This is becoming a very enjoyable experience. If you have read the whole thing you will know that I was unsure whether I would continue with this ... until last week. A rainy day in Possilpark Glasgow a week past Saturday watching a 0-0 draw clinched the deal - I am now fully committed.
After a goall-less first game, the replay was a veritable goal fest. Penicuik won 4-1 and in truth could have won about 9-3. Lots of goal mouth action and some good goals. Penicuik's last three goals were scored Thomson, Cunnison and Gay (when I got back home after the first game on the 'road' with the match programme my daughter Mo was most amused that Penicuik had players Bald and Gay). Penicuik's first goal was an own goal when a fierce cross from Harvey was deflected past his own keeper by a forlorn Perthshire defender. Perthshire got a consolation goal late in the match.
The low-light of the match was seeing a stricken Perthshire leaving the pitch on a stretcher having sustained a broken ankle in what seemed to be an innocuous challenge with Penicuik's Dean White. The highlight for me was seeing some tremendous old-school response to heckling from the Glasgow centre forward Craig. In the 72nd minute with his team losing 2-0 Craig missed from the edge of the box. The young lad had previously annoyed both the players and fans of the Cuiky with some theatrical antics and verbals. After his miss the locals started braying some donkey noises from the terracing. In reply young Craig looked towards them and starting with an exaggerated pirouette of his right wrist he culminated the gesture with a firm, vivacious and strident V sign. No modern one-central-finger nonsense for this purveyor of the offensive gesture. Great stuff ! The referee was about 20 yards away with (I think) a good view of the incident but pretended not to see it.
Other ineteresting snippets: (i) the first match on the 'road' where I have not been 'Jimmy No Mates' - my son Brian was at the match with me - a pre-match pint in the Bellmans too; (ii) I now realise that Linesman in Civvies is not unusual in the Junior Cup - same here as in Glasgow last week; (iii) Good programme at Penicuik [no programmes at either Glenrothes or Perthshire]; (iv) sampled the Penicuik pie for the first time - nice one - and at a £1 a time good value - bovril good too.
Journey Miles 2
Total 'Road to Hampden' Miles 246
Never before have I shown such interest in the Scottish Juniors FA Cup. Come to think of it this is the first time I have shown any interest in it :-)
ReplyDeletePies for a £1! Blimey I hope that catches on.
Not sure that that is a sensible choice of footwear for the linesman. yes they will keep his feet warm, but very little tread.
Great stuff!