Penicuik Athletic 5 Armadale Thistle 4

Penicuik Athletic - Bejaoui, Cunnison, McDermott, Meikle, White, Lister, Killin, McCulloch, McCallum, McPartlin, Subs - Rennie, Janczyk, Ross, Young, Hill

Armadale Thistle - Walker, G Brown, Bonnar, S Brown, Morrison, Mauchline, McLeod, McCafferty, Feeney, Dalrymple, Thompson Subs - Milton, Patrick, Valentine, Trialist, Swinburne

Referee – Mr Simon McLean

Assistant Referees – Andres Burgos and Michael Rutherford

Prior to the match both sides and the match officials showed their support for the Show the Red Card against Racism annual fortnight of action by displaying the ‘red cards’. Penicuik started with new signing David White in the centre of defence alongside player/manager Craig Meikle but before the partnership could settle Armadale took the lead in two minutes as Meikle failed to clear a cross into the box and it landed at the feet of McCafferty in the six yard box and he made no mistake.  The dust had hardly settled from the opener as the home side equalised two minutes later  when a ball from McCulloch found McPartlin racing clear down the right and his lob from the edge of the 18 yard box left keeper Walker stranded. With 13 minutes gone the home side went in front as a McDermott pass found McPartlin clear on the edge of the box and he raced onto the ball and his left foot shot beat Walker. Armadale had a good chance in the 21st minute as Dalrymple found himself free in the box with only Bejaoui to beat from 8 yards but the big keeper saved for a corner. Four minutes later Meikle was adjudged to have fouled Feeney at the edge of the box and from the resultant free kick Feeney struck a tremendous free kick from 22 yards past Bejaoui for the eqauliser.  Penicuik regained the lead as a Weir free kick next to the corner flag was met at the back post by debutant White who headed home.  The visitors were striving for an equaliser before half time and a fine strike from Thompson from just inside the box was met by an equally fine save from Bejaoui. From the corner kick the ball was cleared to the edge of the box and when the shot was fired in Dalrymple was the first to react to prod home and bring the sides level with a minute left on the clock.

Half Time - Penicuik Athletic 3 Armadale Thistle 3

The home side kicked off the second half and Killin forced a save from walker at his near post but with 47 minutes gone McCafferty latched onto a misplaced Meikle pass and drove into the box where McDermott was adjudged to have brought him down and referee McLean awarded the visitors a penalty. Feeney stepped up but his spot kick was brilliantly saved by Bejaoui diving to his left.  In the 52nd minute McCallum’s pass into the box was chased by Killin who was brought crashing to the ground by keeper Walker but referee McLean waved play on. The visitors went ahead in the 57th minute through as a quickly taken free kick from inside their own half found Thompson racing clear in space and he slotted past Bejaoui. With three minutes left of normal time McPartlin got his hat-trick when again got onto a ball in the box and from six yards out shrugged off his marker and prodded past the despairing Walker to make the game level at 4-4. With the match into time added on McDermott was fouled by McCafferty 25yards out from goal on the left hand side and McCafferty received his second yellow and a red for a not so early bath.  Killin swung in a free kick which was majestically met by Ryan McCallum and flew into the back of the net to snatch the three points for the home side.

Full Time - Penicuik Athletic 5 Armadale Thistle 4

Report by Andy Penman Penicuik Athletic