Penicuik Take Derby Day Honours

Penicuik always looked likely to take the points in this encounter with local rivals Newtongrange Star after taking an early lead, but in an open game, the visitors gave a good account of themselves before being undone ultimately by poor defending and missed opportunities. 

Penicuik Athletic, unbeaten in the McBookie.com East Super League since November, entertained local rivals Newtongrange Star in a game that was vital to Star's hopes of retaining their Super League status.  Athletic sit fourth in the table while Star occupy one of the two automatic relegation places. Star have scored only 12 goals in 9 games away from home in the League and need to start scoring again. When the sides met earlier in the season Penicuik ran out winners by 4 goals to 2. 

Penicuik were the first to go forward and won an early corner which was not cleared. It gave Montgomery a shooting chance, which he put wide. However a goal was not long away and it came after a defensive mix up. A harmless looking ball was played across the goal and as goalkeeper Amos hesitated, MacCallum collided with Richardson  - the ball eventually broke to GAY who fired home. 

Star's  response was to win a free kick 25 yards out which Currie fired wide. However, the home side were still looking dangerous and a good move involving MacDonald and MCCallum gave Somerville a chance - which he blasted well over. 

Newtongrange were slowly coming into the game and with 14 minutes played a cross found its way to Richardson but he couldn't force his effort past Easton who saved well.

A minute later Lander got on the end of a through ball, but again Easton was alert to the danger and blocked well. The next Nitten player to try a shot was Cropley but it was well wide. 

Penicuik should have added to there lead after 31 minutes when MacDonald crossed to Montgomery. The frontman had loads of time but his effort was blocked. 

With five minutes remaining in the half Athletic doubled their lead and Star showed their vulnerability to the cross ball. Gay dropped a corner short and when it was flicked on by Somerville, Star failed to deal with the ball and FORBES was on hand to finish like a striker.

Penicuik were probably value for their lead at the break, but Star had created a few openings and might have scored. They didn't help their cause with some poor defending of cross balls. 

Half Time: Penicuik Athletic 2;  Newtongrange Star 0

Star clearly got a stern talking to at the break and came out fired up! 

Within two minutes Lander got on the end of a through ball and had a shot. The same player then had a header saved. Minutes later he was on the end of a ball over the top, this time he showed great skill to bring the ball under control, before bringing out a good stop from Easton. These were great chances to get Star back into the game!

With an hour played Penicuik produced one of the best moves of the game. MCCallum collected the ball on the right and released Gay. The wide man sent in a perfect cross which Somerville somehow headed over with the goal gaping. A few minutes later the home team created another chance. A Janczyk free kick was cleared only as far as Hume, he put a cross in which was scrambled off the goal line with Somerville lurking. 

Star broke down the other end and Lander had a shot parried only as far as substitute Douglas, whose follow up effort was turned away for a corner. 

The game was very open now and in another Athletic attack Gay found Montgomery in the box. He seemed to be picking his spot but Amos managed to push his effort wide. In the next attack Somerville shot straight at Amos.

After 75 minutes Penicuik finally tied up the points. Somerville got his head to a kick out from Easton in the centre circle and guided the ball wide to GAY. His perfectly weighted chipped ball released MacDonald and his low cross was neatly back heeled past Amos by captain MCCALLUM. A fine team goal. 

With the points secured the home side brought on both the Scott twins and they combined to create a great chance. S Scott's  long ball found K Scott and as he miscontrolled the ball it broke to Somerville - but Amos saved well. Next Penicuik's third sub Jones had a shot cleared off the line by Richardson. In Athletic's last attack K Scott got on the end of a long through ball but his finishing effort was poor. 

Penicuik deservedly took the points and it's not hard to see why Star are struggling at the foot of the table. A combination of poor finishing and erratic defending doesn't win football games and Penicuik were just more clinical in their finishing and more solid in their defending. Best for the home side were Gay and Easton. Star have a live wire in Lander and Amos made several good stops despite his hesitancy for the opening goal. 

The best news for Star is that their fellow strugglers at the bottom also lost. Penicuik stay Fourth and are consolidating that position. Newtongrange host Bo'ness United next while Penicuik entertain Jeanfield Swifts 

Full Time: Penicuik Athletic 3; Newtongrange Star 0 

Penicuik Athletic

Easton, Forbes, Noble, Hume, Young, Janczyk, Gay, MacDonald, Somerville, McCallum and Montgomery  Subs K Scott,S Scott,Jones and Connolly

Newtongrange Star

Amos, Swaney, Martyniuk, Currie, Morris, Cropley, Wilson, Lander, Richardson, Bracks and Cook subs Murray, Douglas, Lally, O'Brien and Flynn

Referee Peter Stuart

Assistant Referees Darren Cormack and Callum Doyle 

Gordon Baird

Neutral Reporter