LOOKING to put behind them the bitter disappointment of their early Scottish Junior Cup exit at Larkhall Thistle a fortnight ago, the Hi Hi embarked on another lengthy journey on Saturday, to Angus this time to face Forfar West End in their ninth Premier League fixture.
They went into the game five points ahead of their opponents, who sat third from bottom while Johnny Harvey’s men occupied fifth spot in a typically tight league table. One change to the visitors’ line-up saw Kayne Paterson start in Gareth Thom’s absence, with Chris Inglis once again filling in at left back.
Things started badly for the Hi Hi at a sunny Strathmore Park as Hart put West End in front inside the opening 60 seconds, finding time and space to place his shot from deep inside the box with the Haddington defence at sixes and sevens.
A positive reaction, however, resulted in an equaliser on the five-minute mark, Wayne Sproule on the left finding top scorer Paul Devlin as he raced past a home defender before rounding the keeper and coolly steering the ball home.
In a high-tempo game, there was some crisp passing at times from the Hi Hi but most of the action took place in the middle of the field, with few real chances at either end.
With 34 minutes played, West End were given the opportunity to restore their lead from the penalty spot after Ricky Miller was judged by the referee to have fouled McHardy in the box – Hart stepped up to score. The big West End striker had a chance for a first-half hat-trick but headed over the bar from a cross from the right minutes later; his goals, however, meant his team went in leading at the break.
Miller earned praise from Larkhall supporters for his showing there a week earlier; here, though, things went from bad to worse for the centre half when five minutes after play resumed he was caught as he tried playing the ball back towards Liam Amos – his opponent duly fed the ball to Hart, well positioned to slam home his third goal of the afternoon from close range.
A Paterson free-kick hit the outside of the post as Haddington tried to haul themselves back into the game, just before a double substitution saw Miller and Bob Berry replaced by Andrew Sinclair and James McPartlin, making his first appearance since fracturing a cheekbone on July 18. McPartlin’s return was a bright spot on an often frustrating afternoon and he looked sharp after his long layoff.
West End were by no means in charge and a second Haddington goal on 76 minutes gave them hope – home keeper Burns had been rarely tested and he was found wanting when he allowed Sproule’s cross to slip from his grasp, allowing Sinclair to pounce inside the six-yard box.
Six minutes later the substitute was fouled just inside the box and a penalty converted by Paterson had the Hi Hi level again and looking to head home with at least a point.
With three minutes left, Sinclair powered into the West End penalty area but wildly blasted his shot off target, then in the first minute of injury time Haddington were dealt another bitter blow: a free-kick was only part cleared to the feet of home substitute Reynolds, who finished well before accepting the congratulations of his jubilant team-mates.
Life on the road over the past month hasn’t brought the results Haddington had hoped for but they are back at Millfield on Saturday seeking a fourth straight home win when Falkirk Juniors are their visitors.
The Grangemouth-based outfit came up from the South Division in the summer alongside the Hi Hi and are currently one point better off having played a game more – another close game looks a near certainty, all the more so considering the records of the teams in their eight meetings since Falkirk were formed in 2011 is identical.