Thursday 4 July 2019, 19.30, Ainslie Park

Tynecastle against Penicuik Athletic in a pre-season friendly.

A bit of a delayed start to our football watching for season 2019-20, with various things (including the Women’s World Cup) curtailing our attendance.

It was Tynecastle’s first pre-season game, after their scheduled match with Edinburgh Star the previous Saturday was called off at the last minute.

The influx of teams to the East of Scotland League last season saw Tynecastle placed in Conference B, where eventual champions Bonnyrigg Rose went on to win the play-offs to secure a spot in the Lowland League.  Tynecastle finished in tenth spot, and will play in the 1st Division Conference B.

Former Hearts striker Calum Elliott took over as manager in November 2018, and for the season ahead he has brought in winger Kenny O’Brien from Newtongrange Star, right back Ryan Stevenson from Gala Fairydean Rovers, forward Jordan Hopkinson from Civil Service Strollers and midfielders Jack Smith and Ross Brady from Vale of Leithen.

Tynecastle made their Scottish Cup debut last season but were beaten by Shortlees in the First Preliminary Round.

We hadn’t seen Tynecastle since last pre-season, when they lost 5-0 to a young Hearts side.

Last season was Penicuik’s first in the East of Scotland League when they moved over from the East Juniors.  It was a successful one for the Midlothian side, with the Conference A title secured by one point from Hill of Beath Hawthorn.  While they were ultimately unsuccessful in the hugely competitive promotion play-offs, they also reached the semi-final of the Qualifying Cup, where they lost on penalties to Spartans.

This was achieved despite the departure of manager Johnny Harvey in October, who resigned from his role to take over at Berwick Rangers, returning to sign three players from Penicuik weeks later – captain Craig Hume, vice-captain Lewis Barr and defender Andy Forbes.  He was succeeded by his former assistant manager Kevin Milne, who was joined as co-Manager by Tony Begg in December.

Penicuik have signed goalkeeper Kevin Swain and midfielder Liam O’Donnell from Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, forward Sean Stewart from Vale of Leithen, midfielders Paul Tansey from Dalkeith Thistle and Kieran Watson from Gala Fairydean Rovers, winger Jack Solway from Whitehill Welfare and defender Andy Forbes, who returns from Berwick Rangers.

Penicuik began their pre-season five days before this game, with a 1-0 defeat at last season’s Lowland League Champions, East Kilbride.

The game was played at Spartans’ Ainslie Park.  I’m not really sure why!

While both teams were missing players, Penicuik midfielder Sam Jones possibly had the best excuse, having graduated earlier in the day.

There were around 60 in attendance.

Tynecastle began the match with a 4-5-1 formation, while Penicuik opted for a 3-6-1.

It was a pretty frantic opening, with both teams trying to gain the upper hand, but most of the exchanges were in the middle of the park.

Penicuik edged their noses in front in 14 minutes when Tansey crossed into the middle from the left and although Jackson made a good save from Sampson’s shot, the striker was first to the rebound to knock it into the net.

There was a chance for Tynecastle to get back on level terms in 21 minutes when O’Brien was through on the left side of the box, with Penicuik claiming offside.  He let the ball bounce before striking for goal on the half volley, but Forbes threw himself in front of him to make a fine block.

Tynecastle survived a dangerous cross from the left into their box by Baptie, before they had a chance of their own when O’Brien held the ball up well before laying it off to Smith, but his shot was straight at Watt.

Ponton picked out O’Donnell on the edge of the Tynecastle box in 29 minutes and he rifled a low shot into the bottom corner to double Penicuik’s lead.

The Edinburgh side continued to look for a way back into the game and O’Brien hit a shot wide from the edge of the box.

It was Penicuik who almost got another goal just before half time, when Connelly lifted the ball forward into the box and Tansey took a great touch before lifting over the advancing Jackson, but saw his effort come back off the bar.

Penicuik two goals up the interval and they had been the better side.

Stevenson stepped up to take a free kick for Penicuik 25 yards from goal in the 50th minute.  He hit a great strike which came back off the post with keeper Jackson well beaten.

Concern for Tynecastle in 57 minutes when Ferguson had to come off injured.

A fine through ball by Tansey put Sampson through on goal in 59 minutes, but the Penicuik striker got his finish all wrong and screwed it well wide.

Tynecastle’s W Mitchell received the game’s first booking in 62 minutes for showing his studs in a challenge with Williams.

A third for Penicuik came in 65 minutes when an O’Donnell cross was headed into the top corner by Tansey.

Jackson saved from Connelly as Penicuik looked to kill the game off, but the keeper could do nothing in 72 minutes when Ponton played a pass in behind the defence for Tansey who took the ball past Jackson and fired high into the net for Penicuik’s fourth.

Tynecastle did create a decent chance in 76 minutes when Hutchison found Cameron in the box, but his shot from a narrow angle was comfortably saved by Swain.

In 81 minutes, Stevenson found Ponton on the left for Penicuik.  He put in a great cross to the back post where Connelly’s diving header made it five.

Swain made a great stop with three minutes left to prevent Cameron getting a consolation for Tynecastle.

A convincing win for Penicuik in a game they dominated.  O’Brien had held the ball up well for Tynecastle, but they couldn’t replicate that in the second half when he was replaced at the break.

Best for Tynecastle were O’Brien and Cameron, while Penicuik had many good performances, with Forbes, Tansey, Stevenson and Ponton all standing out.

Full Time: Tynecastle 0 Penicuik Athletic 5.

Admission: Free.

Tynecastle: 25 Murray Jackson, 2 Ewan Herrriot (T) (M Mitchell 60), 4 Ryan Ferguson (Leslie 57), 5 Liam Andrews (Curran 46), 3 Euan Greig, 7 Ryan Cameron, 6 Jack Smith (W Mitchell 60), 10 Michael Barfoot, 8 Jordan Smith, 11 Kern Hutchison (T) (Watson 60), 9 Kenny O’Brien (Cairns 46).  Subs: 1 Craig Moffat, 12 Willie Mitchell (T), 14 Euan Watson, 15 Russel Cairns, 16 Mark Mitchell (T), 17 Aiden Curran (T), 18 Mark Leslie.

Penicuik Athletic: 1 Robert Watt (Swain 67), 20 Andy Forbes, 5 Greg Page (Williams 46), 3 Ryan Baptie, 2 Liam O’Donnell (Tickle 67), 6 Callum Connelly, 9 Kieran Watson, 18 Craig Stevenson, 15 Aaron Ponton, 11 Paul Tansey, 17 Kyle Sampson (Somerville 77).  Subs: SG Kevin Swain, 4 John Williams, 10 Aaron Somerville, 16 Gary Tickle.

Programme: None.

You can follow me on Twitter @Blowyfootball

More pictures of the game can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pg/Game-of-throw-ins-351161092227790/photos/?tab=album&album_id=351545928855973