Arniston Rangers 5 Glasgow Benburb 1

Arniston Rangers deservedly qualified for the third round of the Scottish Junior Cup with a resounding home win after an away draw against the Glasgow 'cracks', Benburb. It was a bruising and exciting encounter spoilt by a strong, swirling gale and greasy underfoot conditions.

Winning the toss and electing to take advantage of the gale, Benburb kept the Rangers hemmed in their own goal area, but the cool play of the Rangers repeatedly baulked the eager Benburb forwards. The Rangers were seldom seen in attack, but in one of their few incursions the Benburb defence had a scare when an Aitchison header, with Smith beaten, topped the crossbar.

Benburb continued to attack but Grant, Seaton and Carnegie interventions repeatedly brought relief, while the few efforts on the target were confidently dealt with by 'keeper Muirhead.

When an overdue Benburb opening goal appeared imminent, the score, entirely against the run of play, happened at the other end. From a 25 yards Ovenstone free kick, Renton opened the Rangers score sheet with a brilliant header. To the interval Benburb pressed persistently and forced a series of fruitless corners, but could find no loop-hole in the dour Rangers rear lines.

Shortly after the restart Arniston widened the margin by a well taken Guthrie goal. The Rangers joy was short lived as in a quick Benburb raid, Hodgeson reduced the leeway. Arniston quickly attacked and McDougall restored the Rangers two goal lead. Minutes later any Benburb hopes of saving the tie were blasted when they were reduced to ten men. Centre-forward Aitken, for a retaliatory foul on Carnegie, was ordered off.

Arniston were now in command and further goals by Renton and Aitchison (penalty) settled the issue in Arniston's favour. A fine victory for the Midlothian club.

Arniston Rangers - Muirhead; Seaton, Carnegie; Ovenstone, Grant, Rutherford; Tennent, Aitchison, Guthrie, Renton, McDougall; substitute, Ellis.

Glasgow Benburb - Smith; Mitchell, Couper; Leckie, Murray, Cauldwell; Miller, McLaren, Aitken, McCabe, Hodgeson; substitute, Logue.

Referee, Mr. J. Rodgers, Fenwick.

Retained and unretained East Division players are -

Arniston Rangers - Retained - Wm. Muirhead, Alan Seaton, Alex Ellis, Edward Carnegie, David Grant, Liston Rutherford, James McDonald, Robert Aitchison, Alex Guthrie, Alan Ovenstone, James Halliday, Ian Gibson, Brian Ness. Unretained - I. Sneddon, G. Tennent, J. Hay, A. Tait, James McNeill, John Neil.

Pumpherston Juniors 0 Arniston Rangers 2

For the vital first leg play-off for the League Championship, Arniston Rangers had difficulty in fielding a side owing to injuries. They were without their wingers Tennent and Halliday, and could not muster a substitute.

In contrast, Pumpherston Juniors, with only one home League defeat, were at full strength.

Both sides were slow to settle. At the outset, Rangers forced the first corner but pivot Welsh cleared. Pumpherston transferred play, but offside spoilt a promising attack.

Pumpherston were kept on the defensive for a spell, but the home 'keeper, Brown, was never seriously troubled. Play continued on lacadaisical lines for a period with the respective defences on top. Ness was constantly splitting open the Pumpherston defence, but a possible score went a-begging when Guthrie shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Half-time came without any scoring.

On resuming, Arniston showed more punch up front, and kept the Pumpherston defence pegged down. Arniston broke through for Aitchison to score. Arniston continued the more dangerous side and the issue was settled when Ovenstone scored Arniston's second goal. Teams:-

Pumpherston - Brown; Blair, Cameron; Needham, Welsh, Gillett; Timmins, Lewry, McGregor, McCall, N. Brown, substitute, Moffat.

Arniston Rangers - Muirhead; Seaton, Ellis; Carnegie, Grant, Rutherford; Tait, Ovenstone, Guthrie, Aitchison, Ness. No substitute.

Referee - Mr. J. MacDonald, Livingstone.

Arniston Rangers defeated Pumpherston Juniors on Saturday in the second leg of the East Region League Championship by 4 goals to 2, giving them an aggregate of 6 - 2 and thus win the "Evening News" Cup and Flag for season 1969 - 70. In winning, Arniston broke the West monopoly of league championships in recent seasons.

The Rangers are due congratulations for their signal success in capturing the East Region League Championship title. It was a hard struggle for the Rangers who took the hard way to win, but in the closing quarter rattled in three goals to settle the issue.

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Arniston went ahead after thirty five minutes' play when Halliday, an absentee in the first leg, weaved his way in a solo run to round a trio of Pumpherston defenders before beating keeper A. Brown to put his side three up on aggregate.

Both goals ran some exciting escapes in goalmouth melees. Two minutes from half-time Pumpherston reduced the deficit by an extraordinary goal. Keeper Muirhead slipped when endeavouring to clutch a thirty yard Timmins' effort when presented no real danger, and the ball reached the net to give Pumpherston a gift goal.

Eight minutes after the restart Pumpherston were again in luck when McGregor, after bringing the ball under control with his hand, put the ball past keeper Muirhead who made no effort to save as the neutral linesman had his flag up for the handling offence.

GOAL AWARDED

The referee, however, after speaking to the linesman overturned his decision and awarded a goal to Pumpherston to the ire of players and home fans.

Only a goal behind on aggregate, Pumpherston fought back determinedly and the Rangers' defence were frequently in trouble, but managed to avert an equalising goal. Having used their substitute, Pumpherston were left with ten men when Cameron collapsed and left the field in the closing quarter.

The handicapped Pumpherston side wilted, and in the final nine minutes Aitchison and Guthrie (twice) added Rangers' goals.

Arniston Rangers - Muirhead; Seaton, Ellis; Carnegie, Grant, Rutherford; Gibson, Aitchison, Guthrie, Ness, Halliday. Substitute, Ovenstone.

Pumpherston Juniors - A. Brown; Gillett, Murphy; Blair, Welsh, Needham; Timmins, Lewry, McGregor, Cameron, N. Brown. Substitute, Watson.

Referee - Mr. I. McDonald, Livingstone.

CHAMPIONS

After the game the Championship Trophy was handed over to the Arniston Club, and the Thistle Cup to Pumpherston in recognition of their winning the West Division League Championship