5th March 2022 Penicuik Athletic 1 Blackburn United 2

 

I had been to see Hearts at Dundee United earlier this season and disc not fancy going there today again, especially as no loyalty points were being awarded as tickets could only be bought direct from Dundee United. I checked the local fixtures and decided to head to Penicuik to watch their EoS Premier Division clash with Blackburn United. I left home at 12.45 and walked to Newington where I would have a choice of two buses going Penicuik. I got to Newington around 13.15 just as a 37 was due. I should have known better but decided to get the 37 rather then wait ten minutes for a 47. The 47 goes direct out to Penicuik while the 37 diverts through Loanhead and Roslin before heading to Penicuik. As the 37 came out of Loanhead onto the Penicuik Road I checked my phone and saw that the 47 was already ahead of my bus. I arrived in Penicuik around 14.00 and got off at Tesco before walking to the ground arriving around 14.15 for the 14.30 kick-off. I showed my electronic Fanbase ticket for entry and purchased programme for £2. This match had originally been scheduled for a few weeks ago but was called off late due to a waterlogged pitch. The programme was for the original date but also included a twelve page 'wrap around' which gave an update of what had happened since the original match was postponed. 

Linlithgow Rose currently lead the EoS Premier Division  with sixty two points with Penicuik (60 points ) and Tranent {59 points) second and third with the chasing teams both having a game penalty in hand over the leaders. Penicuik had won at Blackburn last week away from home and must have had expectations of another three points today. However their side was weaken with Ryan Baptie, Paul Thomson, Lumbert Katezela, Scott McCrory-Irving and Matty Combe all unavailable. Lewis Collins, Reece Hope and Jack Furness were all included in the starting line-up. As for Blackburn I knew next to nothing about their side. I had seen Kyle McClung play before for both Edinburgh City and Bonnyrigg (on loan) and knew that Liam Allison was on loan from Linlithgow Rose but little else. 

Penicuik had the first chance early in the game. Aiden Walsh raced behind the Blackburn defence onto a long through ball. Trialist keeper, Chris Ainsley, raced from his goal and took him down with a poor tackle well outside the penalty area. The keeper was booked and Penicuik awarded a fruitless free-kick which Tansey fired past the far post although I did feel there was a case for a red card for the keeper given Walsh had a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Penicuik were fortunate minutes later when Dave Edwards made a terrible tackle on a Blackburn player on the halfway line. In my view it was at least a yellow card, and with VAR maybe a red, but the referee was content to issue a warning. After twelve minutes Blackburn broke down the left through Allison. He cut inside and Bob Watt did well to push his shot against the bar before the Penicuik defence cleared. Edwards won possession and sent Reid away although the strikers shot from the edge of the penalty box was well saved by Ainsley. The half was enlivened by the chat from the linesman on the side where I was standing opposite the covered area. At one stage Walsh went down in the penalty area although to me it was not a foul. As the forward complained to the linesman the reply was "there was nah chance of you getting a penalty for that !". Later a Blackburn was giving the linesman some stick after claim a foul for his side. The lineman response was "that was a coming together not a foul"

I decided to walk to the other end of the ground Because of a 'red zone' behind the dugouts I had to take the long route round three quarters of the ground. However I met Alan at the piei stand and he joined me on the fence at the John Street end of the ground for the second half. Within two minutes Penicuik went ahead. Collins found Walsh just inside the penalty area on the right. His shot was deflected by Reid into the path of Kieran Watson just on the edge of the six yard bot and the midfielders shot flew into the Blackburn net. Minutes later a Tansey cross found Edwards eight yards out but his shot flew over the bar. Blackburn equalised in sixty-eight minutes when a cross from Richard Hutton was flicked on to Allison who out jumped Collins to head home an equaliser.  Blackburn were now doing most of the attacking and after eighty minutes Penicuik lost Edwards to a red card. His early discretion had been followed by several other fouls and after a booking for persistent fouling he took our Callum Heath on the far touchline leaving the referee no option than to show a red card. Reid had a chance to put Penicuik back in front but Ainsley got down well to save his effort. Blackburn went ahead with four minutes to go. Callum Heath broke down the left and played a one-two with Allison. The return pass allowed him into the penalty area and he shot across Watt to give Blackburn the lead. The final whistle went shortly afterwards and to be honest Blackburn probably deserved their victory.

On the final whistle Alan and I headed to the bus stop outside the ground where  Lothian 47 was due in ten minutes. However after couple of minutes a Stagecoach 101 arrived. I knew that this bus went back to Edinburgh via Fairmilehead, Morningside and Bruntsfield so we both jumped on. When we got to the Flotterstone Inn about forty people got on board filling the bus. They must have been out walking in the hills given the better weather. With the bus now full, although we had seats, the journey into town was quick and instead of being home at 17.30 as I had suggested when I left I was home around 17.15. This gave me plenty time before settling down to watch Liverpool v West Ham on Sky. 

Teams

Penicuik Athletic: Watt, Collins, Hope, Forbes, Young, Edwards, Reid, Watson, Walsh, Furness, Tansey.

Subs :Dawson

Blackburn United; Trialist, Mildren, McClung, Owens, Miller, Meikle, Hutton, Kane, Campbell, Garrard, Allison.

Subs: Browne, Cameron, Heath.