Penicuik 1 Musselburgh 1

Penicuik: Bejaoui, Ross, Jancyzk, Meikle. Cunnison, Burrell, Rennie, McPartlin, McCallum, Killin, Lister  Subs: Millar, Dickson, Bunyan, Hill

Musselburgh: Adams, Christie A, Martin, Myles, Hunter, Turner, McDonald, Thomson, Sheerin, Davie Subs: Doig, Munro, Christie M, Ralton, Barker

Referee: Mr Scott Lambie

Penicuik were the first to threaten when a Rennie strike in the 10th minute was deflected away for a corner kick. One minute later, Musselburgh keeper Adams saw his clearance intercepted by Rennie. He picked out McPARTLIN who slotted the ball past Adams to open the scoring. From the restart Musselburgh played a high ball over the top of the Penicuik defence, but McDonald’s effort went narrowly over the crossbar. In the 14th minute a 30 yard run by Rennie culminated with a strike that was blocked, and a second shot on goal was again blocked and keeper Adams smothered the rebound. Minutes later, a powerful strike by Sheerin saw Bejaoui at full stretch to fingertip the ball past the post for a corner. From the corner, Bejaoui was well placed to save a shot by Christie. In the 23rd minute, a slick move by Penicuik set Killin free one on one with keeper Adams, but instead of going for goal, he cut the ball across the box and the danger was cleared. Immediately afterwards, Penicuik should have taken the lead but both McCallum and Killin were inches away from tapping home a great low cross into the six yard box by Ross. In the 28th minute, Musselburgh won a corner. The ball was headed clear to the edge of the box from where Thomson struck for goal. His shot was going well wide of the target but struck the unfortunate McCALLUM and landed in the back of the net. Immediately afterwards, McCallum was inches away from scoring off a great McPartlin cross to the back post. McCallum then had a shot saved by Adams and at the other end Bejaoui denied Turner with a fine save.

Half Time: Penicuik 1 Musselburgh 1

In the opening minute of the half Bejaoui was immediately brought into action when Sheerin only had the keeper to beat, but Bejaoui pulled off a great save to deny the striker. Two minutes later, it was Adams who came to the rescue saving a strike by Killin. The play then swung to the other end where Sheerin saw his effort beat Bejaoui but go inches wide of the keeper’s right hand post. Penicuik then applied pressure on the visitor’s defence, but were unable to force the ball home. In the 59th minute, a curling left foot shot by Ross went inches wide of the target with Adams beaten. One minute later, a mix up between Meikle and Cunnison, gave Sheerin a chance, but fortunately for the central defenders the danger was cleared. In the 68th minute, McCallum intercepted a pass and slipped the ball to Lister. He strode forward, shot for goal, but Adams pulled off an excellent save. Then consecutive corners to Musselburgh were well defended by Penicuik. Shortly afterwards, a Jancyzk free kick for Penicuik curled round the defensive wall, but was well saved by Adams. Hunter came close for Musselburgh when he got a boot to a cross at the front post but could not steer the ball on target. In their next attack, a dangerous Sheerin cross into the six yard box was cut out by Meikle for a corner kick. In the 89th minute, a Jancyzk free kick from the left saw substitute Millar rise above the Musselburgh defence only to see his header crash back off the crossbar and cleared.

An entertaining match that swung from end to end with a score line that did not reflect the number of chances created by both sides and, at the end of the day, a draw was probably a fair result.

Final Score: Penicuik 1 Musselburgh 1

Report by Jim Dick Penicuik Athletic