IT WAS back to Premier League business on Saturday for the Hi Hi, after their East of Scotland Cup win at Newburgh a fortnight ago.
Sitting fourth in the table with 10 points, separated only on goal difference from five teams on the same tally, they paid their first visit in six years to Armadale, where the hosts had lost three and drawn once in their previous four outings.
The West Lothian men had been dumped from the cup by South Division Easthouses Lily a week earlier, and as one of the others on the 10-point mark were eager to sort out their home form and compete for a quick return to the  top tier after June’s relegation.
Liam Amos returned in the Hi Hi’s goal, Arran Ponton started for the first time since April and Andrew Sinclair was recalled up front.
A bright start saw Haddington ahead in the seventh minute courtesy of Bob Berry, who finished in composed fashion from just outside the box on the right after Kayne Paterson set him up.
Sinclair shot just over the bar, but Armadale then began to settle and levelled on 14 minutes – Amos could only punch away a shot from outside the box, a corner resulted and from the delivery the ball glanced off the head of Haddington left-back Chris Inglis and shot towards the bottom corner.
Armadale were then able to take the lead, again from a corner  – Taylor knocked the ball home at the back post amid a crowded six-yard box.
Amos was called into action more than once, with his back four worked hard – conceding two free-kicks just outside the box in quick succession proved costly with three minutes of the first half remaining, when Feeney blasted home from 20 yards out. From such a positive opening the Hi Hi had been second best since Armadale’s equaliser and now had their work cut out to save the game.
There wasn’t a great deal in it in the second half but neither goalkeeper had a busy 45 minutes. Armadale showed little inclination to hurry along whenever the ball left play, but ultimately, the visitors didn’t pack quite enough punch to take any tangible reward from their afternoon’s efforts.
Michael Noble, on as a sub after several weeks out injured, forced a save from the home keeper with a blistering 30-yard strike a minute from time, before a second Berry goal deep into injury time created a faint glimmer of hope – it was too late, though, and the final whistle blew not long afterwards.
The Premier League table is every bit as tight as was anticipated and a Haddington win is required tomorrow if they are to remain in the top half.
The Hi Hi are back at Millfield on Saturday where the visitors are Kennoway Star Hearts, promoted from the North Division after just two seasons in junior football. The clubs have never met before but given the general state of play in the second tier it seems safe to forecast another close contest.