Ten Man Haddington Finish Season With Win

Despite having a man sent off with nearly twenty minutes remaining, Haddington Athletic took their chances to run out winners against a Lochee United team who dominated most of the second half. The home side went behind early on, battled back to lead just before the hour, only to be pegged back before rallying to grab the winner with ten minutes remaining.

Haddington welcomed Lochee Utd to Millfield in the home team's final fixture of the season. Although Athletic lie second in the East Premier League table a couple of recent reverses means that they are unlikely to end the season in that position. Lochee United are fourth but have games in hand and are sure to be in the shake up for an automatic promotion or play off place. The Dundee men have six league games after this fixture and at least one cup tie to play so it promises to be a hectic run in for them. This game was vital to both teams as the season reached its climax.

Lochee went straight onto the attack and McComiskie had a shot blocked in their first raid. With three minutes played,  they took the lead. Gallacher did well on the left before creating a shooting chance for Percy. When Amos failed to hold the effort BLACKWOOD pounced to force the rebound home.

In Athletic's first attack Ponton played in Draper, but his shot was straight at Fotheringham in the United goal. Minutes later Wright had a half chance - but fired over.
As Haddington pushed for an equaliser Beedie did well to keep Wright out.

Lochee were dangerous and Deasley headed wide from a Percy cross.

With eighteen minutes played, Devlin and Wright combined well but the latters shot was a tame one.

Half way through the half,  Deasley struck a free kick off the Haddington defensive wall for a  corner from which Tawse headed over.

Lochee were forced to replace goalscorer Blackwood at this point with Hagan.

With 32 minutes played, Haddington won a corner and DRAPER'S kick eluded everyone to provide the equaliser. Next Wright shot wide as the home side enjoyed a good spell.

With three minutes to the break, Haddington's Sproule gave Draper a shooting chance which was deflected for a corner.  From the resultant kick Berry headed wide.

Half Time Haddington Athletic 1; Lochee United 1

Haddington created a great chance after forty nine minutes when Froude's header brought out a great save from Fotheringham.

Lochee were running the game and Gallacher and then McConiskie both had chances.

Fotheringham was brought into action again to foil Wright who was played in by Devlin.

Haddington took the lead after 59 minutes against the run of play -  Draper's cross being side footed home by FROUDE. 

Lochee were pushing men forward in an attempt to get back into the game and Hagan had a chance when a corner was not cleared, but he blasted over.

With sixty eight minutes on the clock, Haddington should have gone further ahead. Draper put in a great cross and Devlin put the chance over from point blank range.

It looked significant when two minutes later when MARTIN scored an equaliser from a Gallacher cross. Things looked bad for Haddington with Lochee well on top and Deasley put and effort just wide a minute later.

Things got worse for the home side when substitute Sinclair got a straight red card in the seventy first minute for a bad tackle.

Lochee were in full cry now and McConiskie headed wide when in a good position.

However, Haddington were not finished and WRIGHT latched on to a long through ball with 19 minutes left, to round Fotheringham and restore their lead!! 

Lochee tried everything to get the equaliser but the ten man Haddington held out to record an unlikely win.

It's been a fine first season in the Premier League for Haddington and they look set to finish in the top five. Lochee go on in search of promotion place but this result is a set back.

Full Time Haddington Athletic 3; Lochee United 2


Teams
Haddington
Amos, Sproule, Draper, Hume, Forbes, Fairnie, Devlin, Berry, Wright , Froude and Ponton Subs Sinclair, Noon and Hill
Lochee United
Fotheringham, Kirk, Beedie, Hay, Percy, McConiskie, Bkackwood, Deasley, Webster, Gallacher and Tawse
Subs Bannon, Winter, Martin, Kadela and Hagan
Referee Jordan Curran



Gordon Baird
Neutral Reporter