after eight minutes after a good run down the left by their full-back Andy Jones. He was dispossessed as he cut into the penalty box and Penecuik’s Craig Stevenson attempted to clear the ball to Paul Tansey on the edge of their penalty box. The striker was challenged to by Tranent's Adam Watson and the ball broke to Bradley Barrett. The winger shot low from around sixteen yards into the left hand corner of Tait's goal put Tranent one up. Penicuik then came more into the match but were unable to trouble Alasdair Adams in the Tranent goal until thirty-four minutes had passed. Penicuik forced a corner of their left which was taken by Ryan Baptie. His cross found Tansey on the edge of the six yard box and he jumped unchallenged to head home the equaliser. Shortly after this Lumbert Katezela beat Tranent's offside trap but his low cross was fired high over the bar by Callum Connolly from about ten yards. Penicuik went ahead after forty-one minutes. Tansey sent a high cross towards the far post from the Penicuik left. Jones seemed to have time to clear the ball but mis-controlled and was only able to touch it towards Brad Donaldson. Kateleza intercepted and took a touch to get away from Donaldson before shooting low into the net. As the half-time whistle was about to blow Penicuik scored a third. Adams gathered a passback and looked to pass to Ciaran McKenzie on the edge of his penalty area. Kateleza intercepted and sent the ball through to Sam Jones. The midfielder ran into the area and from around ten yards shot past Adams for a three one lead.
It was not very warm on the terracing and at halftime I went to the tear for a coffee. As I came out I met Alan who I first came across when he ran a football programme shop in the 1970's. We have chatted at a number of matches in recent years and as we were both on our own decided to take up a position on the fence near the goal Penicuik were attacking for the second half. There was an early scare for Tranent when a short passback forced Adams into a hasty clearance However to be honest the second half was nowhere near the standard of the first for entertainment. Penicuik knew they had the game won and although Tranent had most of the ball they were unable to make any real chances. Tait did well to rush off his line to block Barrett just after the hour mark and later made a good save from a Steven McDonald header. Penicuik looked dangerous on the break and substitute Somerville forced a good save from Adams after a through ball from Connolly. Tranent's Black was booked for dissent after arguing with the referee but surprisingly he kept his cool after he was the victim of a bad challenge in midfield which resulted in treatment from the physio. Tranent pulled a goal back in injury time when Penicuik failed to clear a high cross from Lewis Hawkins and McDonald shot home from the right hand side of the six yard box. The final whistle confirmed Penicuik's place in the semi-finals where they will meet the winners of the tie between Bonnyrigg and Dundonald.
After the final whistle Alan and I crossed the road to get a bus bak into town. Alan suggested that rather than get a 26 we should get a 104 as it took a more direct route. The 104 was a couple of minutes after the 26 but we were back in central Edinburgh by around 22.15. From that we both caught a 22 and I was home before 22.30 after watching an excellent advert for lower league football. We were chatting about football on the journey home and the time passed far quicker than the journey I had going out to Tranent. When I got home I thought that tonights match was a bit like watching Hearts recently given that four of the five goals scored came from players losing possession in defensive areas.
Teams
Tranent: Adams, Hawkins, Jones, B. Donaldson, McKenzie, Walker, Berry, Black, McDonald, Watson, Barrett.
Subs: Miller, Hill.
Penicuik: Tait, Stevenson, Baptie, Forbes, Young, Connolly, McCrory-Irving, Jones, Kateleza, Watson, Tansey.
Sub: Somerville
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