The autumn of 2014 hasn’t been an enjoyable time to follow Tranent Juniors, early-season promise having long since given way to an unenviable run of games without victory.

Finding goals hard to come by, Tranent were given little chance by most observers against the promotion-chasing Seasiders as they went into their 12th South Division fixture.

There was a new face in the Tranent team in the shape of Jordan Easton, a 17-year-old midfielder on loan from Berwick Rangers – an East Lothian lad, Easton was formerly a Longniddry Villa player. Skipper Ross Colquhoun started in central defence.

There had been plentiful rain overnight on the coast but the New Countess Park pitch was playable, if a little slippery. The first chance fell Tranent’s way in the seventh minute but Cammy Reynolds blasted the ball high over the bar when he’d only former team-mate Kieran Beveridge to beat.

Alex Valenzuela in the Tranent goal produced a super save on 26 minutes to touch Grant’s goalbound effort over the bar, but he had to concede defeat on 39 minutes when Seasiders’ left-back Burstow powered a header into the net.

Daniel O’Rourke and debutant Easton both had chances to equalise but Burstow’s goal still separated the sides at the break. Right on half-time Colquhoun became the first man booked when he was late with a challenge on a home player.

Determination was evident in Tranent’s play after the restart and both Kenny Rafferty and Easton tried their luck, neither, though, finding the target.

Dunbar went 2-0 up on 51 minutes when skipper Steven Tait, a one-time Tranent stalwart, found the net in some style with a nicely-executed overhead kick. All hope wasn’t lost, though, and the visitors pulled a goal back within a couple of minutes, Reynolds claiming their first goal in some time when Beveridge could only parry a long-range shot onto the bar and the young Tranent midfielder was quickest to react, nodding home from close range.

Sadly for Tranent, however, the Seasiders restored their two-goal advantage on 56 minutes, prolific goalscorer Young guiding the ball low towards the net beyond the advancing Valenzuela.

Gareth Gray headed off the crossbar as Tranent sought their way back into things again but a fourth Dunbar goal on the hour looked to end the contest, Young scoring again. Michael Collin went close with another Tranent chance but when Gray’s participation came to an end following two bookings inside a minute there was no way back for the visitors, despite a consolation effort from Steven Finlayson.

There were chances to add to the scoring at both ends before the final whistle, with Reynolds unlucky not to get a third Tranent goal late on as Beveridge saved again. Despite the differences in the clubs’ fortunes in recent months, Tranent weren’t by any means outshone by their hosts, and manager James Thomson will take some hope from the determination shown by his players.

Tomorrow Tranent return to Foresters Park as their South Division campaign hits the halfway stage, with Harthill Royal their visitors. Harthill won the reverse fixture 4-1 on a black afternoon for Tranent back in September, after which manager Hamish Colgan parted company with the club – they’re not in great shape themselves, having suffered an 8-1 defeat at home to Haddington last week, and if they show the same approach they displayed last week Tranent must have a chance of finally ending their long run without a win.