Super Finish Earns Arniston a Point

Michael Deland doesn't score many goals but he capped off a fine personal display with a super finish to earn his side a deserved draw after a spirited second half performance. Tranent had looked to be holding on to win courtesy of a Fisher goal early on,before the tall full back curled in his fine effort from the left edge of the visitor's box. Neither side played well but Tranent passed the ball slickly in a first half which they dominated before the home side came more into things after the break. 

Arniston Rangers welcomed Tranent Juniors to Newbyres Park in their opening home league fixture in the McBookie.com East Premier League of the 2017/18 season. Both sides got off the mark in the league last Saturday; Arniston took a point at Thornton Hibs while the visitors gathered all three points at home to St Andrews United. When the sides last met on League business in December they shared four goals in a game that ended controversially with the referee taking both sides off the pitch to calm down after a fracas had broken out between players and coaching staff. Arniston won one nil earlier in the campaign at Forresters Park. Last season only one point separated the teams in the league with Tranent finishing fourth and Rangers sixth. However, the "Belters" ended the season in terrific form by winning both the East of Scotland and Fife and Lothians Cups against McBookie.com SuperLeague opposition. 

Arniston's promotion hopes were dented last season by their inability to win at home and this was a fixture that would prove a stern test of whether they had addressed that issue.  

Tranent were straight onto the offensive and in their first attack took the lead. Fairney latched onto a ball played wide down the right and when he squared it into the box,FISHER was on hand to neatly go around Cornet and squeeze the ball in at the near post - 2 minutes on the clock and a dream start for the visitors. 

There was fully 10 minutes played before Arniston managed to get into the game when they won a corner which came to nothing. 

Tranent got their first corner after 16 minutes. Wojtowycz took the kick and the ball was only cleared as far as Fisher who shot well wide. 

Arniston were getting a toehold into the game and Todd did well to clear a Watson cross with Arniston players behind him. 

Tranent were enjoying a lot of possession and passing the ball well, but with no end product and Fisher was continually drifting offside. 

The Juniors produced their best move of the half on the half hour with Hawkins, Janczyk and Ferguson combining well, forcing Rangers to concede a corner. 

Neither side could produce much penetration and the game was being played in the middle of the park with the defences were well on top. Neither side looked likely to make a break through and neither keeper was called into action before the break. 

Half Time Arniston Rangers 0;  Tranent Juniors 1

Tranent withdrew Player/ joint manager Smith at the break and introduced Watters. 

Arniston signalled their intent after 48 minutes with Watson trying a shot from range but his effort was a poor one and easily fielded by Horne. 

The game continued in similar style to the first half with no chances being created, but Arniston seeing more of the ball. Their possession paid off and half way through the half they won two corners in quick succession. When the second was not cleared properly, DELAND picked the ball up on the left and strode forward before curling a great shot wide of Horne into the far corner. 

The equaliser seemed to spark a revival in Tranent who had been subdued throughout the second period and after 70 minutes they created a good chance. Fisher got on the end of a through ball down the middle, but his headed effort slipped agonisingly wide. Minutes later another through ball found substitute K Patterson, but as he drove in from the left Cornet denied him with his legs. 

After 74 minutes Tranent won a free kick in a central area twenty yards out. Wojtowycz struck the kick well but his shot cannoned over off the bar. 

Both sides made further substitutions in an effort to win all three points but there were no more goals. 

Arniston deserved a point for their second half performance but in truth neither team merited  a win. Tranent were the better side in the first 45 minutes but lost their way in the second period until they conceded the equaliser and they simply didn't test Cornet often enough. Neither set of forwards carried a threat and their was little creativity from the midfields. Both sides will have to play much better if they are to be in the promotion shake up come April. Best for the home side were all at the back with a Deland the star. Tranent were solid at the back and the substitution of Smith at the break allowed Arniston into the game more. 

Arniston host Blackburn United on Saturday while Tranent travel to Dundee to face Downfield. 

Full Time Arniston Rangers 1; Tranent Juniors 1

Teams

Arniston Rangers
Cornet, Jeffrey, Deland, Callaghan, Woods, McTernan, Somerville, McFadden, Fairgrieve, Watson and Waugh subs Miller, Anderson, Doig, Thomson and Begbie

Tranent Juniors 
Horne, Hawkins, Wojtowycz, Todd, Kerr, Janczyk, Fiddler, Smith, Fisher, Ferguson and Fairney
Subs  Watters, Smeaton, K Patterson, J Patterson and Jackson 

Referee   Daniel Graves 

Gordon Baird
Neutral  Reporter