2nd August 2022. Tynecastle 1 Penicuik Athletic 3

My first Penicuik match of 2022/23 with the ‘Cuikie’ playing Tynecastle at Meggetland. After an early meal I left home at 18.40 for the short walk along the canal to Meggetland. At Harrison Park I met Alan sitting on a park bench. He was also heading to Meggetland so I walked with him the rest of the way. We arrived at Meggetland around 19.10 for the 19.30 kick-off. Surprisingly the electronic tickets were not scanned and we were handed a paper ticket before going through the turnstiles. As normal there were no programmes on sale so we took seats in the main stand near the halfway line in preparation for the kickoff. There was no tannoy announcement of the teams lineups but Penicuik showed their team on Twitter and Facebook just before the kickoff. Even better they also listed the Tynecastle lineup in the post. 

Tynecastle had lost their first league match of the season, 4-0 at Sauchie, and will, I think, face a season of struggle in the East of Scotland Premier League. I did not know a lot about their side as I only recognised a few players. Goalkeeper Murray Jackson who had previously played with Newtongrange and Tranent, Aaron Ponton who includes Penicuik amongst his former clubs and centre forward Ryan Cameron who has been a consistent goalscorer for Tynecastle. Penicuik beat Dundonald 2-0 in their first league match on Saturday despite having captain Andy Forbes sent off. The club had a difficult close season having to rebuild after the loss of a number of key players. Nick Reid and Kieran Watson both signed pre-contracts with FC Edinburgh and are now playing in SPFL League Two while striker Paul Tansey had his contract cancelled after pleading guilty to charges of assaulting his girlfriend. Manager Stevie McLeish has brought in a number of new players including brothers Fletcher and Taylor Hendry from Tynecastle, Andy Mair (Broxburn), Greg Page (Musselburgh) and Gregor MacDonald and Alex Chingwalu (both Heriot Watt). Gregor Lamb moved back from midfield to right back to cover for the suspended Forbes in the starting line-up.

Penicuik started the game well with some good passing in midfield but were unable to make any clear early chances. Given Penicuik were denied a playoff place last season on goal difference it was concerning to see the same fiailing again in this early season match. However things changed in twenty-eight minutes when Penicuik won a corner on the left. Ryan Baptie took the kick and found Darrell Young at the near post. He nodded the ball down towards Aiden Walsh who volleyed home from just outside the six yard box. Three minutes later Penicuik went two up. This followed a passing move started in their own half before working across goal to Walsh on th left around twelve yards from the byeline. He passed the ball back to stand-in captain Baptie who crossed towards the near post. T. Hendry dived to head the ball into the net but could not reach it. His dive however distracted Jackson in the Tynecastle goal and the cross found its way into the net. Penicuik were then in control until halftime with MacDonald going close to a third goal with a  shot well saved by Jackson. Penicuik keeper Robert Watt was only called into action once in the first half when he raced from his line to kick clear  through ball twenty-five yards from his goal.

Penicuik started the second half well but lost Lamb early on. After a poor challenge near the  right touchline he needed treatment from the physio. He was unable to continue and limped of to be replaced by Max McGinley. Penicuik then appeared to ease off and the slick passing from the first half was no longer in evidence. I was impressed with Tynecastles number ten, Liam Kennedy, who battled hard n midfield and attempted to creat chances against what was a strong Penicuik defence. Page was annoyed by some refereeing decisions and was then riled by comments in his direction from the Tynecastle bench. The Penicuik bench made the decision to substitute him before he got into serious trouble and he was replaced by Mair with Baptie moving across into central defence. With four minutes to go Tynecastle won a penalty when Baptie fouled a Tynecastle forward in the box. Cameron stopped up and took the kick giving Watt no chance of a save with a fierce shot into the left hand corner of the goal. Almost direct from restart Walsh chased a through ball for Penicuik and entered the penalty area with only keeper Jackson to beat. His shot went beyond the keeper and headed towards he net with everyone in the crowd certain of a third goal. However fullback Ben Finnan got back to clear the ball of the line. As the game moved into injury time Penicuik were holding onto the ball on the left of the Tynecastle area in an effort to run down the clock. Th ball came to Alex Chingwalu around eighteen yards from the byeline. He cut inside and squared the ball across the penalty area to Walsh on the right. Walsh took a touch and then shot past Jackson for the clinching goal as the final whistle was blown showily after the restart. 

After the whistle Alan and I walked  to Colinton Road to catch a bus back home. After a short wait a number 10 arrived and I was back home by 21.50 after an enjoyable game of football. I think Penicuik will again do well this season although Linlithgow may be the biggest obstacle in their desire to reach the Lowland League.

Teams

Penicuik Athletic: Watt, Lamb, Baptie (c), Young, Page, Edwards,  Walsh, Furness, MacDonald,T Hendry, McCrory-Irving

Subs: Chingwalu, Mair, McGinley, F Hendry. 

Tynecastle: Jackson, Finnan, Ponton, Greig, Power, Weir, Reekie, Chesser, Cameron, Kennedy, McNab

Subs: Frankland, Mackie.