TRANENT Juniors’ 2013/14 campaign came to a close on Saturday when they ventured the few miles east to Haddington, a fortnight after losing 3-0 at Blackburn United, like the Hi Hi still clinging to a promotion dream.

Manager Hamish Colgan called on much the same team as he fielded at Blackburn, the only change the introduction of a trialist midfielder while Anton McKillop was the solitary substitute. Starting brightly, Tranent forced the game’s first corner inside two minutes, from which the ball was headed goalwards only to be cleared just in front of goal by a home defender.

Iilya Stoev tried his luck from outside the box in the eighth minute and although his shot was a yard or two high it was still a worthwhile attempt. Shortly after this Steven Finlayson’s corner from the left curled in towards the net but the ball clipped the face of the crossbar near the back post, with Hi Hi keeper McQueen looking hesitant.

The hosts’ first real chance came after 12 minutes but Kieran Beveridge brought off a good save from Wilson. Tranent would be happier than their opponents with events in the opening 20 minutes, but they found themselves a goal behind as the first half reached its midway point. Bob Berry caught Wilson from behind 22 yards from goal and was booked for his trouble – rubbing salt in the wound, Lynch dispatched the free-kick into the back of the net.

Stoev had a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise three minutes later after Berry played the ball into the box, but from a promising position from which it seemed he must score he tried to curl his shot round McQueen and ended up putting the ball wide of the target.

On 31 minutes, Haddington went two up with a simple goal, then the roof caved in on the visitors as they shipped two eminently avoidable goals in the space of less than two minutes.

Home left-back Noble delivered an inviting cross for the Hi Hi’s third goal; Beveridge opted to come off his line to try and punch the ball away as Richard Fairnie and centre forward MacDonald rose in an aerial challenge – the diminutive keeper stood little chance of achieving his objective, and the ball spun off MacDonald’s crown into the net. Remaining on his line might have been a better option for the youngster.

Little over a minute later, another Noble delivery landed in front of Davie Ross, facing his own goal just a few yards out with Lynch at his heels – with communication between the keeper and his defenders not all it might be, Ross could do little but run the ball into his own net under pressure.

It could have been five seven minutes before the break but Beveridge was alert to the danger posed by MacDonald and came quickly off his line to save the day. Just a couple of minutes later, Cammy Reynolds was thwarted when in a good position in the opposition penalty area by a timely challenge from veteran defender Motion.

A Tranent goal was only delayed, though, as Berry smashed a shot from the edge of the box towards the top corner moments later. On the balance of play, a 4-1 lead flattered Haddington a bit, but calamitous defending had cost Tranent two goals.

McKillop replaced Stoev for the second half, but it was Haddington who had the early opportunities following the restart. A close call on 51 minutes almost brought a second Tranent goal, Wojtowycz rising to head the ball goalwards past McQueen, only to see the ball come off the underside of the crossbar and land conveniently for the keeper.

That, though, was as close as Tranent would come to scoring, and they conceded two more goals in six minutes.

With 18 minutes left, Beveridge’s weak kick from the left of his penalty area landed at the feet of home midfielder Conaghan, who took advantage of the keeper’s positioning to lob the ball into the net from the best part of 30 yards.

Then Wilson added Haddington’s sixth with a straightforward shot down the middle from 18 yards, under the keeper’s body.

Tranent did force several late shots on goal, with Wojtowycz again unlucky near the end to see his shot kept out by McQueen’s one-handed save. Haddington almost snatched a seventh at the death when Waugh tried to emulate his team-mate Conaghan in finding the net from distance, but Beveridge got back to put his effort out for a corner.

Tranent now face a break of fully four months until their next competitive fixture, and no doubt they will make use of the time to try and strengthen a squad which has looked a touch threadbare in recent weeks.

All things considered, their likely finishing position of eighth is fairly respectable but it can’t be denied that the past few months have been a challenge, results having dipped following a good start to the season.