Bonnyrigg 2 Penicuik 0

Bonnyrigg: Hay, Archibald, Murray, Hamill, Wilson, Woodburn, Horne, Stewart, Henderson, Thomson, McLeish Subs: Hyslop. Court, King, Brown

Penicuik: Bejaoui, Ross, McDermott, White, Cunnison, Lister, Gay, McCulloch, McCallum, McPartlin, Jancyzk Subs: Killin, Young, Weir, Burrell, Hill

Referee: Mr Peter Stewart

Penicuik travelled the short journey to Bonnyrigg for this East Super League tie and were on the attack from the first whistle when McCallum was inches away from connecting with a Ross cross into the six yard box. However, in the 9th minute Bonnyrigg took the lead when a shot by Stewart was blocked by Bejaoui, but ARCHIBALD was on hand to hook the ball home. Two minutes later, Bejaoui dived low to his left to save a close range shot. In the 17th minute, a Jancyzk cross was headed on by McCulloch to McCallum but he dragged the ball wide of the target. In their next attack, Lister popped up on the left wing, crossed the ball into the box, but McCallum’s header again went wide of the goal. On the half hour, a soft free kick was awarded to Bonnyrigg just outside the penalty box, but the ball was blasted high over the bar. Then two minutes later, a quickly taken Jancyzk free kick was headed home by McCallum, but the goal was ruled offside by the stand side assistant. In the 35th minute, Penicuik were pressing hard for the equaliser and earned a free kick just outside the box. From the free kick, three shots were desperately blocked before the danger was cleared. Immediately afterwards, Jancyzk had a chance, but his shot went over the crossbar. Just before half time a long clearance by Bonnyrigg found Henderson but his powerful shot was brilliantly saved by Bejaoui.

Half Time: Bonnyrigg 1 Penicuik 0

In the opening minute of the half, Henderson again had a chance, but his effort went high and wide of the goal. In the 49th minute, Bonnyrigg sighed with relief as a great diagonal cross by Gay was headed by McCallum. Keeper Hay tipped the ball on to the base of the post and it rolled into the his arms as he lay on the ground. At the other end a solid strike by Thomson was comfortable held by Bejaoui. Play then swung the other way with Penicuik piling on pressure and some desperate defending by Bonnyrigg saw three strikes blocked at the expense of a corner kick. From the corner, confusion reigned in the penalty box and the ball bounced off a defender and much to his surprise, hit keeper Hay’s hand before the danger was cleared. In the 60th minute, Henderson got past Cunnison, cut the ball across the box but fortunately for Penicuik the ball went just behind substitute Court. Minutes later, Penicuik were on the attack and McCulloch saw his shot deflected across the face of the goal and inches past the left hand post for a corner.  In the 70th minute Penicuik’s Ross received a straight red card for what appeared to be a relatively innocuous foul. This opened the gate for Bonnyrigg and the game was put to bed when substitute HYSLOP headed home a pin point McLeish cross.

Final Score: Bonnyrigg 2 Penicuik 0