Arniston pay the penalty

Arniston RANGERS bowed out of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup in a controversial replay.

On 85 minutes with the score at 1-1, Arniston’s Rees Smith was harshly adjudged to have clipped Euan Lindsay in the box and referee Crowthers pointed to the spot. As mayhem ensued in both dugouts, the decision was overturned on advice from the linesman and Paul Coyle was sent off for remonstrating with the referee.

In the penalty shoot-out, Arniston’s David Hanjigawa and Smith saw their spot-kicks saved, and substitute John Robertson scored the decisive penalty to secure a place in the fifth round. Thistle almost scored on 13 minutes, Lindsay’s turn and shot from outside the area clipping the top of the bar. However, five minutes later, Tadg Moriarty showed tremendous composure inside the Largs box before slotting past Stephen Connick.

On 25 minutes, Gary Phillips hit the woodwork again for Thistle with a back-post header. Largs had grabbed a deserved equaliser on 63 minutes when Craig Black’s effort from the right touchline beat Rachowski at his near post.

Arniston: Rachowski, Munro, Smith, Kerr, Rollo, Lucas, Garden (Hanjigawa), McLennan, Leishman (Somerville), Moriarty, Ponton. Subs: Norman, McCormack, Nisbett, McCaul, Porch.

Largs: Connick, C Black, Coyle, Cochrane, McLaughlin, Holt (Jamieson), McLure, Connally (Robertson), Lindsay, Phillips, Dow. Subs: Wilton, G.Black, Brown, Weir.