SATURDAY brought Tranent’s fifth competitive fixture of 2015/16, their fourth at their Foresters Park home – in each of the previous three they’d netted five goals, conceding just one in total.
Visitors Rosyth might to some have seemed potentially tougher opponents, given their third-place finish last season, regardless of a disappointing start this term.
Needless to say confidence in the Tranent camp was high going into the game and the game started off in ideal fashion when they took a fourth-minute lead through Joe Murray.
In what was an action-packed start to the game, Rosyth soon equalised from the penalty spot, Hampson converting from what Tranent saw as a highly contentiously award, but it wasn’t long until Tranent were back in front again when Kenny Fisher scored from a quickly taken free-kick.
By the time the game reached the 15-minute mark the visitors had been reduced to 10 men after a late challenge saw midfielder MacMillan sent off, and before they had properly adjusted to their loss they found themselves two goals behind as Murray made it 3-1 before the halfway stage in the first half.
Tranent’s numerical advantage inevitably helped their cause, but Rosyth were not of any mind to throw in the towel and played some decent football in the later stages of the first half.
The Fifers continued to plug away after the restart and Tranent had keeper Sinclair Inglis to thank for bringing off a fine save to deny Hampson, shortly before Tranent’s fourth made the three points virtually safe, Stevie Manson claiming his first competitive goal in his hometown team’s colours.
Rosyth weren’t finished, though, and neat build-up allowed Ogg to reduce the deficit, only for Tranent to have the last word and hit the five-goal mark yet again – Fisher emulated strike partner Murray in scoring his second.
Tranent now sit atop the South Division table with the East Region’s last remaining 100 per cent record – a fact which makes their scalp all the more attractive to Saturday’s opponents Whitburn Juniors.
The West Lothian outfit, touted by many as likely once more to feature in the promotion race, lost their opening three fixtures but have picked up six points in their two outings since.
On the face of things, Tranent may encounter their most challenging 90 minutes thus far this season.