DUNDONALD Bluebell’s season came to an end at Penicuik on Saturday with defeat in the semi-final of the D J Laing East of Scotland Cup, but as the door closed on one campaign, all thoughts turned to 2018/2019.

The club has, as the Times suggested last week, put an application in for the East of Scotland League and turn senior next season. The EoSL meeting is on Thursday night.

Penicuik Athletic 3,

Dundonald Bluebell 1.

THE ‘Bell’s hopes of making the final of this major competition was ended by Cuikie who got a key second goal just at the wrong time for the visitors.

This was always going to be a tough assignment for the Bluebell but they did not really deserve to be a goal down at the break. However, they were hit by a two goal salvo after the break and never really recovered.

Dundonald went into the game with a three man strike force of Calum Smith, Barry Sibanda and Archie Campbell and in the early stages were always asking questions of the hosts.

Smith and Sibanda had goes for the visitors only to see good goalkeeping deny them but at the other end James Lennox had to be on the alert to deny Cuickie’s Aaron Ponton. Then Sibanda took a Smith lay-off and brought out a cracking save from Allison.

The first half hour could not separate the teams but in 33 minutes came a key moment. In an Athletic raid Sinclair’s lob was going wide but Ponton was alert enough to follow in and he just got to the ball first to slide it into the net.

Dundonald had to settle for being one down at the break and needed to start the second period well but in 48 minutes came the key second when a Baptie corner posed problems that the ‘Bell defence could not sort out and Aaron Somerville headed home number two.

Bluebell immediately made a double substitution with Sibanda and Adam Moffat going off and Greg Meikle and Lewis McKenzie entering the fray but it was Cuickie who grabbed the killer third goal.

A McCrory-Irving cross was perfect for Somerville to head home and effectively end the Bluebell’s hopes.

Dundonald never gave up and with 12 minutes left McKenzie fired home a header from close in to pull one back and the Moorsiders kept going right to the end but just could not get a second which would have sent palpitations through the home ranks.

So the season ends for the ‘Bell one which saw them finish fourth top of the Super League and reach the semi-finals of the D J Laing Cup.

Now they await the decision of the EoS League agm to see what next term holds.

Penicuik Athletic: Allison; Forbes, Williams (Somerville 45); Hume (MacDonald 69), Young, Connolly; McCrory-Irving, Jones, Sinclair (Baptie 45), Kateleza, Ponton.

Dundonald Bluebell: Lennox; Walton (Gray 69), Drummond; Durie, Hendry, Wedderburn; Moffat (McKenzie 52), Campbell, Smith, Kay, Sibanda (Meikle 52).

Poor start to second period is costly

BLUEBELL boss Jason Dair was disappointed at the goals his side conceded: “We were doing pretty well in the first-half and probably had the better chances.

“However, losing the goal ten minutes from the break was a big blow and we did not start the second period well at all.

“They took advantage of the situation to score twice and that gave us too much to do, it was always going to be a tough game but starting the second-half so poorly was something we just could not afford.”

Looking back he added: “However, to finish fourth in the league and reach the last four of the East of Scotland Cup has made it a pretty good season.

“The league position and points total was improved and that has to be always the aim.”

And looking ahead Jason commented: “Now we have to await the result of the league meeting this week to find out what happens for next season.

“Most of the Super League teams have applied to go senior and I believe there will be 39 teams in the set-up so it will be interesting to see what the final structure is.”

‘Bell bring plans forward 12 months

DUNDONALD Bluebell’s general manager, Allan Halliday, confirmed the decision by the club’s committee to move their plans forward.

Allan said on Wednesday: “Dundonald Bluebell can now confirm that we have brought forward our decision to apply for the East of Scotland League by 12 months to allow us to join the league for the 2018/2019 season.

“We sincerely hope to be accepted by the member clubs at the annual general meeting.”

He also added: “On the back of our application we are delighted to announce the formation of the Dundonald Bluebell Football Academy in conjunction with Glenrothes Athletic FC which will see 10 teams from the ages of 4 to 19 playing under our umbrella.”

The moves from Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Dundonald and Crossgates Primrose to join the East of Scotland League will mean that next season there will just be Lochgelly Albert and Lochore Welfare playing junior.

The belief at present is that the new structure will see a Super League and South and North Divisions with the Welfare and Albert being in the ‘South’ set-up.