Probably with more courage than confidence, Arniston Rangers took the field at Olive Bank, Musselburgh, against the Scottish Junior "cracks", Fauldhouse United, in the semi-final of the Thornton Shield. In brilliant sunshine, before a crowd estimated on the 5000 mark, the teams line up as follows:-

Arniston Rangers - Williamson; Hamilton and Anderson; Thomson, Byrne and Miller; McGinty, Hodge, Linton, Rutherford and Gibson.

Fauldhouse United - Kenny; Welsh and Hall; McCrearie, Hynd and Sproule; Wallace, Grant, Morton, McCreadie and Torley.

Arniston started as if they were going to confound the critics by launching an attack on the Fauldhouse goal which produced a corner kick. Linton, who immediately took the eye with clever distributive work, had the first shot of the game, a bouncing effort which gave Kenny no little trouble.

FAULDHOUSE SCORE

Recovering from their initial surprise the "auld heids" in the Fauldhouse half-back line took command, and this led to two goals in as many minutes, both of which left the impression that the Rangers'defence had a touch of the "jitters".

The first came when Grant weaved through the Arniston defence to pass to McCREADIE for that player to open the scoring. Two minutes later Fauldhouse added another when WALLACE ran in to score from another Grant pass. Wallace was unlucky immediately afterwards to send a strong drive past with Williamson out of position.

The Arniston attack was not without sting, however, and in sharp raids Linton and Rutherford were always dangerous. In one well-judged move Gibson sent over an accurate cross which McGinty headed first time, only to have the ball rebound from the crossbar with Kenny on the ground. Hall cleared just in time.

Towards the interval Arniston had as much of the play as Fauldhouse, but the latter were always the better finishers, and just on the interval McCREADIE scored a third for them. Half-time: Fauldhouse United 3 Arniston Rangers 0

Arniston improved greatly in the second half, with McGinty, Rutherford and the tireless Linton always dangerour raiders. Hodge had some clever moves, but it was not his day.

At this stage Fauldhouse were getting all the breaks, and a goal for Arniston would not have been any more than their due.

PENALTY MISS

A great opportunity to open their account came when Arniston were awarded a penalty, but Eddie Byrne put a rather poor shot past Kenny's right-hand post from the spot.

A goal at this stage might have put a different complexion on the game, as shortly afterwards McGINTY, after a long pass to the left by Hodge had been smartly returned by Gibson, put a "daisy-cutter" into the corner of the net with Kenny hopelessly beaten.

From this stage to the end Arniston gave as much as they received, although the craft of the Fauldhouse forwards was always apparent.

MORTON put Fauldhouse further ahead after a right wing movement, and WALLACE scored a fifth, the end coming with the score:

FAULDHOUSE UNITED 5 ARNISTON RANGERS 1

In a game which never lagged, Arniston emerged defeated by not disgraced. They just didn't get the breaks. The defence, after a shaky start, tightened up, with Thomson and Byrne trying hard to get their forwards going. Linton and Rutherfored were the best of the front line men.

Fauldhouse played as expected, with no weak links in a strong, clever team, and won comfortably in the end without being fully stretched.