A VALIANT fightback from Penicuik Athletic to draw level was wiped clean as Ross Kavanagh’s goal secured the three points for Sauchie Juniors.

Three changes to the starting eleven for Fraser Duncan’s men from last weekend’s narrow defeat at Musselburgh Athletic, the most significant being striker Ross Kavanagh given the nod to bolster the team’s attacking threat.

Whilst there were changes to the personnel, there were also changes to the formation, Duncan adopted an unfamiliar three-at-the-back system.

He said: “With the amount of attacking players we have at the minute, we needed to put another attacker on the park, and it worked out great for us initially to start with.

"Then we went to a four in the second half, with Connor Willaghan missing and Lucas Williamson missing through injury, which means we’re short at the back, but Brian Morgan will take that kind of mantle to dig the guys at the back out.”

It was an even start to the game in the opening 10 minutes, with some neat football from both sides in the middle of the park, meaning that either goalkeeper was not yet called into action.

The first real chance fell for Sauchie’s Josh Gemmell, the loanee muscling Robbie Neave off the ball to strike the ball into the back of the net for the opener. 

Following a foul on Reece Rintoul, Ryan Baptie's far-out free-kick attempt cracked the far post, and the hosts let out a relieved sigh and headed on the counterattack.

With this attack, Paul Simpson claimed the second with the slightest touches on the goal-line, doubling the lead whilst the referee dismissed the numerous claims for offside.

Speaking on his team’s six-minute spell where they got two goals, Duncan said: “That happens when you’ve got the firepower of Finn Malcolm, Ross Kavanagh, Paul Simpson and Josh Gemmell.

"I thought the four of them were outstanding and gave us a real attacking threat going forward.

"At times with Sam Davidson and Rhys Caves going forward as well, we had six players inside their box, attacking, so very difficult to deal with.”

Andy Forbes got one back for Penicuik, a flick on at the near post, it was Ben Wardlaw’s cross into the box after beating three men for Forbes to deliver.

Simpson then also had a chance from the free-kick to restore the two-goal cushion before the interval, a cross deep into the box, only to be headered against the far post by captain Scott Davidson.

Following the break, the visitors came out looking for their early leveller, chances for Wardlaw and Aaron Somerville both falling wide of the intended target.

With a counterattack stemming from a Sauchie corner, following the clearance, Sommerville headed the ball onto Wardlaw in the middle of the park.

The running winger would square to the waiting, free Sam Coats, who would squeeze the ball through the helpless Keir Burt’s legs, turning in the game’s equaliser.

Three points and nothing less were on the mind of the home team now, with Kavanagh providing for Malcolm and substitute Danny Smith, only for the chances to go a begging. 

Smith would be the provider 10 minutes from time, gifting Kavanagh a perfect ball to slot under McQueen to grab the all-important third and what proved to be the winner.

The Sauchie number nine certainly has not had it easy in front of goal recently, but his manager is delighted to see him score.

Duncan continued: “Ross is a great striker, he’s got so many great aspects of his game.

"Strikers do go through quiet spells, but we’ve got plenty of faith in Ross, and probably why he has repaid that faith back by staying at the club because he knows that you need a management team and a club to back you; we’ve done that.”

"He has repaid us and worked tirelessly and so hard by bringing other people into the game. When he gets a half chance, he then goes and scores the winner.”

This was certainly a football game that could have gone either way, but that is how the Rookie Cookie crumbles sometimes.

Reflecting on the performance across the 90 minutes, Duncan told Advertiser Sport: “It’s disappointing to lose the two goals, I just think we need to get back into the mentality of being harder to score against.

It’s always a difficult one being two nil up and in a commanding position, then we slip off the gas, and that’s what we need to stop.”

There was also praise for captain Scott Davidson's assured performance: “Scott’s back in the grove. He’s getting himself back into the Scott Davidson role he was playing as club captain.

"I couldn’t disagree; all day long, he was the man of the match, if I’m being honest. 

"I don’t pick a man of the match; I don’t usually do that as the whole team needs to get credit, but certainly Scott was outstanding.”

Another home game is on the cards for Sauchie Juniors, they face up against Hutchison Vale at Beechwood Park this Saturday in a 2:30pm kick-off.

Sauchie Juniors: Burt, Hutchison (Morgan 46’), Sc. Davidson, Thomson, Simpson (Harrison 60’), Caves (Swain 87’), Kavanagh, Sa. Davidson, Griffiths (Smith 60’), Gemmell, Malcolm 

Substitutes Not Used: Robertson, McIntyre.