Rose Grind Out Workmanlike Win

Linlithgow Rose deservedly picked up three valuable points against a stubborn Penicuik Athletic. It was a match that never reached the heights hoped for in terms of entertainment and perhaps the uneven playing surface made it difficult for both sides to play passing football. However, Rose always looked the likely winners and created most of the clear cut chances.


Linlithgow Rose arrived at Penicuik today knowing that only a win would keep them in the race for the McBookie.com East Super League. They had a great result last Saturday over defending champions Kelty Hearts, but they still faced a difficult task to catch leaders Bo'ness United, Kelty or local rivals Bonnyrigg Rose. However, with Bo'ness' and Kelty's games victims of the heavy rain this was a chance to close the gap. Penicuik's form has shaded off since before Christmas, when they led the table for a few weeks - but they sit safely in the top half. They have a decent home record and Rose have had their struggles on the road, so it promised to be an interesting contest. When the sides met at Prestonfield earlier in the season, Penicuik left with a point in a 2-2 draw.

Penicuik started brightly and Barr tried a shot from range which went wide. However, Rose were quickly on the front foot and a Thom through ball gave Batchelor an opening, but Bald in the home goal saved well. From the resultant Baptie corner, the ball fell to Kelbie but his effort was blocked.

The game became bogged down in midfield and there was nearly a quarter of an hour played before Athletic's Somerville shot wide.

Rose thought they had taken the lead after eighteen minutes when Batchelor turned in a Coyne cross, but the linesmen had flagged for offside. A minute later, Batchelor played in Strickland but his effort was turned away for a corner.

Half way through the half, Shirra tried an audacious chip from the edge of the box after the ball came to him from a Baptie corner - but his effort drifted just over the bar.

Penicuik's next effort was a Barr shot, before minutes later, Janczyk hit the top of the bar directly from an Penicuik corner.

Rose were always dangerous and Coyne set up Strickland, but Bald made a good stop.

After thirty five minutes, Penicuik's Thomson had a good run and shot which went just over.
Three minutes later, Bald misjudged a Baptie free kick and Kelbie nearly injured himself by colliding with the fencing behind the goal, trying to reach it at the far post.

Five minutes before the break the home team won a corner on the right. Thomson's kick was headed goalwards by a Penicuik player and looked goal bound before it appeared to be headed over by a team mate!

Just before the break a Baptie shot was diverted for a corner by Liddle. The resultant kick was headed wide by Thom, when it looked easier to score.

Half time Penicuik Athletic 0; Linlithgow Rose 0

Neither side made any changes at the break and Rose had the ball in the net straight from the restart following some fine interplay - but for the second time the linesman had flagged for offside.  Minutes later more good interplay allowed Batchelor to shoot across goal.

Penicuik were struggling to produce anything in attack but looked dangerous from set pieces.

After an hour, Rose again had the ball in the net - again it was chalked off for offside!!

Both sides introduced fresh legs in an attempt to break the deadlock and after 73 minutes Rose went ahead. MacLennan found KELBIE with a long diagonal ball and he fired it into the far corner from the edge of the box.

Penicuik were being pinned back and struggling to clear their lines, but after eighty three minutes Lough has the ball in the net  - only to have it discounted for offside!

Rose finished the stronger side and played the better football, but there were no more goals.

This game was never a great spectacle but Linlithgow always looked likely to win it and it was a surprise how long they took to get the goal. Penicuik defended solidly but carried little threat up front. Best for the visitors was Shirra and Kelbie, but no one really shone on the day. Penicuik tried hard with Janczyk showing some nice touches.

Both sides are on the road next week with Penicuik at Kelty Hearts and Rose at Tayport.

The referee George Calder (always impresses)  and his team of Kevin Lindsay and Robert Williamson had a fine game. 

Full Time Penicuik Athletic 0; Linlithgow Rose 1

Teams
Penicuik Athletic
Bald, Devlin, McDermott, Young, Liddle, Barr, Thomson, Janczyk, Lough, Somerville and Lister
Subs Gay, Fraser, Patterson and Blaikie
Linlithgow Rose
Adams, Thom, Baptie, MacKenzie, Leiper, MacLennan, Batchelor, Shirra, Strickland, Coyne and Kelbie  Subs Kelly, MacGregor, Tyrrell, Weir and McKinven

Referee George Calder, Kevin Lindsay and Robert Williamson

Gordon Baird
Neutral Reporter