Arniston Rangers 2 Johnstone Burgh 1

Johnstone Burgh, former winners of the Scottish Junior Cup came to Newbyres Park, Gorebridge on Saturday, fully convinced that Arniston Rangers would not stop them on their way to Hampden. But they were over confident.

Arniston did not have the look of underdogs and as the minutes ticked away and the end of the game drew closer, Burgh could not break down a close-knit defence.

Ground conditions were atrocious and the players in the opening stages slithered all over the sodden pitch. Johnstone opened strongly, a McDonald drive rebounding from the crossbar and the ball was scrambled clear.

In the next attack Shirley relieved a dangerous situation, while a Seaton intervention halted a McDonald breakthrough. A Boylan effort was only inches wide. Arniston gradually settled and forced a fruitless corner.

Following a brilliant Connelly save from Halliday, Aitchison put Arniston ahead. Their success was short-lived; five minutes later Seddon failed to clear the ball and O'Brien gained an easy equaliser.

The Burgh attacked strongly and the Rangers' defence were hard pressed to stem the raids. On the half-hour mark Arniston forced a corner, and from Halliday's flag-kick Aitchison shot goalwards. The ball rebounded to Scotland who restored the Rangers lead.

INTERVAL

Arniston resumed strongly and Scotland tested Connelly. Play became rather robust and fouls were frequent. Burgh tried to force the pace, but a series of fruitless corners were their only reward. The Rangers with fewer raids were dangerous.

To the close the Burgh strove desperately for an equaliser, but their forwards could not outwit the gallant Rangers' defence.

Teams:

Arniston Rangers - Sneddon; Seaton, Shirley; Rutherford, Ovenstone, McDougall; Tennent, McGee, Scotland, Aitchison, Halliday; substitute, Binnie.

Johnstone Burgh - Connelly; Sturgeon, Small; Thomson, Chisholm, House; O'Brien, McMaster, McDonald, Boylan, Richardson; substitute, Costello.

Referee - Mr. J. Burns, Glasgow.

Arniston Rangers 5 Lochee United 1

Arniston Rangers qualified for the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup by a convincing home win over Lochee United before an attendance of 1400. Arniston opened in a determined fashion forcing a fruitless corner. Keeping up the pressure, the United defence were kept busy repelling raids by Rangers. The Lochee citadel had many miraculous escapes from downfall until after fifteen minutes play, from a Tennent flag-kick, Scotland put the Rangers ahead.

Apart from a few Lochee raids Arniston were mainly on top, and it came as no surprise when Aitchison, from a Tennent, cross increased the Rangers lead.

A few minutes later Johnstone netted a third goal, and before half-time McGee brought the Rangers' total to four.

On resuming, Lochee came more into the picture and the Rangers' defence were hard pressed to stem the attacks. Lochee continued their offside tactics, the Rangers' forwards repeatedly falling into the trap.

The issue was practically settled when Scotland added a fifth Rangers' goal. Lochlee fought back gamely but lacked a finisher until Finlayson, while the Rangers' players vainly appealed for offside, went on to reduce his side's deficit.

Play to the end was scrappy and there was no further scoring.

Arniston Rangers - Sneddon: Scanlon, Shirley; Rutherford, Ovenstone, McDougall; Tennent, McGee, Scotland, Aitchison, Johnstone; substitute, Binnie.

Lochee United - Wilson; Beat, Stewart; Ross, Caswell, Lowe; D. Bruce, E. Bruce, Finlayson, Christie, Gowans; substitute, Mitchell.

Referee - Mr. D. Hunter, Dunfermline.

Linlithgow Rose 1 Arniston Rangers 2

Scottish Junior Cup semi-finalists, Linlithgow Rose, who counted Arniston Rangers amongst their 'Scottish' victims, had the tables turned when the Midlothian club ousted the Rose from the Brown Cup before Linlithgow's own supporters.

Linlithgow opened strongly when internationalist Sinclair collected a Black through-pass, but Sneddon saved at the expense of a fruitless corner. In the next attack he hit the side net from an acute angle.

Arniston came into the picture, but timely interventions by Grant and Reston halted dangerous raids. A goal, however, was only delayed - a McDougall free-kick being deflected past Donaldson to put the Rangers ahead, a lead they held to half-time. Linlithgow resumed spiritedly but a Carruthers shot was inches wide.

Arniston transferred play and were rewarded by a second goal by Wright. Linlithgow tried hard to improve their position, but could find no loophole in the stout Rangers' defence until Black reduced the leeway. This success put new life into the Rose, but despite being handicapped by the loss of right-back Seaton (ordered off), the Rangers finished good winners to enter the semi-final of the tournament.

Linlithgow Rose - Donaldson; Reston and Gardner; Veitch, Grant, McMeechan, Henderson, Carruthers, Ewing, Sinclair, Black; substitute, Roberts.

Arniston Rangers - Sneddon: Seaton, Ellis and Rutherford, Ovenstone, McDougall, McDonald, Stanton, Wright, Aitchison, Halliday, substitute, Tennent. Referee - Mr. I. Gibbs, Stirling.