Peeblesshire News | Sport | Penalty earns Peebles a draw

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Friday, 29th February, 2008 10:00

Penalty earns Peebles a draw

By George Wilson at Whitestone Park

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Gavin Tainsh scores from the penalty spot for Peebles.

Peebles FC 1, Edinburgh Athletic 1

Peebles had to settle for a draw at the end of the day against Edinburgh Athletic in a Tyreman East of Scotland League first division match that was a game of two contrasting halves at Whitestone Park last Saturday.

Edinburgh were certainly the better side in the opening stages before Peebles gradually came much more into the game, but Peebles really should have been back onto level terms at half time.

In fact, Peebles should really have won this game after dominating the second half with a strong wind at their backs, but several missed scoring chances during the latter stages of the first half came back to haunt Peebles.

Edinburgh posed an early threat when Mark Scott fired the ball narrowly over the Peebles crossbar with a free kick attempt from 25 yards.

Then Athletic’s Gerry Burgess passed the ball to Duncan Cocker, who sent in a cracking angular shot from 20 yards that brought out a splendid two handed diving save from Darren Walker.

Moments later, a 20 yard free kick attempt from Neil Ewart was well saved by the diving Walker.

Edinburgh Athletic opened the scoring after 14 minutes when, after some good leading up work from Burgess and Mike Olsson, it was Ross Middlemiss who neatly threaded the ball through to Duncan Cocker, who coolly drilled it past an exposed Walker with a low angular shot from 12 yards.

Peebles replied with Paul Devlin sending the ball just over the Edinburgh crossbar with a free kick attempt from 20 yards.

Peebles were beginning to get on top midway through the first half as, after a neat Peebles build up down the right, Chris Graham sent the ball just inches wide of the far Edinburgh post with a 16 yard shot from an acute angle.

Then shortly afterwards, from a Kerr Dodds pass, Graham despatched the ball narrowly over the Edinburgh crossbar with a terrific shot from 20 yards.

But Peebles should really have secured an equaliser on the half hour mark when a Graham through-ball sent Devlin racing into the Edinburgh box.

After coolly rounding the Athletic keeper, Devlin seemed almost certain to score until he took the ball a little too wide.

He slipped it back across to the in-rushing Andrew Martin who was foiled by an excellent save from Mackintosh at close range.

Peebles were firing on all cylinders as, after a neat Peebles build-up involving Kevin Robertson, Dodds and Devlin, Martin sent in a rasping angular drive from 18 yards, which was on target until the ball was deflected just wide of the far post, with a wrong-footed Mackintosh looking on helplessly.

Then from the resulting corner kick taken by Mark Brown, Gareth Thom lashed the ball well over the Edinburgh crossbar with a shot on the volley from 20 yards.

Nearing half time, from a Brown left wing cross, Devlin flicked the ball onto Martin, who was off target with his attempted header from 10 yards.

But Peebles were finally back on level terms from the penalty spot ten minutes after half time when a Brown through-ball sent Graham racing into the Edinburgh box before being up ended by Ewart.

Then Gavin Tainsh gave the diving Mackintosh no chance when he blasted the ball into the roof of the net with a well-placed penalty kick.

Shortly afterwards, George Crandles tripped up Dodds just outside the Edinburgh box. From the resulting free kick Brown sent the ball just inches wide of the Athletic right hand post with a terrific shot from 20 yards.

It was all Peebles now as after playing a neat one-two with Graham, Peebles substitute Michael Moffat neatly threaded the ball through to Dodds who was foiled by a fine diving save from Mackintosh.

Peebles pressed desperately for the winner, but from a Devlin left wing cross Kevin Robertson sent in a header from 10 yards that was comfortably saved by Mackintosh.

Back again came Peebles from a Martin corner kick on the right, but Graham missed the target with a header from 10 yards.

Then at the other end, in a rare Edinburgh attack, Olsson sent over a left wing cross to Val Chisholm, who sent the ball harmlessly over the Peebles crossbar with an angular header from 12 yards.

Edinburgh were reduced to 10 men in the 85th minute after Gerry Burgess was sent off for pulling back Devlin just outside the Athletic box when Devlin had a clear run to the goal.

From the resulting free kick, Moffat sent in a curing, dipping shot from 20 yards that brought out a fine diving save from Mackintosh.

Moments later Peebles came close to grabbing a late winner when, from a Devlin corner kick on the left, Graham sent the ball just over the Edinburgh crossbar with a flashing header from six yards.

In a tousy finish, both Paul Greenhill and the Athletic’s Callum Eddie were shown the red card two minutes from full time after a contretemps in midfield.

Peebles continued to press forward during five minutes of injury time, but were unable to break down the Edinburgh defence.

It had still been a solid all-round team performance by Peebles once they had got over a sluggish start to the game.

Peebles FC: D.Walker, K.Robertson (M.Osbourne, 78 minutes), G.Thom, G.Tainsh, P.Russell, K.Dodds, A.Martin, J.Robertson (P.Greenhill, 58 mins), C.Graham, P.Devlin, M.Brown (M.Moffat, 66 mins). Substitutes not used: A.Szczesniak, D.McGinley.

Edinburgh Athletic: A.Mackintosh, R.Middlemiss, M.Olsson, D.Robertson, N.Ewart, G.Burgess, M.Scott (M.Stiegers, 60 mins), D.Lockhart, V.Chisholm, D.Cocker, G.Crandles (C.Eddie, 66 mins). Substitute not used: J.Welsh.

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