With roughly one third of the East Region Premier League season gone Penicuik Athletic are poised second top behind leaders Musselburgh – just one point off the pace but crucially with one game in hand.

But while Penicuik were collecting all three points from Fifers Ballingry on Saturday, Musselburgh were digging in at the top of the table winning 6-0 at home to Oakley while Carnoustie surprisingly slipped up away to Blairgowrie drawing 1-1. Newtongrange won 2-1 at Dundonald Bluebell.

Penicuik leave league business behind though for their next two games travelling this weekend to Lochgelly in the East of Scotland Cup then at the end of the month returning to Penicuik Park to entertain Kilwinning Rangers in the Scottish Junior Cup. Kilwinning had observers in the crowd last weekend as did Bonnyrigg Rose, who meet Ballingry in their Scottish Cup tie.

There was only one local loser last Saturday with all East Lothian clubs winning their respective games while only Dalkeith in Midlothian failed 4-3 at home to West Calder.

Against Ballingry, Penicuik were keen to avenge a 3-2 defeat suffered in the Fife and Lothians Cup last month and were keen to notch their 11th win of the season.

It seemed slippy underfoot conditions troubled players at the start as Athletic made the running early on with 15 goal Martin Cameron chasing the opener. Passes were not accurate enough however and the stuffy Rovers defence stood firm as the visitors came back to win a 10th minute corner off a shaky Mark Ramage. Lee Dair fired too high over the Penicuik target. It next needed an excellent Craig Meikle tackle on the lively Dair as Rovers eluded the offside trap.

At the other end, in 17 minutes, Cameron was toppled in the box as Penicuik claimed in vain for a penalty but Ballingry continued to be dangerous on the counter attack.

The home side had hard-working midfielders in Brian Ryrie and Kris Steel and when Penicuik won their first corner after 19 minutes play Meikle had a shot blocked by Fife keeper Scott Chalmers. Goalmouth excitement was limited in a blustery wind as a first booking went to Rovers' Darren Wilson for a 29th minute foul on Ross Montgomery.

From the resultant free kick, taken by Montgomery, Foster headed wide.
In a tight tussle Ballingry, beaten 3-0 the week before by Musselburgh, were matching the home side in defence while Penicuik winners by 2-1 at Oakley previously lacked a finisher so far.

The home midfield was slowing down and a double let off for Penicuik gave them plenty to think about after a blank opening half.
Firstly a well-struck Dair free kick swept all along the ground just outside of Ramage's right hand post then a Darren Wilson shot cum cross hit the face of the Penicuik crossbar as Athletic ended the first period on a slightly shaky note.

However, a three goal Penicuik blast in that second half and a red card for Rovers' defender Andrew Rollo sent the Fifers home empty handed as Penicuik notched their third win in a row.

It all started in the 55th minute when a hand ball professional foul by Rollo saw him get his early marching orders and Ryan Gay coolly slotted home the resultant penalty kick to break the deadlock for Ryan's fourth goal of the season.

And just one minute later it was 2-0 to the huge relief of the home fans as good work by Ryan and Ross created the cross over for Keith Barr to finish off with a powered header down and into the Rovers' net.

The 10-man Fifers were clearly rattled by events and a blistering shot in 58 minutes from Ross Montgomery unluckily crashed back off the Rovers' crossbar before Cameron was denied by a fine save from Chalmers and Montgomery hit another fine shot just inches wide.

The third goal was only delayed until the 62nd minute as storming Penicuik had the Rovers all at sea when Keith Barr initially denied by a great save from Chalmers was aware enough to pounce on the rebound and stab the ball into the Ballingry net.

The points were sealed at that point as in reply Ballingry could only manage a James Adam header well over the target area.

In 70 minutes Brian Ryrie was substituted by Richard Burke as Ramage produced a fine save to thwart Shaun Graham even a consolation goal for the Fifers.

Dean Jones came on next for goalscorer Keith Barr as Brett Halley was a fresh pair of legs for Rovers and Scott Gibb replaced Graham Gallagher for the home side, who had eased off a bit as Ballingry Rovers saw a bit more of the ball.

In the last minute Ryan Gay got himself in a spot of bother and blotted his copybook with a yellow card for a fiesty foul but the scoreline reflected a job well done by a patient Penicuik on the day.

Penicuik Athletic: Ramage, Gallagher, Steel, Meikles, Lynch, Ryrie, Gay, Barr, Cameron, Moonie, Montgomery. Subs: Jones, Burke, Foster, Gibb, McKean.

Ballingry Rovers: Chalmers, Dempster, Gray, Rollo, Roberts, B Smith, Wilson, Graham, Adam, Dair, Sutherland. Subs: Halley, Condie, Bowers, Logan, K Smith.

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