All roads lead to Olivebank
East Lothian’s junior football “match of the season” arrives on Saturday at Olivebank, Musselburgh, in the shape of the much anticipated Emirates Scottish Junior Cup fourth round clash between holders Auchinleck Talbot and, of course, last season’s beaten finalists Musselburgh Athletic, writes Striker.
The drama doesn’t come much higher to see who will reach the last 16 of the national tournament and it could take a second game to decide.
Musselburgh Athletic
Musselburgh were rightly less than enamoured last Saturday when their second round away tie at Kinnoull in the East of Scotland Cup was postponed as late as 1pm for a 1.45pm kick-off leaving Burgh without competitive game following the Athletic’s home 2-1 defeat to Bathgate Thistle the week before in the Super League.
In fac,t the Burgh haven’t won a game, what with the festive break and postponements, since they played their third round Scottish Cup tie winning 3-2 at Beith on November 26 while Auchinleck last Saturday won 2-0 at home to Clydebank in the West Region Super League Premier Division.
This was only Talbot’s fifth league win of the season in 11 starts while Burgh have won only twice in their 11 starts.
In three ties played so far in defence of their title Auchinleck have yet to concede a goal with a 5-0 win at Edinburgh United in round one then a 2-0 win away at Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in round two and at home to Premier League Penicuik Athletic the Talbot won 6-0. For their part Burgh beat Super League leaders Hill o’ Beath 2-1 in a second round tie at Olivebank after a first round bye then Burgh went to Beith for that fine 3-2 win in Round 3. Revenge would be sweet for the Honest Toun team.
The draw has also been made for the third round of the East of Scotland Cup setting up a possible all-East Lothian clash with Haddington Athletic at home to either Kinnoull or Musselburgh.
Draw: Haddington Athletic v Kinnoull or Musselburgh Athletic; Kelty or Bonnyrigg v East Craigie or Penicuik; St Andrews v Whitburn or Stoneyburn; Hill o’ Beath or Blairgowrie v Armadale or Sauchie; Fauldhouse v Tayport; Montrose or Oakley v Kirrie or Dalkeith Thistle; Lochore v Spartans or Arniston; Dundonald or West Calder v Camelon.
Saturday was not a good day for two of the three local South League clubs with both Tranent Juniors and Haddington Athletic losing out at home while Dunbar United continued their fine run by completing a double over hosts Stoneyburn having won the first game 4-2 at Dunbar.
Haddington were solidly clipped 4-1 at Millfield by top of the table Dalkeith Thistle while at Foresters Park the Belters succumbed 3-2 to the visiting Spartans !
This Saturday Tranent have no competitive game and with Haddington away to West Calder in the South League and Dunbar at Harthill then Musselburgh can expect a big crowd with East Lothian all to themselves !
Haddington Athletic
Dalkeith continue to lead the South Division as they put “bogey side” Haddington to the sword to maintain their impressive away form with a 4-1 win.
The game started at a furious pace and both sides looked to pass the ball quickly with perhaps Haddington just shading things until the Jags opened the scoring with a terrific goal in the 10th minute. A fine sequence of passing led the Jags to work their way from their own 18 yard box to the other end of the park where Waugh delivered a cross into the box which Fisher flicked on from six yards to leave Combe rooted to the spot in the home goal as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
Haddington were unable to hit the target and were further punished when the Jags extended their lead midway through the half. The home defence were unable to clear and when the ball arrived at the feet of Michael Linton at the back post he took two attempts to force the ball over the line.
Haddington, shocked by the loss of these goals, upped the tempo and Jamieson found a way to goal but shot high and wide under pressure from Jay Hunter.
The home side made a change at the start of the second half bringing on Barnawi for the ineffectual Ferguson in an effort to inject some pace into their game. But Dalkeith continued to cause problems for the Hi Hi back four.
This was a really cracking game with both sides going for it, however, things were starting to get a bit tousy with some tasty challenges going in all over the park which resulted in a flurry of bookings. Dalkeith extended their lead on the hour mark when David Morris picked the ball up wide on the right and went on a mazy run which ended when he cracked in a low drive which beat the despairing dive of Combe.
With the points seemingly in the bag Dalkeith made a change to replace Pudledski, who had been cautioned earlier, with big Kevin Haynes coming on and what a change it was, the big striker scoring with his first touch of the ball seconds after coming on in 62 minutes with an audacious shot.
Haddington’s Sean Jamieson notched a consolation goal with eight minutes remaining.
Haddington Athletic: Combe, Lynch, Martin, Motion, Slight, Bracks, Myles, Connachan, Jamieson, Ferguson, Cropley. Subs: Bernawi, Campbell, Lowe.
Dunbar United
Dunbar United’s fifth straight win in a row has boosted club confidence as they travel to Harthill in the South League this coming Saturday seeking a sixth victory!
All the Seasiders’ winning games have seen them achieve victories with clean sheets against Falkirk (1-0), Spartans (2-0), Edinburgh (2-0), Harthill (1-0 ) and last Saturday Stoneyburn (2-0)
Goals by Ross Hastie and Chris Grant sealed the points for improving Dunbar at Stoneyburn.
With both Tranent and Haddington stumbling last weekend the Seasiders chase their next win this week with other league fixtures seeing Spartans, after that win at Tranent, now at home to Falkirk while Stoneyburn continue at home to face Pumpherston.
Tranent Juniors
A double by Spartans’ Ross Elliot in a 3-2 win took all three points away from Tranent last Saturday as Tranent’s home form continues to be troublesome. Spartans wasted no time in starting their goal chase netting in the third minute capitalising on a home defensive mix up and although Tranent charged back with plenty of possession they passed up too many chances when they could have had three goals in a frustrating first half.
In a close game it was not until midway through the second half that Tranent finally got their equaliser through Sean Lally who was on hand to hit home the rebound off the Spartans goalkeeper who had failed to hold a shot from Michael Horne. But within a minute it was 2-1 to Spartans with about twenty minutes left for play then they were hit by a soft penalty award which was converted.
Tranent possession saw woodwork save Spartans and although Michael Lawrie pulled one back for the Belters with a dramatic overhead scissors kick it came too late to save the game. Tranent are free this weekend.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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