Sauchie 5 Arniston 0

ARNISTON RANGERS were the visitors to Beechwood Park on Friday night as Sauchie Juniors looked to book a place in the East of Scotland League Cup final.

Management made no changes to the team from last Saturday, keeping the same 11 that triumphed over Hill of Beath in the previous round.

To say Sauchie started the brighter of the teams would be an understatement, a corner whipped in by talisman Danny Smith in the opening minute found its way into the back of the net.

Only a couple of minutes later, it was Ross Kavanagh on the scoresheet after Rangers failed to deal with a corner, with the Reds fans already in a state of euphoria. 

Goalkeeping coach Greig Maitland said: "We had to start well, that was the thing, Arniston would have come with a game plan because it would’ve been like a cup final for them.”

Sauchie however, would not intend to rest on what they had, Smith taking a shot from distance to force a corner, but what followed would be cleared by the crowded box. 

Kavanagh doubled up after a great attacking run from the number nine ended in him slotting the ball past Anderson.

Corners worked well for the home side as Jack Docherty would also nod one in, making it four inside the first half an hour.

No more goals were scored before the break but Sauchie knew that first-half blitz had given them one foot in the final.

Game management became the order as goalkeeper Sean Robertson and his defence looked to play their part and protect such an emphatic lead, but the visitors would not provide any issues.

A free kick awarded in a great area meant that Sam Muir would be the one to step up to deliver something special, a small layoff from Brian Morgan and Muir did just that, a static wall beaten and the ball in the back of the net for five. 

Just minutes from time, captain Scott Davidson replaced Morgan, and it was a round of applause from an upstanding crowd that rang around the ground as the midfielder came off.

The man they call Morgy was playing in his last game at Beechwood Park as he retires from football at the end of this season.

He has enjoyed two spells at Sauchie Juniors spanning 12 years with 400-plus appearances and more than 100 goals to boot for the club.

The referee would sound his whistle one last time, and Sauchie could celebrate knowing that their 2023/24 season will be rounded off with a cup final.

Maitland said: “The cup has been our aim for a few weeks now after we knew the league was away, when you’re left in a cup competition you’ve got to go finish on a high.”

The Reds now face Haddington Athletic in the East of Scotland League Cup final, which will take place on Saturday.

The match will kick off at 2.30 PM at Westfields Park, home of the newly crowned East of Scotland First Division champions, Dunipace.

Sauchie Juniors: Robertson, Thomson (Sludden 62’), Muir, Caves (M. Smith 62’), Kavanagh, D. Smith (Sa. Davidson 35’), Williamson, Willaghan, Docherty (Cunningham 62’), Fisher, Morgan (Sc. Davidson 88’)

Subs Not Used: Burt

Arniston Rangers: Anderson, Daly, Turner, McManus, Galloway, Muir, Kemp (Thomas 76’), Moore (Miller 76’), Laidlaw (McKenzie 76’), Hamilton (Graham 62’), Jones (McManus 62’)

Subs not Used: Borsuk