Penicuik Athletic 3-1 Bo'ness United

A view from the terraces, kindly submitted by BRYAN COPELAND!

Today’s cup tie will be the 1st time in the next 2 weeks these 2 sides meet with an EOS Premier League match scheduled for Newtown Park on Sunday the 22nd of March (Groundhop Day)
The visitors will have fond memories of this ground having beat Musselburgh here to win this very cup at the end of last season. The previous meeting this season was also played here and it was an enthralling encounter with the BU coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down to earn a point and even when we levelled with what was thought to be the last action of the game Keeper Andy Murphy had to make a magnificent stop to ensure the BU held onto a point.
This could be an interesting one selection wise for Gaffer Max Christie with the BU still top despite a defeat in the last league fixture at home to Dunbar United the visitors remain on course to win the league so a few changes could be made to the team today with some very tough and important league fixtures coming up before the end of the season. Having said that however I’m sure the team and all associated will be looking to bounce back from the score mentioned defeat and keep the confidence up in the squad going forward. For the home side it would seem they are too far behind to win the league this season so they will probably look to the cup as a chance of winning some silverware. That said the visitors will know they are up against a very good very well organised side who will be out to win in front of their home fans. As always however there will be the very large travelling support there to urge on the BU as there is for every game whether it’s home or away.
All in all a quality game and intriguing cup tie lies in wait and with the game played to a finish there is always that possibility of extra time and penalty shoot out if 90 minutes play can’t separate the teams.

Into the 1st half and the match got underway with Hunter on the right producing a clever back heel allowing a cross deep to the back post which was headed wide of the target. The home side were next on the attack and as a good effort came back off the cross bar. A couple of minutes later however we saw the opening goal. A decent cross from the right saw the home side react first inside the box and from close range made no mistake with the finish. Penicuik 1 - 0 BU. The visitors tried to get back into things immediately and a decent corner from Anderson was punched clear by the keeper. A good old fashioned midfield scrap then took place as Nimmo fine well and won the ball then as it rolled away quickly won it again with another great tackle before being fouled and awarded a free kick. Forward came the visitors down the left and Grant done well to win a corner. Anderson swung it in and hunter rose with a header only to see it blocked. Nimmo then done well breaking forward quickly through midfield then laid the ball off to Ritchie, he tried to make the return pass but it was cut off on the edge of the box. A down side for the BU was Turnbull limping off unable to continue after a late challenge but at the same time Nimmo was on his way forward and as he broke through towards the box he was fouled however rather than get the foul the referee judged it as a dive and wrongly booked the Bo’ness midfielder. Stevenson replaced the afore mentioned Turnbull with 5 minutes to go until half time. Right on the 45 a long ball into the box from Hunter looked to be heading towards Ritchie who got his head on it but the home keeper who was rushing off his line clattered into him. The visitors protested Ritchie was caught by the keeper having got to the ball 1st as Ritchie went down but all appeals were waved away by the referee as he game a goal kick. It’s an incident where we have seen penalties given and from the sidelines it looked a foul and therefor a penalty but clearly the referee saw it differently.
That was to be the last action and the half ended Penicuik 1 - 0 BU.

Into the 2nd half and the visitors started on the front foot with a cross into the box coming off the underside of the bar, Stevenson reacted and put the ball into the net but it was disallowed. Minutes later however the BU got their leveller as Will Snowdon marked his 400th appearance for the BU with a brilliant goal to make it 1-1 the ball fell nicely for him and he hooked it goal wards with perfect execution. The visitors were making the most of having the wind at their backs now and looking the better side for this period of the game. BU Gaffer Max Christie made his 2nd change as Grant was replaced by Morgan with 22 minutes of regulation time to play. Campbell headed a simple ball into the box away as the home side came forward, and as the ball broke into the midfield it was played forward to Anderson who dribbled into the box only for a good tackle form the home defence deny him a shot on goal. The final change for the BU came as Ritchie was replaced by Donnelly. The home side came forward but Campbell made a good tackle sending the ball for a corner which came to nothing. Once again it was the visitors in control as they enjoyed the lions share of possession, Anderson done well on the edge of the box and as the ball was cleared Stevenson picked it up on the other side and won a corner after a decent delivery. Snowdon played a free kick forward from the half way line and the visitors appealed for hand ball as a corner was awarded. From the resulting clearance Jacobs headed clear at the other end before Campbell again defended well on the right of the box. Into the final 5 minutes and Stevenson done well almost making himself a shooting opportunity but as he was challenged he managed to lay the ball off to Anderson who quickly played it back to him for a cross that Jacobs just managed to get too but he couldn’t control it for a shot on goal. A foul on the right of the box gave the visitors another chance to get the ball into the home sides box but it was wasted as the ball was easily cleared. The final chance of the 90 minutes fell to the home side as they had a free kick outside the box. It was drives low towards the corner but BU keeper Murphy was equal to it.

As the referee blew the full time whistle extra time would now follow in this cup tie. Penicuik 1 - 1 BU - Full time.

Into the 1st half of the extra time and the floodlights came on before we got underway. Anderson done well for the visitors but couldn’t get his shot away. Out wide the visitors then won a corner which Hunter got on the end of but he couldn’t direct the ball into the net. With the extra time allowing an extra substitution BU Gaffer Max Christie used its as Nimmo was replaced by McKenzie. It was dosent even as the opening part of extra time went on but almost at the end Campbell was judged to have pulled the home player back inside the box and as the referee pointed to the penalty spot he also reached to this pocket to pull out the red card for Campbell. The penalty was smashed home to the left corner sending Murphy in the BU goal the wrong way. Penicuik 2 - 1 BU. With no kids action other than a home player shown a yellow card after a consultation between the referee and linesman the 1st half of extra time ended Penicuik 2 - 1 BU.

Into the 2nd half of the extra time and Murphy made a good save as the home side got forward quickly. The visitors were enjoying most of the possession in the half but there was little to show for it with none of the 2 sides getting anywhere near the keeper as the final 7 minutes approached. The home side then had a chance to complete finish the cup tie as they broke forward quickly however 1 on 1 with Murphy the ball was out wide of the post. At the other end Donnelly rather then shoot played a through ball but the flag went up for offside. Jacobs made a good tackle on the edge of the BU box with 4 minutes now remaining. Snowdon played a long cross field pass towards Stevenson but it was cut out and as it was played forward to the BU box there was a mix up Murphy looked to be coming for the ball as Snowdon also went for it, both stopped and in the end Will dealt with it but his touch only went as far as the home side on the edge of the box, in the fame and that time 1 on 1 calmly slotted the ball low into the net Penicuik 3 - 1 BU with only the final minute to play. There was nothing else to report and the match finally ended Penicuik 3 - 1 BU.
Everything is now on the league for the BU this season as this was end final cup we were left in.
It may not have been a win today to mark the occasion but a special footnote announcement to Will Snowdon such a fantastic servant to the club and all round great guy season after season and 400th appearance today is a fantastic achievement. Very well done.