Star Fail To Sparkle

Penicuik Athletic made the short journey to New Victoria Park for a New Year's Derby Super League fixture with Championship contenders, Newtongrange Star. 

The visitors arrived buoyed by a draw last week against defending champions Bo'ness, whereas Star, although not in competitive action last Saturday, kept fit by beating Haddington Athletic comfortably in a friendly on Sunday. 

On a fine winter's afternoon, Star were straight on the offensive and after fine work on the right by Kris Renton, a shooting chance fell to Chris King, whose well struck, goal bound shot was deflected for a corner by McDermot. From the resultant corner Cherrie headed over.

After 5 minutes Thomson saw yellow for a late tackle - the first of ten yellows produced by referee Peter Stuart.

Penicuik were taking time to get going but eventually McCallum managed a header which sailed wide.

The home team were working hard, but not creating many clear cut chances and Penicuik were gaining in confidence the longer the game remained goalless. After 22 minutes McCulloch shot just wide as their ambition grew and then a minute later, Jancyzk looked certain to score after getting on the end of a McCallum cross - somehow Renton kept his header out.

At the other end, Nitten created havoc from a Chris King free kick, before Thomson nearly scored from a clever free kick which Benjaoui did well to turn around the post. After 36 minutes, good work by Kris Renton gave Chris King a good shooting chance, but he talented midfielder couldn't hit the target.

After 38 minutes Star made the breakthrough. A Chris King corner wasn't cleared and after a stromach in the Athletic area, M King looked sure to score only to see his effort blocked. Unfortunately for Penicuik, the ball broke to top marksman Jamieson, who fired home from close range.

As the half ended Athletic were unlucky to find themselves trailing, but very much in the match.

Half Time : Newtongrange Star 1; Penicuik Athletic 0

At half time Athletic replaced Jancyzk with Weir and it had immediate affect. Renton in the home goal miskicked a back pass and the substitute pounced to fire home the equaliser - no more than the visitors deserved.

The game was much more open now with Athletic, playing with two up front,  looking dangerous on the counter as Star pushed for a winner.

On the hour, Jamieson fired tamely at the visitors goal before Thomson fired miles wide from long range.

Star brought on Cropley for M King on the hour and, after 75 minutes Wilson for Chris King.  It was clear they wanted all three points but couldn't find a second goal. Penicuik looked comfortable at the back and created their own half chances mostly from dead balls.  Two fabulous, curling free kicks from McDermot  just needed a touch from an attacker.

With the time slipping away, Penicuik won a corner and in the scramble that followed, looked like they were denied a clear penalty when the ball came off the arm of a Star player. Star looked happy to have dodged a bullet but within seconds they broke down the other end. Deland appeared to catch the ball on the bye line and his accurate cross was finished off by Jamieson - the winner and his second. Penicuik claimed the ball had gone out and with the assistant referee on the far side of the field a long way off , they might have had a point.

The result was unfair on Athletic who deserved a point, but in fairness Star never stopped pushing for a winner. They home team rode their luck on the day and perhaps got the benefit of a couple of refereeing decisions. These things tend to even themselves out over a season though and Penicuik seemed to benefit from a poor decision last Saturday, when Bo'ness' Walker was dismissed just after half time in controversial circumstances.

Best for the home team were Dunn and goal hero Jamieson, while Athletic were well served by White and McCulloch.

Next Saturday Nitten travel to Carnoustie Panmure, while Penicuik face another tough match away to Kelty Hearts. There are no easy matches in the Super League as Penicuik will testify facing Bo'ness United,  Newtongrange Star and Kelty Hearts in consecutive fixtures.

Full Time Newtongrange Star 2; Penicuik Athletic 1

Gordon Baird - Neutral Reporter

Teams:
Newtongrange Star
Renton, McManus, Deland, Tolmie, Dunn, Thomson , Jamieson, Cherrue, Kris Renton, Chris King, M King Subs Cropley, Wilson, Swaney , Gillon , Amos

Penicuik Athletic
Benjaoui, Cunnison, McDermot, Young, White, Lister, Ross, McCulloch, McCallum, Gay Jancyzk
Subs McPartlin, Burrell, Dixon, Weir, Hill

Referee Peter Stuart,  Assistants  George Calder, Michael Harte



 

http://www.penicuikathletic.com

Newtongrange Star vs Penicuik 3 1 15

Newtongrange: Renton, McManus, Deland, Tolmie, Dunn, Thomson, Jamieson, Cherrie, K Renton, C King, M King Subs: Cropley, Swaney, Gillon, Amos

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

Referee: Mr Peter Stewart

Penicuik travelled to New Victoria Park to play second top Newtongrange Star in this East Super League match. The game was only minutes old when referee Stewart brandished the first of many yellow cards when Thomson was late with a tackle on Ryan Gay. The home side created the first chance when a cross by Renton was struck first time but deflected away for a corner. From the corner Cherrie got his head to the ball but his effort went well wide of goal. In the 8th minute a McCallum header from a Gay cross went past the post. In the 15th minute, a dangerous cross by M King into the Penicuik box saw Young control the ball on his own goal line and clear the danger.

Three minutes later, Bejaoui was at full stretch to turn a Thomson free kick round the post. Then a Thomson free kick picked out Jamieson on the right. He got past McDermott but his excellent cross was missed by everyone and the danger cleared. At the other end, Gay set up McCulloch in midfield. He drove forward at pace and shot from thirty yards only to see the ball go inches past Renton’s right hand post. In the 25th minute an inch perfect cross by Gay picked out Jancyzk. His header was net bound until keeper Renton somehow got fingertips to the ball to deflect it away and Dunn cleared the danger.

In the 37th minute, Renton barged Lister in the back to gain possession and with no foul given crossed the ball into the box but the strike on goal went high over the bar. The home side took the lead one minute later when, following a corner, King’s strike on goal was toe poked past Bejaoui by JAMIESON.

Half Time Newtongrange 1 Penicuik 0

40 seconds into the half and a poor kick out by keeper Renton allowed McCallum to head the ball into the path of substitute WEIR who volleyed the ball first time into the net from the edge of the penalty area, giving Renton no chance. In the 59th minute, with Newtongrange starting to apply pressure, a chance fell to Jamieson, but his strike went straight into the arms of Bejaoui. Minutes later, a Penicuik free kick caused problems for the Star defence, but McCallum’s strike was well covered by Renton in goal.

In the 69th minute, a slick move by the home side set up Renton, but Bejaoui was quick to dive at the striker’s feet and avert the danger. Five minutes later, a Cunnison cross into the heart of the Star defence was headed by McCallum, but Renton saved comfortably. In Penicuik’s next attack, Renton came to the rescue when he was at full stretch to save a McCallum twenty five yard strike.

In the 83rd minute, that man Jamieson came close with another right foot shot that went narrowly wide of Bejaoui’s right hand post. In the 89th minute, came a moment of controversy when Dunn clearly handled the ball inside the box, but referee Stewart ignored the claims and waved play on. Two minutes into injury time, with everyone expecting the final whistle and a share of the points, Deland got round the back of the defence. Penicuik stopped, claiming the ball had gone out of play, but Deland crossed the ball over and danger man JAMIESON was there to slot the ball home form the winner.

Final score: Newtongrange 2 Penicuik 1