Carnoustie Panmure 1 Arniston Rangers 2
Prior to the kick-off, a minute silence was observed in memory of former committee man Sandy Grant, who had died suddenly the previous day.Carnoustie kicked-off facing a strong westerly wind and survived an early scare when a through ball from Morris found Howitt in an offside position.
Arniston continued to press and forced two corners in quick succession before the ball was cleared by Urquhart.
It was all one-way traffic in the opening stages and the Gowfers had another let-off when a Moriarty long-range drive struck the top of the crossbar and went over.
Carnoustie eventually worked their way up the park and a 30 yard strike by Urquhart flashed just wide of Rachowski's right-hand post.
Back came Arniston, but Morris's 35 yard shot flew high over the top.
The visitors' early pressure finally paid off in 18 minutes when Cennerazzo sent HOWITT clear on the right and cutting along the bye-line he fired low past McCafferty into the far corner of the net for the opening goal.
Shortly afterwards, Arniston came close to increasing their lead from a corner on the right. Martin's cross, however, was intercepted by Thompson just as Opilka was about to get his head to the ball.
Two more corners followed in close order before the ball was eventually cleared away by Narey.
In a rare home attack, Clark was fouled by Borthwick 30 yards out. Masson drove the free kick low through the defensive wall, but Rachowski diving to his left made a fine save.
Back at the other end, a 30 yard shot by Ellis was well held by McCafferty.
However, it was no surprise when Carnoustie fell further behind in 32 minutes. HOWITT out-paced Hendry to a through pass from Ellis and stroked the ball low past McCafferty into the bottom left-hand corner for Arniston's second.
The Lothian men still went in search of further goals and from another Martin corner on the right Opilka blasted wildly over at the far post.
The Gowfers' defence again found themselves under pressure when a poor passback by Urquhart was intercepted by Ellis, who fired over from 20 yards.
Just on half-time, Clark almost pulled a goal back for Carnoustie, but shot narrowly over from 25 yards.
Half Time : Carnoustie Panmure 0 Arniston Rangers 2
Although the Gowfers now had the wind in their favour for the second half, it was Arniston who were first to show after the breakwhen Hendry fouled Borthwick just outside the box. Ellis lifted the resultant free kick over the defensive wall, but just wide of the right-hand post.As Carnoustie settled into their stride, Clark tried his luck from 25 yards, but his effort was too direct and straight at the 'keeper.
Opilka then fouled Urquhart on the edge of the box and Masson's free kick came off the defensive wall for a corner on the left. Masson took the kick himself, but his cross was cleared away by Morris.
At the other end, Martin threatened to break clear for Arniston, but was fouled by Thompson, who was booked for obstruction.
A foul by Moriarty on Urquhart 35 yards out gave Carnoustie another possible scoring opportunity, but Masson's free kick curled narrowly past Rachowski's left-hand upright.
The Gowfers then won a corner when a fierce drive by Hall went behind off Opilka. However, Masson's flag kick was again cleared without any real threat to the visitors' goal.
Carnoustie were now doing all the pressing and a through ball from Hall released Reilly, whose shot was well-saved by Rachowski.
Shortly afterwards, another fine drive by Reilly from the edge of the box was again cluthed safely by the 'keeper.
The Gowfers made the first substitution of the match in 64 minutes, replacing Clark with McIlravey.
Carnoustie continued on the attack and were unlucky not to pull a goal back when a Reilly corner from the right was missed by Rachowski. The ball dropped at the feet of Narey, whose shot from six yards struck the outside of the post and went behind.
In 67 minutes, however, the Gowfers' efforts were rewarded when a Cumming cross from the left was back-headed into the box by Smith and up popped REILLY to power a header high past the 'keeper, putting the home side right back in the game.
Straight from the centre, Arniston almost restored their two goal advantage. Morris got clear through on McCafferty and only a timely tackle by Hendry saw the ball deflected behind for a fruitless corner.
Putting that scare behind them, Carnoustie pushed forward once more and forced a corner on the left, but McIlravey shot just wide from Masson's cross.
Arniston were now feeling the pressure and in 71 minutes replaced Martin with Forster.
McIlravey set up Masson with a great through ball, but he squandered the opportunity by shooting straight at the 'keeper.
The visitors made another change in 78 minutes, sending on Nicholson for Borthwick.
Carnoustie again came close to equalising when McIlravey pounced on a loose ball just outside the box, but his fierce low drive flew narrowly past Rachowski's right-hand post.
In the next home attack, McIlravey was fouled by Opilka 35 yards out. Hall flighted the free kick over the defensive wall, but his effort was just too high and also cleared the crossbar.
At the other end, Arniston had a chance from a Nicholson free kick on the left. Hendry's attempt to clear the ball away went only as far as Ellis, who shot past from the edge of the box.
Still Carnoustie continued to press for an equaliser and forced two corners in quick succession. From the second of these, Reilly's inswinging cross was clutched by Rachowski just under the crossbar.
With the Gowfers pushing forward at every opportunity, the final chance of the match in fact fell to Arniston. Morris broke clear on his own and rounded McCafferty, but Smith was on hand to clear his angled shot off the line.
Just after this, the referee blew for full-time and Carnoustie had suffered a disappointing narrow opening day defeat.
Match Report Courtesy Of Guide And Gazette Newspaper
| STARTING LINE-UPS | |
| 1. John McCafferty | 1. Bartosz Rachowski |
| 2. Steven Narey | 2. Gary Cennarazzo |
| 3. Daryn Smith | 3. Tadg Moriarty |
| 4. Robert Hendry | 4. Scott Borthwick |
| 5. Jonathan Thompson (C) | 5. Michael Opilka |
| 6. Terry Masson | 6. Mark Ellis |
| 7. Robert Urquhart | 7. Patty Bonthrone |
| 8. Euan Hall | 8. Dougie Cummison |
| 9. Kevin Cumming | 9. Callum Martin |
| 10. Andy Reilly | 10. David Morris |
| 11. Brian Clark | 11. Kyle Howitt |
| SUBS : | SUBS : |
| 12. Steven Cook (Replaced Urquhart After 88 Minutes) | 12. Alistair Foster (Replaced Martin After 71 Minutes) |
| 14. Michael McIlravey (Replaced Clark After 64 Minutes) | 14. Barry Nicolson (Replaced Borthwick After 78 Minutes) |
| 15. Scott Robertson (Sub Not Used) | 15. Andy Donlevy (Sub Not Used) |
| 16. Gavin Beith (Sub Not Used) | 16. Hunter (Sub Not Used) |
| Sub 'Keeper - Craig Jamieson (Sub Not Used) | Sub 'Keeper - Ross Godfrey (Sub Not Used) |
| GOALS | |
| REILLY (67) | HOWITT (18,32) |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS | |
| Referee : C. Duncan, Dundee. | |
| THOMPSON | NONE |
League Standings After Game
| Home | Away | |||||||||||||
| # |
Team
|
P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | GD |
| 1 | Fauldhouse United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | +2 |
| 2 | Arniston Rangers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| 3 | Ballingry Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 4 | Kinnoull | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 5 | Forfar West End | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Montrose Roselea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Blairgowrie | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | Penicuik Athletic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Carnoustie Panmure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 10 | Armadale Thistle | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 11 | Tayport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 12 | St Andrews | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |