The sixth competitive game of the Johnny Harvey era brought Superleague side Armadale Thistle to Millfield for the first time since 2009, at stake a place in the second round of the East of Scotland Cup.

The Hi Hi had won all five of their South Division fixtures but their chances of causing a cup upset were hit by injuries to key men Chris Gordon and Chris Gray, with four others missing due to holidays, and Michael Fairnie restricted to a substitute’s jersey by a hand injury.

Latest signing John Ferguson, a 22-year-old striker whose transfer from Vale of Leithen was completed in the morning, was also on the bench.

Conditions at Millfield were perfect for football, and after a quiet opening Armadale began to stamp their authority on the tie.

Derek Polowyj in the home goal was called upon on five minutes to make the first of numerous stops, keeping out Thistle striker Dalrymple, whose shot lacked the required power.

Haddington found it a challenge to get forward against stronger opposition than they’re used to, and it was the visitors who did most of the attacking. Thomson brought a comfortable save from Polowyj on 14 minutes but shortly afterwards Armadale went ahead through centre forward Feeney, who kept a cool head deep inside the penalty area to direct the ball assuredly past the keeper.

Polowyj kept out Dalrymple midway through the first half with a fine save, and subsequently dealt well with efforts from Feeney and MacLeod, but he was beaten again on 36 minutes when Armadale burst forward after Haddington conceded possession in the visitors’ half. Feeney again was the goalscorer, from the left of the penalty area, and he could have had a hat-trick little more than a minute later but Polowyj kept out his downward header by saving with his feet.

Feeney wasn’t far away from his third goal just before the break but Armadale made do with a two-goal lead at half-time, having looked comfortable throughout.

Vice-captain Fairnie came off the bench for the start of the second half, replacing Arran Ponton, who had gone down injured just before the 45-minute mark. He was soon involved, delivering a cross from the right which was headed wide by Joe Murray at the near post.

Murray had another go on 56 minutes when Craig Wojtowycz found him in space on the right outside the box, but his first time effort was held comfortably by veteran Thistle keeper Walker.

At the other end, a Dalrymple free-kick left Polowyj’s near post shuddering, but that was as close as Armadale came to a second-half goal; Haddington were much more involved now and both Andrew Sinclair and Bob Berry came close as they sought a way back into the game.

For all the Hi Hi’s improvement, though, Armadale looked fairly comfortable defensively and they held out until the 88th minute, when some patient build-up play resulted in an opportunity for Sinclair, who slammed the ball past Walker towards the stanchion to the keeper’s right.

There was no time, though, for an equaliser and it was Armadale who advanced to the next round, deservedly, though they had been tested in the second half.

The Hi Hi visit Pumpherston tomorrow aiming to maintain their 100 per cent South Division record. Manager Harvey will have some of last week’s absentees available but Wojtowycz and Ferguson miss out on holiday – though not complacent, Harvey will expect to pick up three points regardless of personnel issues, Pumpherston having been leaking goals in recent times, culminating in a 12-0 annihiliation by Newtongrange Star on Saturday.