Kataleza Steals Show

Fauldhouse United were the visitors to Newbyres Park looking to secure the single point they required to secure promotion to the McBookie.com Super League. However, the champagne remains on ice, as Arniston striker Lumbert Kataleza stole the show with a well taken hat -trick  to secure the points for the home team.

Arniston played Moriarty at the back in place of the suspended Faulds and it took them only three minutes to open the scoring. A good through ball by Courts left United claiming offside,  but the speedy Kataleza got on the end of it and made no mistake -  his fine finish gave Murphy in the United goal no chance.

A few minutes later Kataleza should have made it two, but failed to get his shot away when through on goal.

Fauldhouse started to creep into the game and just before the quarter hour, Kenny Martin should have done better with a free header from a Fallon cross. A few minutes later, a fine run by Ross created a half chance for Kenny Martin, but he failed to get on the end of the pass.

United were dominating now and without Moriarty to provide support in midfield, the industrious Thomson wasn't having his usual impact on proceedings. The visitors had a lot of possession but failed to find a cutting edge, whereas Kataleza and strike partner Court, always looked likely to grab a second. That second nearly came on 25 minutes when good work by Thomson and Moffat, created an excellent chance for Kataleza, but the frontman couldn't hit the target.

Just before the half hour United goalkeeper Murphy had to leave the field after a collision with Court and was replaced in the away goal by youngster Peace. The substitute goalkeeper produced a fine stop minutes later from Court, after good interplay by Thomson and Kataleza.

Rangers keeper Rachowski then pulled off a fine save from McCormack, after Smith had found him with a good pass. Just on the break, home defender Forbes came close with a clever chip but his effort was just over.

Half -time. Arniston Rangers 1; Fauldhouse United 0

Fauldhouse looked like a different team right from the start of the second half. There was much more urgency about their play and it came as no surprise when they equalised. A free kick on the right, swung in by Rees, caused panic in the home defence and Wilkins was on hand to stab the ball home. United were dominating now and Campbell shot just wide. A minute later only a fine tackle by Callaghan prevented McCormack from giving the visitors the lead.

There is always the feeling that if you pass up your chances you will be punished and that's what happened. After 69 minutes and much against the run of play, Kataleza gave Arniston the lead for the second time. He combined with McInally and his finish was clinical.

You are often at your most vulnerable after scoring and this proved to be the case with Wilkins adding Fauldhouse's and his own second, within a minute. A flick on by McCormack created a chance for the slight striker who brought the sides level again.

Fauldhouse kept pushing forward, but it was Arniston who grabbed the winner after 81 minutes. A Moffat corner from the right was headed down by Callaghan and that man Kataleza was on hand to complete his hat-trick

Full time Arniston Rangers 3; Fauldhouse United 2

Referee Alan Hogg handled the game well and was always in control and firm in his decision making.

This was not a great performance by the home team and they have Man of the Match, Kataleza to thank for the victory. He always looked sharp and showed what a good player he is by feeding on scraps. Without Moriarty in midfield, Arniston looked second best, despite Thomson trying hard and fighting to gain control.

It's a busy week for a Rangers with two cup ties against Bo'ness United, firstly in the Fife and Lothians on Monday night (KO 6.45) and then on Saturday in the East of Scotland, as well as a league game on Wednesday night against local rivals and promotion hopefuls, Dalkeith Thistle. All three matches are at home and will define their season. Their squad will be stretched and they will have to play much better than they did today if they are to progress.

Fauldhouse will be kicking themselves for not taking at least one point. They looked short on confidence up front in the first half, and vulnerable to the quick counter attack all the way through the match. However, they might well secure the point they need to gain promotion in their final match, if they play with the intensity they showed in the second half today. Penicuik Athletic look favourites to win the title.

Gordon Baird - Neutral Reporter

 

Point not taken!

A point in this game would officially see us nail second place but again we couldn't manage it, going down 3-2 at Arniston. A poor decision got us off to a bad start in only four minutes when the ref allowed play to continue when Kateleza was yards off side and he ran on to put it away for the opener....1-0 Arnie. Quarter of an hour gone and good play between Gary Fallon and Shaun Martin lead to a floated cross for Kenny Martin who headed narrowly wide. Arnistons number ten Kateleza was causing all sorts of problems with his pace and trickery as he out stripped our defence shooting inches wide of the post. Twenty five minutes in a collision between Court and the Fauldhouse keeper Andy Murphy resulted in Andy having to come off, being replaced by young Callum Peace. It wasn't long before he was in the thick of the action he had a fine save blocking with his feet from centre forward Court. Michael McCormack was unlucky just before the break testing Arnies keeper Rachowski who managed to palm it away to safety....... Half time, Arniston Rangers 1 Fauldhouse United 0.

United came out the traps second half with a bit more urgency, Kenny and Mark came close early on as we tried to get back on level terms. The equaliser wasn't long arriving though, on fifty five minutes Rees Smith put in a great free kick which caused a scramble in the box and Mark Wilkins was first to react to prod it home....1-1. Fauldhouse were on top at this point as the game was being played in a cup-tie atmosphere with both teams going for it, Arnie took the initiative with twenty minutes to go when Kateleza got his second drilling it home from close range.....2-1. The pendulum swung again minutes later when a great flick over the defenders head by Michael McCormack played in Mark Wilkins for his and United's second showing his usual good composure to tuck it away....2-2. For the third time going in to the last quarter of an hour Arniston took the lead, from a corner kick the ball fell at the feet of all people Kateleza who gleefully tapped it in for his hat-trick to complete a stunning performance for the striker. We couldn't force the equaliser as time ran out and it finished... Arniston Rangers 3 Fauldhouse United 2.

We've not came up against a performance like Katelezas today all season and he stole the show, well done and what a great game for the neutral, but not a good result for United.

Fauldhouse United: Murphy, Fallon, Smith, Ross, Gallagher, Campbell, Scott, McCormack, K.Martin, Wilkins, S.Martin, (subs: Peace(gk), Wardlaw, Donnelly, Chilton, L.Brown)

Arniston Rangers: Rachowski, Brady, Forbes, Callaghan, Moriarty, Garden, McInally, Thomson, Court, Kateleza, Moffat,(subs: Aitken, Mather, McCall, Ritchie)

                                        "The Parkview"