YFS
AC Oxgangs crashed out of the league cup at the semi final stage when they met league rivals Penicuik Athletic at a wintry Colinton Mains Park.
Goals from Lewis Anderson (2) and Alasdair Hewett secured a comfortable 3-0 win to reach the final where they will face Dunbar United Colts.
The visitors got the game underway on a very muddy pitch which had been played on earlier in the day and forced a corner in the opening minutes of the game but the resulting corner was cleared by Jack Wann.
Oxgangs were awarded a free kick on the left and Brandon Porter floated in the ball which was put behind by Arran Liddle for a corner. Greg Dighton took the corner from the right side but Daniel Glen was on hand to clear the danger for Penicuik.
Penicuik were awared a free kick when Owen Orr was fouled just inside the Oxgangs half. Glen played the ball into Liddle who found Lewis Anderson out on the right and his low driven cross into the box somehow found its way into the Oxgangs net at the near post to put the visitors in front on seven minutes.
The home side pushed forward and Dighton found himself in on goal but Scott Sutherland spotted the danger and was quick of his line to clear and then the visitors created a good chance after a good move involving Porter who found Joe Clark on the right. Clarkes ball into the box was controlled by Cameron Milne who laid off Dighton but his low driven shot caused Sutherland no problem in the visitors goal.
Penicuik forced a couple of corners on the right but it was from the latter corner Oxgangs broke up field through Joe Clark who played the ball into Porter who won a corner off Glen, Glen then cleared the ball from the resulting corner.
Glen then nearly got his second of the game when from the right side he whipped in another cross to see the ball come of the top of the bar and then at the other end Joe Clarke tested Sutherland in the Penicuik goal but his 20 yard drive was comfortably saved by the big keeper.
The game was becoming a bit kick and chase football as the weather conditions along with the deterioration of the playing surface was not making it easy for either side but Penicuik seemed to be coping better with the elements.
Orr then had a good opportunity for the visitors with five minutes to when he found himself 20 yards out but his shot went wide of the right hand post then a minute later Jack Hamilton showed his defensive qualities when he made a terrific tackle to halt Oxgangs Connor Griffin at the edge of the box after being found by Joe Clark.
Griffin then showed good control and slid in Porter on the edge of the box who slipped just as he was in the process of shooting but he still managed to get enough on it to force Sutherland into a good save down low to his right.
With a minute to go to the break Oxgangs looked like they had done enough to reach the interval only one goal down but Penicuik had other idea's and after a through ball was played into the box Hewett did not hesitate to poke the ball home from 12 yards out when he beat Callum Innes who was favourite in the home goal to reach the ball first.
The men from Mid Lothian certainly had one foot in the final and left the home side with a lot to talk about during the interval on how to get back into this cup tie.
