Season 1979-1980

Season started with a narrow 1 - 0 win over Broxburn Athletic at Arniston in the league, Arniston scorer, Little, and a defeat by Bonnyrigg Rose in the League Cup 2 - 1. Next game for Arniston a was Highland Queen League Cup Tie against Newtongrange Star at Arniston, which resulted in a 3 - 1 win for Newtongrange Star.

Newspaper Clipping dated 25.10.1979

ARNISTON WIPEOUT POLKEMMET

Arniston Rangers 9, Polkemmet Juniors 0

Arniston Rangers improved their Laidlaw East Region Junior 'B' Division League Championship by an overwhelming clear nine goal home win over Polkemmet Juniors. The goal margin will boost the Rangers' goal average.

The encounter, however, was marred by a second half incident resulting in two Polkemmet Juniors players receiving marching orders.

After five minutes play Robertson netted for the Rangers but a previous infringement nullified the score.

The visitors hit back and only a brilliant Horne save prevented a Conn effort.

The Rangers continued to press but scoring chances were missed by the forwards until after half an hour's play, Keith headed from a Thomson's flag kick.

Three minutes later Robertson increased the Rangers margin - a lead they held until the interval.

The Rangers resumed aggressively and Aird quickly increased their lead.

The visitors were seldom seen in attack, and it came as no surprise when Ferguson put the Rangers further ahead.

Shortly afterwards, Aird added a fifth Rangers goal. Then came the incident when, for fouling, centre half Cumming was ordered off. Then left back McLaren, apparently for dissent, also was shown the red ticket.

The depleted visitors' side collapsed after the double ordering offs, and before the close, Pryde (penalty), Thomson 2 and an Aird added goal to complete a fine hat-trick, raised the Rangers total to nine goals without reply.

Teams:

Arniston Rangers - Horne, Ret, Lynch, Ferguson, Keith, Bennie, Thomson, Henry, Robertson, Pryde, Aird. Subs., Begbie, Anderson.

Polkemmet Juniors - Saunders, Duffy, McLaren, Swan, Cumming, Conn, Murphy, Cunningham, Campbell, Graham, Marr. Subs., Jarvie, Muir.

Referee - Mr. A. Huett, Edinburgh.

 

As the season progressed Arniston put together some good wins. September saw Arniston beat West Calder United 2 - 1 in the league at Arniston, Arniston scorers, Robertson, Thomson. Another good win for Arniston followed with a 2 - 1 win against Bathgate Thistle in the league at Arniston. October was another good month for Arniston, with a good 5 - 2 win over Haddington Athletic at Haddington. The end of October finished well for Arniston with a massive 9 - 0 win over Pumpherston Juniors in the league at Arniston. Arniston scorers - Robertson 2, Keith, Aird 3, Pryde (Pen.), Thomson 2. November saw Arniston beat Buckie 1 - 0 in the Scottish Junior Cup, beat Preston Athletic 2 - 0 in the league at Arniston, Arniston scorers, Little, Thomson. November also saw Arniston take their exit from the Scottish Brewers Cup, 1st. leg, losing 1 - 0 to Halbeath at Halbeath, losing 5 - 4 in the league to Musselburgh Athletic.

December, 1979 Arniston met Linlithgow Rose in the Scottish Junior Cup, 3rd round at Linlithgow, in a game resulting in a 3 - 3 draw, Arniston scorers, Pryde, Steele, Lynch. Replay the following week at Arniston ended in a 1 - 1 draw, Arniston scorer, Robertson. Keith of Arniston put through his own goal. The third game resulted in a 2 - 0 win for Linlithgow Rose at Linlithgow. Keith of Arniston booked.

January, 1980 saw Arniston play two games, winning 4 - 2 against Haddington Athletic at Arniston in the league, and 2 - 1 in the Robertson Homes Cup at Arniston, Arniston scorers, Ferguson, Henry. February saw two "crackers of games", first game a Scottish Brewers Cup, 2nd leg between Arniston and Halbeath. Halbeath won the first game 1 - 0 at Halbeath, and at the end of normal time in the second leg at Arniston, the aggregate score was 3 - 3. Arniston won match in extra time 5 - 4, Arniston scorers, Thomson 2, Robertson 2, 'Dod' Henry. The end of February saw Arniston losing narrowly in the Drybrough Cup, 2 - 1 to Penicuik Athletic at Penicuik. Gowrie of Arniston, the Arniston keeper, conceded a penalty and promptly saved Thorpes kick.

Arniston finished the season well, beating Armadale Thistle 6 - 2 at Armadale in the league, West Calder 7 - 2 in the league at West Calder and Fauldhouse United 2 - 0 in the league at Arniston, Arniston scorers, Henry, Ferguson. Arniston win promotion to the 'A' Division. Last game of the season for Arniston saw the 'gers' losing 2 - 1 to Linlithgow Rose in the Scottish Brewers Cup, semi-final. Arniston were 1 - 0 up at half-time.

Newspaper Clipping dated 1.5.1980

ARNISTON PUT OUT SAUCHIE

Arniston Rangers 1 Sauchie Juniors 0

Arniston Rangers merited their win in this third round Scottish Brewers Cup Tie which halted their visitor's recent run of successes. It was also an achievement for the Gorebridge club in the 'B' Division to overcome their more fancied 'A' Division opponents.

Opening play was mainly confined to midfield, with the respective defences on top.

After ten minutes play Sauchie nearly went ahead when Dawson from a Miller corner, headed the ball towards goal, but keeper Gowrie tipped over for a fruitless corner.

At the other end, Aird let fly with a low drive just inside the penalty box with keeper McBain well beaten, but the ball struck the upright and rebounded into play to be scraped clear. A let off for the visitors.

In the subsequent play the Rangers forwards squandered several scoring chances until three minutes from half-time when Henry netted with a twenty yard drive past a helpless McBain.

Arniston resumed in determined style, keeping the visiting defence under constant pressure, but an Aird drive was wide of the target. Arniston continued to have the better of the exchanges, but their forwards scorned several chances.

In the dying moments Sauchie nearly snatched an equaliser, but Gowrie smothered McLellan's brilliant drive and foiled a last visitors' effort to save the tie.

Arniston Rangers: Gowrie, Ret, Lynch, Ferguson, Anderson, Keith, Thomson Henry, Robertson, Aird, Wood. (Subs.,) Begbie, Bennie.

Sauchie Juniors: McBain, Craig, Ramage, Millar, Brown, Breen, Simpson, Reynolds, Dawson, McLellan, McGarvie. (Subs.,) Duncan, Moran.