Penicuik Athletic 4 Kennnoway Star Hearts 1
This was the first ever meeting between Penicuik Athletic and Kennoway Star Hearts and after defeat from Rob Roy in the Scottish Cup the previous week KSH were rocked with no fewer than five defender`s not available for selection.
Forced into playing two wingers at full back and a midfielder in the centre of defence it was pretty much a makeshift defence that lined up in what was to provide another action packed game.
The game started at a really high tempo, swinging from end to end and in the 5th minute, Kateleza for Penicuik had a shot on goal that was desperately blocked and cleared.
Two minutes later, Bryce got to the bye line but his low cross into the box was cut out by Penicuik’s new keeper, Cordery. In their next attack, Star’s Mathew Gay was one on one with Cordery, and the keeper’s outstretched boot turned the shot away.
Penicuik took the lead in the 10th minute when Kateleza set up Ponton who shrugged off the tackle to drill the ball low past keeper Paterson for his first Penicuik goal.
Despite the heavy pitch and unfavourable overhead weather both teams were getting the ball down and playing football that was easy on the eye. In particular C.Gay was skippering the away side with real authority as he prompt and probed the Penicuik back-line.
At the other end, A Kennoway free kick from the edge of the penalty box flew high over the bar. Penicuik then had a chance to double their lead when Kateleza nipped the ball off Paterson, but with the keeper stranded, Kateleza’s cross back into the box was cut out by Brewster for a corner. From the corner, a Jones strike beat the keeper, but was cleared off the line.
Just before the half hour, Bryce had a chance for the visitors, but his effort flew over the crossbar.
It was an open and attacked minded match and the sizeable crowd were revelling in the play of both sides.
Right on the half time whistle,a hammer blow for KSH as Jones set up Kateleza and he finished with a powerful shot through a ruck of players. HT 2-0
Kennoway started the second half strongly and with the Penicuik defence under pressure, pulled a goal back in the 51st minute. Following a corner to Kennoway the ball was crossed in to the back post from Collins that saw Rolland rise above his marker to head home from six yards.
With a real desire to force themselves back into the game KSH looked a threat with every attack. Cordery pulled off an excellent save to deny Shaw, the wide man picked the ball up forty yards from goal and advanced before unleashing a powerful shot that saw the `keeper dive high to his right and palm the ball clear.
A fine run and shot from M.Gay saw the ball crash back off the post and into the path of Bryce who hit his shot first time goal-wards only to see a last ditch clearance from a defender.
A cross cum shot from Craig saw the ball hit the crossbar as the pressure mounted on the home goal.
It looked like only a matter of time before an equaliser however Penicuik knocked the stuffing out of the Fife side when a cruel deflection from a Jones shot left Paterson helpless and KSH with a mountain to climb with eighteen minutes remaining.
Three minutes later a free kick was conceded on the edge of the Kennoway box and Ponton stepped up to score with a expertly delivered shot that crashed in off the post. A harsh lesson after such a promising effort from the away side.
With the points secured by the home side the desire from Kennoway was still evident. They broke down the left and Shaw was again denied by a top class save by Cordery. In the 80th minute, Cordery was again in action cutting out a dangerous cross into the six yard box as Gay was ready to pounce. FT 4-1
Kennoway: Paterson, Craig, Band, Rolland, Brewster, C Gay (c), M Gay, Muir, Bryce, Shaw, Collins, Subs Lindsay, McGowan
