East Lothian Courier | Sport | Juniors Round-Up

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 4th October, 2007 09:00

Juniors Round-Up

TRANENT’S home form has deserted them since their first match at the new Foresters as county rivals Haddington left with all three points following a 4-1 win on Saturday – although the scoreline did flatter the visitors.

Olive Bank was no place for the faint-hearted on Saturday where Musselburgh Athletic enjoyed a 3-2 Premier League victory over Bo’ness United, with three red cards and other controversies threatening to overshadow an exciting encounter.

Dunbar United suffered a second successive defeat after their bright opening, going down 4-2 at Dalkeith Thistle.

Haddington can top the South Division table tomorrow (Saturday) should they beat Edinburgh United in the capital, while Tranent have yet another home game against Livingston United.

Dunbar face a severe test at Superleague side Camelon Juniors in a first round St Michaels Cup tie. Musselburgh have no game.

Tranent Juniors 1 Haddington Athletic 4

The Hi-Hi went into last week’s derby encounter unbeaten from their opening three league matches and a double strike from Polish midfielder Lukasz Rusin, one from Kevin Bowmaker and an own goal stretched that run.

Boss George Bowmaker only had 13 fit players to choose from with Davie Anderson and Kevin Murray on holiday, and Mark Kelly and Lloyd Richardson both injured.

Tranent boss Stevie McLeish made five changes to his starting line-up for the derby and Danny Sweeney made his debut at right-back after signing on a temporary transfer from Musselburgh Athletic as part of the deal which saw striker CJ Osazuwa move permanently in the opposite direction after just under six months at Foresters Park.

This was Tranent’s fourth home game on successive Saturdays at their new-look home, and after defeats in their previous two outings they were keen to take something from their local rivals.

The Belters went close on four minutes with a shot from Joe Murray that flew wide of the target with Hi-Hi kepper Chris Hill beaten, and Haddington had a penalty shout turned down moments later when Andy Malone went down in the box.

The visitors took the lead with a well-taken goal from Lukasz Rusin on eight minutes after Hill’s long ball was headed into the Pole’s path by Kevin Bowmaker and he brushed past the challenge of Tranent defender Burke before tucking his shot beyond keeper Scally.

Play was scrappy after the goal, but Haddington could have increased the deficit through chances from skipper Michael Motion, Malone and Rusin, and Hill saved well from Tranent’s Keith Auld to keep the score 1-0 at the break.

Haddington extended their lead on 59 minutes when an inviting ball in from the right from ex-Tranent man Jackie Myles found Bowmaker in the box and he struck a first time shot beyond the despairing Scally.

An uncharacteristic error from Hill seven minutes later gave Tranent a lifeline when he let the ball slip through his legs for a goal. Haddington were lucky to hold on to their lead when a Steven Tait effort came back off the inside of the post shortly afterwards.

Tranent shot themselves in the foot with 10 minutes remaining when Burke lifted the ball over his own keeper for an own goal following pressure from Malone for Haddington’s third, and Rusin grabbed his fourth goal in two games two minutes later after good work from Jamie Connolly on the right.

Auld was then sent off for the home side after the referee spotted an infringement as he lay tangled with a Haddington player on the ground.

Musselburgh Athletic 3 Bo'ness 2

THREE players were sent off in a fiery encounter at Olive Bank as Musselburgh battled to a 3-2 win over Bo’ness.

A mass brawl erupted in the second half and the tensions from the bust-up saw two players from Bo’ness and one from Musselburgh ordered off later in the match.

Musselburgh were busy in the transfer market last week and midfielder Danny Kelly was introduced to the starting line-up after his move from Armadale Thistle, while giant striker CJ Osazuwa – signed from Tranent Juniors – took a place on the bench. Kenny Munro returned at right-back.

Bo’ness, unbeaten in the league, took the lead after just seven minutes with a brilliant volley from Brown after good build-up play, but Burgh weren’t behind for long as Munro struck a superb equaliser from 25 yards.

The leveller spurred the hosts on to dominate for most of the remaining first half and Paul Tansey and Chris King both came close before burgh took the lead on the half hour after Ross Barnes rounded off a good move with a well-judged lob over veteran keeper Burns to make it 2-1 at half-time.

Bo’ness looked stronger early in the second half, and a great headed goal from Tully brought them level before the game took an unpleasant turn with a brawl in the middle of the park.

The referee chose not to punish individuals, but it wasn’t long though before Bo’ness midfielder Donnelly received his second yellow card.

Facing 10 men, Burgh scored the winner on 57 minutes when another good move involving Tansey and Kelly set up Mark Quinn to score

The hosts were in command and squandered a number of chances to make sure of the three points before King received his second yellow for an altercation with travelling supporters and Mauchline from Bo’ness also took an early bath near the end following a clash with Davie Turnbull near the corner flag.

Dalkeith Thistle 4 Dunbar United 2

THE Seasiders suffered their second successive league defeat after a rowdy encounter away to Dalkeith.

Dunbar boss Jock Landells recalled Adam Cheetham and Brian Martin to the starting line-up, with Scott Barclay and John Crawford dropping out.

Dalkeith netted first after just four minutes’ through Craig Lynes who headed in from a corner, but Dunbar were back on level terms within five minutes when Cheetham finished off a direct move with a terrific chip over home keeper Kesson.

The home side added two more goals before the break through Bell on 33 minutes and one from an Anderson header. In between the goals, Dunbar felt they should have had a penalty, but Paul Hampshire was booked for diving instead.

Colin McDonald replaced Brian Droudge at half-time and Dunbar should have pulled a goal back early in the second half, but Geoff Jones shot over the bar from three yards out.

Referee Ramage – a man not unfamiliar with controversy – then took centre stage as he dished out a second booking to Hampshire. Jones was booked for protesting and assistant boss Ally Skillen was sent from the dugout for expressing his disgust at developments.

The game was put beyond the Seasiders with 11 minutes left after a mistake by Ferrier allowed Anderson to score the fourth and substitute Crawford grabbed a consolation for Dunbar two minutes later.

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