Tranent Juniors were aiming to extend their unbeaten run to four games when Crossgates Primrose came calling to Foresters Park on Saturday afternoon, with boss Hamish Colgan keen to ensure his squad remained in good spirits ahead of their Scottish Junior Cup first-round tie with Edinburgh United at the end of the month.

Crossgates had endured an 8-0 drubbing at Haddington a fortnight previously, but had regained a degree of confidence with a draw at home to Harthill Royal.

Tranent named youngster Alex Valenzuela in goal, with Andy Jack now transfer listed, but were otherwise along similar lines to the team which won handsomely at Pumpherston the previous week.

Valenzuela, who came from Tranent’s under-21 side, is highly rated but had little to do against a relatively ineffective Crossgates outfit. Tranent were quite comfortable from the off and took the lead when Steven Finlayson found the net with a fine opportunist strike from around 20 yards out, the ball nestling in the bottom corner.

As the first half wound towards the midway point, a second Tranent goal materialised, again from a shot from outside the penalty area, although this time Danny O’Rourke had luck on his side, the ball taking a deflection off a visiting player.

It could have been 3-0 following a fine move which concluded with Bob Branley delivering a great ball across the face of goal for Danny McFadden, but the team’s top scorer didn’t connect as he would’ve liked and the chance passed.

O’Rourke twice hit the crossbar from free-kicks, a feat he emulated in the second half, as Tranent for the most part held the upper hand – Crossgates did manage a couple of decent shots on goal but fate didn’t favour them and they went in at the break two goals down.

After the break Tranent slipped a gear or two and failed to punish their opponents, but they were never in any danger against a far from strong Crossgates. Substitute Michael Knox had a chance to make it 3-0 but couldn’t capitalise, and the third and final goal came from the penalty spot with just under 20 minutes remaining, by which time both sides were down to 10 men.

Branley was first to see red, having become embroiled in a touchline tussle with an opponent – after taking exception to what he saw as unreasonably rough treatment, he upset the referee with harsh words in his direction.Not long after this McFadden was brought down by the visitors’ centre half, who as last man had to go, and the Tranent striker picked himself up to tuck away the penalty.

On Saturday, Superleague outfit Broxburn Athletic are the visitors at Foresters Park for a first-round tie in the East of Scotland Cup. Obviously the fact they’re two divisions above Tranent renders the West Lothian side favourites but whatever happens Tranent won’t make it easy for them.