Penicuik: Bejaoui, Ross, Meikle, McCulloch, Cunnison, Jancyzk, Killin, Lister, Millar, McPartlin, Rennie Subs: Burrell, McCallum, Young, Hill

Fauldhouse United: Murphy, Browne, Ramsay, Ross, Gallagher, Campbell, Deans, Scott, Chilton, Donnelly, Wilkins Subs: Fallon, Love, Robertson, Kelly, Shanks

Referee: Mr Scott Miller

Penicuik 2 Fauldhouse 1

The first real threat in the game came in the 6th minute when a testing cross by Deans into the Penicuik six yard box was well cut out by keeper Bejaoui. Immediately afterwards Penicuik broke up field and McPartlin’s header into the danger area was headed away for a corner kick. Then a long clearance by Penicuik saw Millar out muscle his marker, drive in on goal only to see Ross block his strike for a corner kick.  In the 15th minute a determined driving run by Ross down the right wing forced a desperate deflection for another corner to Penicuik. In the 29th minute, Fauldhouse’s Scott was immediately red carded for violent conduct when he lashed out at Millar. Five minutes later, the first real attempted strike on goal by Fauldhouse saw a Wilkins effort fly high over the bar. In their next attack the same player tried another long range effort but it went well wide of the target. At the other end a curling left foot shot by Killin went narrowly past the Fauldhouse goal with keeper Murphy looking on anxiously.

Half Time: Penicuik 0 Fauldhouse 0

In the opening minute, a high ball into the Fauldhouse six yard box was tipped away by keeper Murphy, but Rennie’s first time effort flew high over the bar. One minute later, Deans latched on to a loose ball in the Penicuik penalty area, but his volley went wide of the goal. Penicuik opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when a great diagonal pass by McCulloch caught out full back Browne. RENNIE nipped in to head the ball down into the corner of the penalty area and stroke the ball past Murphy as he rushed out to cut down the angle. From the restart, Fauldhouse broke downfield and Bejaoui was at full stretch to turn the ball round the post for a corner. Minutes later, a free kick to Fauldhouse had the Penicuik defence on the back foot with strikes on goal being desperately blocked until a final effort went well wide of the target. In the 63rd minute, another silly free kick given away by Penicuik almost resulted in an equaliser, but fortunately for Penicuik Chilton was inches away from heading home. In the 68th minute, Penicuik doubled their lead when a corner kick to the back post was headed back across goal to MILLAR who slammed the ball home. Five minutes later, Fauldhouse were down to nine men when Ross received a second yellow card. However in the 82nd minute GALLAGHER pulled one back for the visitors when he headed home off a corner kick. At the other end the game should have been put to bed when McPartlin’s cross was met first time by McCallum, but he somehow contrived to blast the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box. In the 85th minute, Meikle received a second yellow card and one minute later Rennie suffered the same fate. However, Penicuik survived some late Fauldhouse pressure to take all three points.

Final Score: Penicuik 2 Fauldhouse 1

Report by Jim Dick Penicuik Athletic

First Defeat.

Last season's winners and runners-up in the Premier went head to head in this Superleague clash. A bright enough start from United as they pressed early on for an opener. Jason Deans with a rasping shot just over the bar. Penicuik replied with their number ten McPartlin heading wide. Next chance for United was a Ross Donnelly glancing header as we enjoyed the majority of possession. On the half hour mark Sam Scott was red carded and down to ten men for the House but you wouldn't have thought it as United continued to take the game to Penicuik for the remaining quarter of an hour...half-time, Penicuik Athletic 0 Fauldhouse United 0.

Two goal scoring chances for both sides in the opening minutes of the second half as the game was getting stretched and Cuiky looking for the breakthrough. Clark Campbell was still in control of the midfield and we were still holding our own at this point in the second half. On fifty three minutes Penicuik went in front Rennie the scorer and ten minutes later they doubled their lead Millar this time with a close tap in from a corner kick, 2-0. Kevin Ross picked up his second yellow card of the game and was off... all to do now. Manager Davey Cowan made three substitutions to get something back. With ten minutes to go from a Gary Shanks free kick Jamie Gallagher nodded home 2-1 and that started an onslaught on the Penicuik goal resulting in two Cuiky defenders being sent off within the space of five minutes as the home side defended desperately, but time ran out for United to a huge sigh of relief from the home side. Final score, Penicuik Athletic 2 Fauldhouse United 1.

If not for some indiscipline we would have got something from this game as we still looked the better side for a good three quarters of the game. Great performance from Captain Clark Campbell who didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

Fauldhouse United: Murphy, Browne, Ramsay, Ross, Gallagher, Campbell, Deans, Scott, Chilton, Donnelly, Wilkins. subs: Kelly, Fallon, Robertson, Love, Trialist.

                                            "The Parkview"