LATE goals against Kennoway Star Hearts a fortnight ago at Millfield had given the Hi Hi a morale boosting 3-1 win, their third straight home victory, and the mood in the camp was brightened further by the midweek news that Andy Forbes, Wayne Sproule and skipper Michael Fairnie had extended their deals until the end of the 2016/17 season.

Johnny Harvey’s men had won two of five away games, against strugglers Edinburgh United and Newburgh Juniors, but they travelled to Lanarkshire on Saturday hopeful they would join their fellow East Lothian clubs in the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup, the others having received byes.

Opponents Larkhall Thistle had picked up their first league win a week earlier but the bookmakers’ odds favoured the visitors and on the face of things their first-round tie looked winnable. Absentees included holidaymakers Danny Noon and Scott Wright, the injured Jerry Draper, and Michael Noble, newly transfer-listed at his own request.

On 12 minutes, Sproule found the net in no little style; Gareth Thom and Arran Ponton exchanged passes before the latter cut in towards the penalty area then laid the ball back to Sproule – the striker hit his shot first time high into the net past Colqhoun.

The visitors were on top after this and were little troubled by Larkhall. Play was held up for several minutes to allow treatment to the Larkhall keeper after he suffered a knee injury – he looked likely to have to quit the tie but was in the end fit to soldier on, and not long after resuming did well to tip a Ponton shot over the bar.

Larkhall improved a little in the first half’s latter stages but still threatened little – the Hi Hi almost claimed their second goal three minutes before the break when Sproule’s free-kick found Bob Berry near the back post, but the midfielder’s first-time shot was blocked by a defender. Right on half-time the referee booked Chris Inglis, a decision which appeared harsh – little could Haddington know at that stage how dismayed they would be by his decisions later on.

Haddington were disappointed to concede the equaliser within five minutes of the restart when a throw in on the right found Gracie, who did well to tee up Clarke for a confident finish. Another throw-in 10 minutes later almost resulted in Larkhall’s second, a long-range shot dipping just over the bar.

The Hi Hi’s second-half showing had disappointed but the game turned on two contentious penalty awards within a couple of minutes of one another – with 12 minutes left, the referee deemed Inglis guilty of handling in the box when it appeared the Haddington midfielder was struck by the ball, and Gracie stepped up to stroke the ball past Liam Amos.

Before they’d had time to recover from that setback, the Hi Hi were stunned to see the referee again point to the spot, claiming Ricky Miller was guilty of clambering over an opponent. Gracie again did what was required from the spot to leave their dejected opponents needing a miracle fightback.

Haddington did their best, pressing in and around the Larkhall box, and Ponton saw a header cleared off the line two minutes from time before sub Kayne Paterson netted an injury-time penalty, after the ref spotted another handball, but it was too late.

It was a desperately disappointing day for the Hi Hi, but they have no time to dwell on their misfortune as they look to improve on their away form at Forfar West End this Saturday. West End sit third from bottom but only five points separate the sides.