Haddington Rescue Deserved Point in Derby

When Roberson connected with a Jones cross with nine  minutes remaining to equalise,  it was no more than the visitors deserved in a keenly found Derby which saw both teams enjoy periods of dominance. Tranent had taken the lead against the run of play in seventy three minutes, when a speculative Mitchell "shot" from wide on the left eluded S Inglis in the visitor's goal and cannoned back into play from the stanchion.

Local rivals Haddington Athletic were the 'first footers" at Forresters Park when Junior football resumed after the festive holiday break this afternoon. This was the first ever meeting between the longstanding rivals at Tranent in the Mcbookie.com East Premier League, although Haddington defeated Tranent 3-1 in the league at Millfield back in August. It was a difficult game to predict with Tranent winning only twice at home in the league this season and Haddington only once away from home. However, both sides were coming off good results, with Haddington having defeated St Andrews in their last outing and Tranent having snatched a point at Arniston in bizarre circumstances. Both sides have experienced changes in their management in recent times and "the Belters' are still without a permanent manager.

Tranent started brightly and new signing Manson sent in a dangerous cross from the right in their first attack. Mitchell then had a header but it was easily saved by Inglis.

There was ten minutes on the clock before Haddington had an effort on goal - Moffat heading wide from a cross. Adams then did well to rush from his goal to cut out a dangerous through ball.

After fifteen minutes, Manson tried to guide a shot home from twenty five yards but Inglis was alert to his effort. A minute later, Todd headed over from a Manson free kick when he should have tested the keeper.

In Haddington's next raid, Cairney blasted over from well out.

Tranent were dangerous from set pieces and after twenty minutes Kerr headed over from another Manson free kick. With twenty seven minutes played, Tranent were forced into a change when Manson hobbled off to be replaced by Wojtowycz.

Minutes later Miller had a half chance but couldn't find the target. The Juniors then had another far post header but again it was wide.

With half time looming a Hawkins cross was met by Millar,  but he slid his effort past the post.

In a fairly even first half, Tranent created the better chances and were unlucky not to lead at the break.

HT: Tranent Juniors 0; Haddington Athletic 0

There were no changes at the break and there was fully fifty seven minutes played before there was anything of note to report- Cairney's  dangerous cross was nearly met by a Moffat flick.

Haddington were starting to dominate the game now and looked the more likely to get the breakthrough. They created a series of chances. First, Bauld headed wide from a corner. Then when the ball was not cleared from another corner, Moffat's shot on the turn was brilliantly saved by Adams. A minute later, Moffat had a half chance but again Adams did well to gather the ball.

After sixty eight minutes, Athletic's  Hill sent a curling shot just over from distance as Athletic continued to look dangerous.

However, with 73 minutes played Tranent took the lead. MITCHELL send over what looked more like a cross than a shot,  but it went over Inglis' head and cannoned back from the in goal stanchion. Totally against the run of play and totally unexpected!

Haddington committed fresh legs and continued to take the game to the home team. Again Moffat had a shot on the turn well saved before the visitors deservedly drew level. Jones did well to chase and control a long ball on the Haddington left. He looked up and squared to substitute ROBERTSON, who  gave Adams no chance from close range.

There only looked one winner now and Chris Inglis nearly got the winner late on with a chipped free kick from twenty five yards, which struck the outside of the post with Adams well beaten.

The draw was no more than Haddington deserved against a Tranent side who fell out of the game in the second half. The "wonder" goal from Mitchell looked likely to steal the points for Tranent but to their credit Haddington kept pushing for the equaliser. Tranent's lack of substitutes and the enforced changes through injury didn't help them but they were outplayed after the break.

Best for Haddington were Moffat and Fairnie and Tranent were well served by Adams in goal and Kerr at the back. Haddington go to Armadale Thistle next week while Tranent visit Glenrothes.

Incidentally, Foresters Park is undergoing quite a transformation and the ground is starting to look like the home of a team going places. Well done to all of those involved in the changes.

Full Time Tranent Juniors 1; Haddington Athletic 1

Teams
Tranent Juniors
Adams, Christie, Patterson, Todd, Kerr, Smith, Manson, Hawkins, Fisher, Miller and Mitchell subs Wojtowycz, Smeaton and Conlon

Haddington Athletic
S Inglis, Cairney, Ponton, Bauld, Cairney, C Inglis, Berry, Hill, Moffat, Devlin and Jones subs Keane, Chapman, Robertson, Wright, Goodfellow

Gordon Baird
Neutral Reporter