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Musselburgh started well at Newbyres Park and forced an early corner, however Chris Kings corner was easily cleared. Arniston though took the lead after only 2 minutes. A great run by Arniston man of the match Kyle Howitt ended with a pin point cross which was converted by CUNISON. Both teams then bombed forward with plenty of corners and free kicks but in all cases the delivery was poor. After 25 minutes Musselburgh pulled level, Arniston failing to clear and Paul TANSEY smashing home his sixth goal of the campain.Then came the turning point, a clear goal for Musselburgh chalked off by the referee. Paul Tansey and Chris King then forced the impressive home keeper Gavin Kirkwood into fine saves following great passing moves. On 42 minutes the home team regained the lead, a shot from the edge of the box by THORNHILL found the bottom corner. Then just before half time Brian Murray received his second red card of the season for a needless challenge, Aniston’s Calvin Shand with nowhere to go on his own byline and in came a sliding tackle which the referee deemed a straight red. Down to ten men the visitors played the way they should have started. Getting right into Rangers and shots from King, Barnes, Tansey and Michell bringing saves from Krikwood and only the whistle came to Arnistons rescue as Musselburgh were camped in their half.

The second half started poor, again free kicks, throw-ins wasted and on the hour mark Musselburgh brought on C J and Porteous for Hawkins and the booked (decent) Barnes. C J caused the home defense problems but they could not get past the defense and keeper. Against the run of play Arniston increased the lead, cross from Howitt converted into an empty net by LAIRD. Musselburgh still pushed forward and saves from Kirkwood stopped King and C J certain goals. But a goal was not long in coming, Musselburgh man of the match Johnny Bain skinned four Arniston players before squaring to King who had his shot saved but C J struck the ball high into the net. But 2 minutes later a pass from McAllum found Howitt standing at least 5 yards offside, to be fair he played on and took his chance but even home supporters were thanking the football gods and that decision stopped any chance of a fight back. Although Porteous and Tansy again came close with shots. Then with 10 minutes to go the usual suspects received yellow cards King and Porteous being joined by the goal keeper in the book and joining Murray in the dressing room was new signing Danny Kelly. A two footed challenge in the rule book is a red card and the pushing and shoving highlighted the away teams discipline problems again. It seems that they can’t accept the referees decisions and think that by arguing that he will change it. Instead I the referee gave Arniston a offside decision in their favor and disallowed a Musselburgh goal it may pay them to keep quiet in future. But the club has a long history in this department and I can’t see it changing. Some of the players should look at how many bookings they have compaired to goals and see how their stats add up.

In review Musselburgh let four goals in agianst a side that had only scored 5 all season and seem to have a problem motivating themselves for 'easier' games. There is no point in gloating in the paper on Friday that you have beaten super league teams and you deserve to be there, because if you can't beat Arniston, Armadale or Dundee who ain't going to win anything then you will only be playing these Super league teams in the cup. Musselburgh head to Dundonald and will come up against the best strike force and team in the division, Dundonald have the power to cause any team problems. Thier 5 - 2 win at Kinnoull shows that early season predictions that they would go straight up were accurate. Click on Next match for information and travel to Dundonald.

Arniston : Kirkwood, Cunison, Moriaty, McGregor, Shand, Waddle, Laird, Lucas, McAllum, Thornhill, Howitt

Musselburgh: Polowj, Hawkins, McManus, Michell, Bain, Quinn, Murray, Kelly, King, Barnes, Tansey Subs Cj, Porteous, McPherson

Polowj, King, Porteous, Barnes Kelly, Murray

 

Pictures by Liam and Ryan Kelly.

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