Arniston Rangers Football Club

Arniston started well, winning their first three games beating Dunbar United 4 - 1 at Dunbar with goals by Rutherford, Stewart, Ronaldson and Newman, Bonnybridge Juniors 4 - 1 in the Rae Cup - Arniston scorers, Gillespie 3 and McLeod, and Bonnybridge Juniors 3 - 1 in the Brown Cup at Bonnybridge. October saw the Arniston mens first defeat, losing 8 - 4 in the league at Dalkeith. Recovery was quick with a win against the 'cracks' from Linlithgow, the mighty Linlithgow Rose by 3 goals to 2, Arniston scorers, Gillespie 2, Bertram. A 4 - 2 win over Peebles Rover in the second half of the East of Scotland Cup, Arniston goal-scorers, Gillespie 2, Sked and McLeod. Stewart of Arniston missed a penalty. Arniston for some reason suddenly went to a form slump, and lost to Musselburgh Athletic 5 - 1 in the league, 2 - 1 against Penicuik Athletic in the league at Penicuik, 6 - 2 defeat by Ardeer Recreation in the Scottish Junior Cup at Ardeer. 4 - 2 defeat by Penicuik Athletic at Arniston, 2 - 1 defeat by Tranent Juniors. More defeats followed and the season ended dismally.

Topic of interest - December, 1966 a most fascinating match was played at Broxburn in a Brown Cup re-play. Arniston arrived a man short and played with ten men. To make things worse McGillvray was carried off with a leg injury and reduced Arniston to nine men. Result: Arniston 1 - Broxburn Athletic 1. Broxburn won the third game 4 - 2.

IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR RANGERS

Arniston Rangers 3 Linlithgow Rose.....2

Arniston Rangers entered the quarter finals of the R.L. Rae Cup by a narrow but merited home win over the Rose at Linlithgow. Opening play favoured the Rose but Ronaldson, Devlin and Kirk clearances halted several dangerous raids while Kennedy saved well from Veitch and Carswell. A bad pass back to keeper Bird by left-back Kennedy nearly brought a score, but the keeper recovered in time to clear. For a long spell Linlithgow kept up a steady attack but the Rangers' defence baulked the swift raiding Rose forward.

Somewhat against the run of play Arniston went ahead. From a through pass from Donnelly, Gillespie collected to beat Bird all ends up after twenty minutes play.

In arrears Linlithgow pressed strongly, but Kennedy saved brilliantly from Carswell and Oliphant drives. Their efforts, however, were rewarded when a Carswell shot was deflected past Kennedy for a deserved equaliser.

Arniston attacked strongly and Gillespie shot narrowly over. In the next home attack Gillespie missed a chance when, with only Bird to beat, his parting effort went past. This was a let-off for Linlithgow.

To half-time Linlithgow were the aggressors, but Rangers' defence held out. Five minutes after the restart Arniston regained the lead when Bird partially saved a fierce Keith drive, and Gillespie lying handy prodded the rebound home.

Linlithgow stormed into the attack, the hard-pressed Rangers' defence being forced to concede three successive fruitless corners before the seige was raised. Arniston again struck back and Bertram shocked the Rose defence by increasing the Rangers' margin with a brilliant goal. Shortly afterwards Gillespie had a near miss. Linlithgow fought gallantly but several corners were their only reward until a temporary Rangers defensive lapse gave Thomson a scoring chance, which he promptly accepted to put the Rose back into the game. Over-eagerness and desperate Rangers tackles and clearances averted a Linlithgow equaliser.

Arniston Rangers: Kennedy; Ronaldson, Kirk; Skedd, Devlin, Rutherford; Donnelly, Stewart, Gillespie, Keith, Bertram; substitute, McKenna.

Linlithgow Rose Bird; Reston, Kennedy; Veitch, Grant, Connelly, Notman, Mitchell, Thomson, Carswell, Oliphant; substitute, Syme.

Referee Mr. A. Grant, Edinburgh.

REPORTS ACCEPTED - There was a good attendance at the annual general meeting of Arniston Rangers F.C., under the chairmanship of the president, Mr. James Monroe. The secretarial report by Mr. Mackie, showed the past season to have been disappointing in a playing sense.

The financial statement by the treasurer, Mr. J. Toolin, was considered satisfactory. Both reports were unanimously adopted.

The following officials and committees were elected for next season:

President, Councillor John Gaynor; vice-president, Mr. James Mitchell; secretary, Mr. John Mackie; treasurer, Mr. James Wilson; minute secretary, Mr. Wm. Watson; representative, Mr. David Tait. Committee - George Bennett, Alex. Reid, Walter Learmonth, John Ramsay, Walter Crawford, George Lauder, James Shepperd, Frank McAteer, John Norrie, J. Brown, H. Mateer, H. Fleming and W. Ferris.

It was agreed that a special effort would be made to restore the club to its former high prestige in East of Scotland, Several schemes were suggested to augment the club funds.