South Division front runners Haddington Athletic were seeking their first win in three games when they travelled the few miles to Tranent on Saturday.

Boss Johnny Harvey didn’t have his injury troubles to seek, with vice-captain Michael Fairnie ruled out for a few weeks and joining skipper Chris Gray on the sidelines, alongside Andrew Sinclair. The soon-to-depart Matty Lynch was also absent, and there were recalls for Graham Gallagher and Craig Wojtowycz, while John Ferguson was handed his first start alongside Joe Murray up front, having hit a double in a midweek friendly against Preston Athletic. In central midfield, alongside stand-in captain Arran Ponton, loan signing Paul Tansey made his debut after the deal was processed in the morning. Ex-Edinburgh United striker Kenny McMillan was on the bench after leaving Easthouses Lily.

The Hi Hi forged a couple of early openings, but Ponton’s effort went well over the bar while Murray saw his effort comfortably held by Tranent keeper Valenzuela. They were shocked in the eighth minute when their hosts took the lead, keeper Derek Polowyj failing to deal with Finlayson’s shot from outside the box and palming the ball into an inviting position for Richard Fairnie to slide home.

A Murray volley went just over as Haddington pursued a quick response, and both Bob Berry and Tansey came close on 21 minutes, but they suffered another blow when experienced defender Chris Gordon suffered an injury in dealing with the threat posed by Reynolds, whose shot was saved by Polowyj before treatment could be dispensed – Haddington’s injury misfortune continued, with Gordon having to be helped from the field, and he’s unlikely to play again for some time. Mark Smith came on at right-back, with Gallagher moved infield to partner Michael Motion in central defence.

There was another stoppage three minutes before the break when Valenzuela was hurt in a collision with Ferguson, and when play resumed Finlayson wasn’t far from making it 2-0 to Tranent. With the half-time whistle looming, Haddington equalised when Ferguson claimed his first competitive goal for the club, his shot finding the net although initially appearing to lack power.

The unfortunate Tranent keeper had to make way at half-time to Colquhoun, the outfield substitute donning the gloves as an emergency replacement, and one of his first tasks was to pick the ball out of the net after the unmarked Murray headed in Ponton’s cross from the left from a few yards out.

Colquhoun, however, wasn’t about to allow himself to be embarrassed and he pushed a powerful Motion header over the bar. Michael Noble’s curling free-kick had the stand-in keeper beaten but the ball came back off the inside of the post, then on 55 minutes Tansey’s looping effort came back of the top of the crossbar before Colquhoun pulled off two saves seconds apart to frustrate Murray.

Substitute Bob Wood brought a save from Colquhoun with 10 minutes left, then skied another opportunity shortly afterwards, and four minutes from time Finlayson came close for Tranent, who also felt they’d a justifiable penalty claim.

In the end, the Hi Hi took the points with a narrow win, after perhaps their least convincing performance of the season. Manager Harvey faces selection issues ahead of Saturday’s visit to Lochgelly Albert, who picked up a point at Blackburn last week and will be hard to beat on their own turf.