*Result later over-turned due to Arniston playing a suspended player, result changed to Arniston Rangers 0-1 Penicuik Athletic
Wednesday 23 April 2014
Newbyres Park
East Premier League Fixture #23
Arniston Rangers
Starting XI | Rachowski, Brady, Moffat, Callaghan, Faulds, Moriarty, McInally, Thomson, Court, Meaney, Garden
Subs | Aitken, Marshall, Mathers, McColl, Ritchie
Sent off | Rachowski (61)
Penicuik Athletic
Starting XI | Hill, Ross, McDermott, Young, Cunnison (c), Lister (McPartlin 78), Killin, Barr, McCulloch, Robertson (Millar 55), Harris
Unused subs | Dickson, McCallum, Montgomery
Penicuik Athletic dropped three vital championship points against Arniston Rangers who were reduced to ten men when keeper Rachowski was sent off early in the second half, but the ten men of Arniston were more than capable of dealing anything Penicuik could throw at them and scored two goals after the sending off. Penicuik were all over the home side in the opening twenty minutes, hitting the woodwork twice but failed to capitalise on their superiority. Arniston took the lead in the 35th minute when a quickly taken free kick caught the Penicuik defence asleep and McINALLY slotted past Hill in goal. Two minutes later, it was 2-0 nil when poor defending saw Penicuik fail to clear the ball allowing COURT took pounce on the ball, and although Hill got a hand to the it he couldn’t stop it hitting the back of the net. Just before half time, a McCulloch header was superbly turned away for a corner by keeper Rachowski.
HALFTIME | Arniston Rangers 2-0 Penicuik Athletic
In the 61st minute, Penicuik were awarded a penalty when Rachowski pulled down Harris and received a yellow card. CUNNISON immediately took charge and blasted the spot kick past Rachowski. The keeper then had a rush of blood and booted the ball into the trees behind the goal and was promptly dismissed by referee Cairns. However the ten men of Arniston got a boost to their confidence when McInally came close with a 30 yard strike that flashed inches wide of Hill’s right hand post. In the 68th minute, a corner to Arniston had Penicuik on the back foot as a glancing header went just wide of the target. Then in the 74th minute the home side increased their lead when a THOMSON free kick sneaked in past Hill’s despairing dive low down to his left. Penicuik pulled a goal back in the 81st minute when substitute McPARTLIN volleyed home from just inside the box. The same player had a chance minutes later but substitute keeper Ritchie blocked the shot with his legs and the danger was cleared. The game was over in the 86th minute when Hill spilled a Thomson free kick and GARDEN pounce to tap the ball home from close range. Penicuik will have to improve quickly if they have aspirations to win the league never mind qualify for promotion.
FULLTIME | Arniston Rangers 4-2 Penicuik Athletic