Last four race still wide open

Bonnyrigg manager Alan Millar said: "We probably deserved to win in the last half hour but both sides take a lot of credit for the passion they showed out there. It looks like I may have found the striker we're all looking for in James Steels. He's young and full of raw talent . . . and he scores goals."

This derby kept the section alive for both clubs. Arniston, with an average age in the low twenties, took the game to the Super League side from the start. They had a scare in the early part of the game when Bonnyrigg's Sean Paliczka's shot was blocked by the keeper, but this spurred them on.

First Lewis Coult hit the bar with an angled drive from the edge of the box, then Jordan Cropley chipped the keeper but Stephen Bunyan hooked the ball off the line with the Arniston strikers claiming a goal.

Bonnyrigg were being pressed back but midfielder Scott Devlin drove into the Arniston box to meet a cross from the right only to see his strike crash off the bar and over.

The best effort of the first half came from Arniston's Lewis Coult, whose great shot was palmed on to the post by Michael Burgess who then safely gathered the ball.

It would need some great football in the second half to beat the first and a quick goal would give it a terrific start.

It came from Arniston. There were only three minutes on the second-half clock when Coult drove the ball into the net for a deserved opener.

He almost doubled their lead only a couple of minutes later but Burgess pushed his effort wide of the right-hand post.

Bonnyrigg then stepped up a gear as Arniston started to flag. Both Sean Grady and Sean Paliczka had plenty of chances to grab an equaliser but missed on every occasion.

With ten minutes to go, the pressure paid off. Bonnyrigg sub James Steele was pushed forward and, after only two minutes on the pitch, scored the equaliser. Scott Ritchie then hit the bar with a header following a corner with the ball falling at the feet of the keeper. But before he could grab it in his arms, Steele pounced to slam the ball home from two yards.

Sensing victory, Bonnyrigg swarmed forward. Arniston keeper Bartoz Rachowski was under pressure but was up to the task.

He produced a terrific save from a Kevin McLeish strike to keep the scores level as the final minutes approached.

In the end, it was a good draw for both sides. It keeps the section alive with Bonnyrigg, Arniston and Tranent all capable of winning through to the semi-final.The last two games for all three clubs are this week and they promise to bring the section stage of the competition to a sizzling conclusion.

Bonnyrigg boss Millar was pleased with the effort his players put in. He said: "Arniston probably had the best of the first half and could have gone in at the break in front, but our lads defended brilliantly at times.

"The last half hour we took the game to Arniston and should have taken all three points but our strikers couldn't find the net until I put young James Steele on. He could be a big signing for us.

"It's going to be a big week for the players.

"We have two big games in quick succession and we need to win them."

Arniston boss Brian McNaughton has brought together a young side full of talent, including Coult and Alistair Forster. "These players out there have no fear," he said.

"They just go out and play football. They are all young but have experience of the Senior ranks with teams like Hibs and Hearts. We probably ran out of steam towards the end but for the first hour we had all the play. The lads are full of enthusiasm and it's difficult to know what is our best line up.

"We seem to lift our games against the bigger teams and it's looking good for the season ahead."

Bonnyrigg: Burgess, Fell, Bunyan, Dunn, Ritchie, Martin, Grady, Devlin (Caine), McCallum, McLeish, Paliczka (Steele). Subs: Bracks, Morrice, Reid, Aulds.

Arniston: Rachowski, Herd (Cennarazzo),Cunnison, Tolmie, Opilka, McLennan, Forster, Bonthrone (McNaughton), Coult, Cropley, Martin. Subs: Nicolson, Morris, Lynch, Pies.

Bonnyrigg Rose 1

Arniston Rangers 1