3rd December 2022. Penicuik Athletic 1 Musselburgh Athletic 1

 

Still no SPFL football as the break for the World Cup finals continues. Had various options for a football buzz today including Hearts B at Tranent and Bonnyrigg at home to league leaders Dumbarton. However I decided to head out to Penicuik to watch their match against Musselburgh. I had it all planned to catch a 47 bus at Tollcross at 13.01 and arrived at the stop at 12.55 to find that the electronic board showed the next 47 in forty-nine minutes. A quick change of plan had me walking to St. Patrick Square to catch a 37 to Penicuik. After a scenic trip including visits to Loanhead and Roslin I arrived opposite the ground at 14.15. I paid my £5 admission and bought the excellent programme for £2 before heading towards the covered terracing. I stopped to take a photo of the tea sheet at the players pitch entrance kiosk. A steward said you should not come in this way and I explained I had come in the main entrance and was only taking a photo of the team-ups. He apologised and I headed into the covered area awaiting the kick-off.

Penicuik are currently fourth in the East of Scotland Premier Division having missed on being champions last season on goal difference. They lost a number of key players at the end of last season and the replacements do not seem to be of the same quality. They have lost their last three matches, all away from home. Goalscoring is a problem and this is evidenced by the top league scorer being veteran Aaron Somerville with five, albeit from only seven plus three substitutes appearances. Musselburgh are currently seventh in the league with games in hand over the sides above them. Victories in these outstanding fixtures could take them to fourth but still well behind runaway leaders Linlithgow Rose. Manager Joe Hamill resigned earlier this season due to work commitments and has been replaced by Liam Burns. The twenty-seven year old has been coaching since he was seventeen and was previously first team coach at FC Edinburgh. Former Penicuik player Craig 'Grinchy" Stevenson was included in the Musselburgh starting line-up. 

Penicuik started well and had the first chance of the game. Somerville ran into the penalty area to close down a clearance from Musselburgh goalkeeper Daniel Laing. The clearance bounced of Somerville past Laing before hitting the outside of the post and bouncing out for a goal kick. Penicuik continued to press with former Spartans and Civil Service Strollers fullback Andy Mair looking impressive in a left midfield role. He was constantly looking to go forward and send crosses into the penalty box. Penicuik took the lead i the twenty-fifth minute. A Gregor McDonald who laid the ball back to Reece Hope in the edge of the box in line with the near post. Hope bent a shot towards the far post and the ball beat the diving Laing to put Penicuik ahead. Scott McCrory-Irving, Ithink, then tried a shot from the halfway line which Laing managed to tip her his crossbar. Surprisingly the referee gave a free-kick to Musselburgh for offside. Somerville then fed McDonald in on the right hand side of the penalty box but he shot across goal and out for a goal-kick. The half-time whistle blew with Penicuik well in command of the game. 

At half-time Musselburgh bought on Liall Smith and Jordan Smith for Nathan Evans and taylor Black. The changes seemed to galvanise Musselburgh as they took the game to Penicuik and they equalised after fifty-five minutes. A crossfield pass from Johnathan Barker found Liall Smith on the left. He ct into the penalty area and from about eight yards out fired the ball past Leiper into the far corner of the net. Penicuik then came back into the game and Laing in the Musselburgh goal wa the busier keeper. He made an excellent stop from a Somerville header and recovered to lock the rebound. However Musselburgh nearly stole a win at the end of the match. A corner was crossed in the Penicuik penalty area and a number pf players converge on the ball. the ball headed towards the Penicuik goal before being cleared by the defence with a number of Musselburgh players claiming the ball had cross the line. The referee however waved play on and blew the final whistle minutes later. Surprisingly Penicuik did not use any substitutes and I learned after the game that although Ryan Baptie, Fletcher Hendry and Paul Thomson were on the bench they were injured and would have only be used in an emergency. With there members of the U21 squad and a trialist also on the bench manager Stevie McLeish had few options available to make a change. 

After the game I caught a 47 bus back into town and was home in plenty time to have something to eat before settling down to act a Maradona inspired Argentina knock Australia out of the World Cup. Hearts Kyr Rowles continued to show fine form in the Australian defence and was clearly not overawed abby playing in the World Cup. 

Teams

Penicuik Athletic: Leiper, Lamb, Hope, Young, Forbes, Edwards, McCrory-Irving, Combe, McDonald, Somerville, Mair. 

Subs: None used

Musselburgh Athletic: Laing, Stevenson, Harris, Reid, Evans, Knox, Fidler, Barker, Cairns, Black, O’Connor.

Subs: L. Smith, J. Smith, Myles