Season 1947-1948
Season started well with a 3 - 2 win over Camelon Juniors in the league at Arniston. November, 1947 saw Arniston in an epic struggle against Preston Athletic in the Scottish Junior Cup. Arniston started off well in the game, and were 2 - 0 up, with goals by McDonald and Paterson, then suddenly Preston scored 3 goals , and it took a penalty converted by Clarkson in the last minute to save them. The game was played at Arniston and ended in a 4 - 2 win for the Arniston team. Arniston were now blossoming, and after a great win in the East of Scotland Cup over Loanhead Mayflower, the 'press' rated this side one of the best to wear the 'maroon' for many years. More good wins followed, most notable an 8 - 1 win over Tranent Juniors where McDonald got 3, Paterson 2, Rutherford and Clarkson got the remainder. Another win that must be mentioned was a great win, 3 - 2 against Newtongrange Star at Victoria Park. Main reason for mentioning that game was the line up. There were players in the Arniston team that as an eight year old Star fanatic we loved to 'hate', most notable Billy Cranston, and to a lesser degree Norrie Rutherford, and of course the highlights for me were the confrontations between Eckie Pryde of Arniston and Wullie Pryde of 'Nitten' who were brothers. I could imagine that the family loyalties would be stretched in the Pryde household whatever the result.
Another good run in the 'Scottish Junior Cup' ended at Irvine against the local 'Meadow' by 3 - 0. 'Pundits' reckon if Cranston had played instead of Paterson, that Arniston would have won. Arniston continued to play well and beat in a good game Newtongrange Star 4 - 0 in the East of Scotland Cup at Arniston. Arniston Scorers: Cranston 2, Hamilton and Young. Hamilton and Cranston were outstanding along with the "engineers" Eckie Pryde and Norrie Rutherford. Arniston finished the 1947 - 48 season in style with a great win in the East of Scotland Cup final against Haddington Athletic. It was a game of two halves, Arniston dominated the first half, and Haddington the second half. Arniston won the game 1 - 0 with a goal scored by Hamilton, but this was a team effort from Weston at the back along with Clarkson, the complete 'General', and up front Cranston was probably the best player on the field. Arniston also reached the Brown Cup Final, but lost to Bo'ness United by 1 - 0 at Olive Bank, Musselburgh.
August 14 1947 Arniston Rangers v Camelon Juniors Edinburgh & District League
Match was played at Arniston and ended in a 3 goals to 2 win for Arniston
Arniston Scorers: Cummings, Kirk
Newspaper Clipping dated 31.7.1947
| ARNISTON WIN AT HOME
In an Edinburgh & District League game, Arniston Rangers met and defeated Armadale Thistle at Newbyres Park, Gorebridge, on Saturday. In spite of the incessant rain, there was a large crowd present when the two teams lined up as follows: Arniston Rangers - Weston; Thayne and Robertson; Pryde, Kirk and Miller; Cranston, Liddle Cummings, Rutherford and Bauld Armadale Thistle King; Reid and Mackay; Cormack, Crossbie and Durie; Bathgate Smith, Crossing, Dunlop and Adams. Referee - A. Calder, Edinburgh In the early stages of the game Arniston rushed through and Cummings sent the ball past the upright. The visitors retaliated, and getting away on the right, Bathgate tested Weston with a stinging drive. BROKE THROUGH Following an interlude of give-and-take play, the home side broke through and after a methodical effort by the forward line, Pryde just failed to find the net. Returning to the attack, Arniston again pierced the visitors' defence, and after a nice solo run Robertson crossed the ball to CUMMINGS, who opened the scoring with a well-directed drive. At this point Miller, who had received an arm injury earlier in the game, was forced to retire. Play for a while was fast and furious, then Armadale broke through the home defence, and Crossing, getting possession of the ball, sent in a hard angular drive which Weston saved in splendid style. Up to the interval the visitors tried hard to open their account, but were unable to make the best of their chances. Half-time:- Arniston 1 Armadale 0 After the resumption Arniston pressed, and King, who was in splendid form, saved a variety of shots from the forwards. Arniston got away on the right, and Cranston sent the ball into the keeper's hands. WELL TESTED Arniston kept up the pressure, and again broke down the visitors' defence, and BAULD, after a neatly executed movement, increased his side's lead with a drive that completely outwitted the keeper. During the remainder of the game both defences were well tested, but no further goals were registered:- Result:- ARNISTON RANGERS 2 ARMADALE THISTLE........0 |
Newspaper Clipping dated 18.12.1947
| ARNISTON RANGERS 8 TRANENT
JUNIORS...........1
The score speaks for itself. Tranent were hoplessly out-played by an Arniston team that swung into top gear straight from the opening whistle, and only slowed down when the issue was beyond doubt. Arniston's forward line has never played better. Paterson, at centre, was at his best, with defence-splitting flicks to both inside men, but it was McDonald, at inside right, who really surpassed himself. Always clever, he tied the Tranent defence in knots on Saturday. They were running in every direction but the right one, in an effort to counter him, and in doing so invariably left his colleagues open. Liddle was another forward who gave the visitors a headache. The outside right is fast, heavy, yet scrupulously clean, and his finishing shots and crosses are always deadly. In defence, Rangers were always sound. Rutherford played his usual forceful game, collecting a goal in the passing, and Clarkson was like a breaker-wall. Scorers for Arniston were McDonald 3, Paterson 2, Hamilton, Rutherford and Clarkson. Hunt scored a consolation goal for Tranent.
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