After packing eight games in over a 21-day period, Musselburgh Athletic were at least afforded the luxury of a week’s rest from competitive football ahead of their East of Scotland Cup quarter final on Saturday.

Visitors Hill of Beath Hawthorn hadn’t had the same level of activity to contend with but they’d played just three days earlier, when a 1-0 home win over Bo’ness United handed the Superleague title to Haws’ fierce local rivals Kelty Hearts.

For Musselburgh and manager Stevie McLeish, their forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup final at Kilmarnock against Auchinleck Talbot is naturally the main focal point these days, but they had no objection to maintaining if possible a twin cup challenge, with the East of Scotland Cup second only to the national competition in terms of prestige. There were four changes to the Burgh team which had gone down by the odd goal in five to Bo’ness a week earlier, with McLeish giving recalls to Ecky Christie, Kyle Doig, Robert Wilson and Lewis Turner.

The teams’ previous meeting came way back on August 9 in only the second game of the season, when a Jordyn Sheerin brace helped Burgh to a 2-1 win. With very similar league placings, it appeared probable the margin separating the teams come the end this time around would be slim,and on a bright yet breezy afternoon the course of events in the opening stages supported this notion.

The opening goal came on 14 minutes when the home defence failed to deal with a Haws free-kick from the right, just a matter of yards inside their own half – when the ball was played in high across the face of goal from the byline Christie could have cleared but was unable to do so meaningfully and the visitors’ number four took the credit for scoring, his shot cannoning in off the leg of keeper Ally Adams.

There were half-chances at either end before what looked like a crucial twist not long after the midway point in the first half, when the visitors’ left back was sent off after picking up a second booking.

Though the numerical advantage boosted Musselburgh hopes, in theory at least, they couldn’t find an equaliser before the break as the Haws upped their defensive workrate to compensate for the loss of their man. With the whole of the second half ahead of them, though, Burgh were hopeful they’d turn things around in due course. Boss McLeish replaced centre half Gary Hamilton with the more attack-minded Michael Hunter at the break.

Things looked promising for McLeish’s men when they drew level barely five minutes after the restart, with the visitors’ defence conceding without much of a fight. Steven Thomson cut in from the right, beating his man before playing the ball in for Sheerin inside the box – with several defenders in front of him, things ought not to have been terrifically straightforward for the big hitman, but from about 15 yards he picked his spot to claim his 40th goal of the season with the minimum of fuss. Very few strikers in junior football have reached that sort of figure in recent times; to hit the 40-mark competitively at any level these days is a remarkable achievement.

Within eight minutes of losing the goal, however, the 10 men of Hill of Beath were back in front with another goal which the Burgh defence won’t want to be reminded of. From a throw-in on their right, the visitors put together a neat passing sequence and from an angle from the right of the box their striker took a swing at the ball, with his shot looking as if it might go wide – instead, though, it crept just inside, with Adams static and his defence posted missing.

While perhaps some way off their best, Musselburgh kept plugging away and with eight minutes left they drew level once more, a corner from the right falling eventually to who else but that man Sheerin, who from 12 yards found the net, aided by a deflection off the heel of a visiting player.

The hosts almost claimed a last-minute winner when Graeme Beveridge had a go with a curling shot from outside the box on the left, the Haws’ keeper, though, brought off a super save to ensure the tie would be decided via a penalty shootout. The Fifers prevailed in the spot kick contest to run out 4-3 winners.

On Wednesday evening the sides met again, this time on Superleague business at Hill of Beath’s Keirs Park, and tomorrow Burgh are on the road again to meet a Carnoustie Panmure outfit now engaged in attempting to finish above Armadale Thistle and avoid a play-off against the Premier League’s third-placed team.

They then have two home games with which to finish off their league campaign, starting with a visit from vanquished Junior Cup semi final opponents Linlithgow Rose on Wednesday evening.

After packing eight games in over a 21-day period, Musselburgh Athletic were at least afforded the luxury of a week’s rest from competitive football ahead of their East of Scotland Cup quarter final on Saturday.

Visitors Hill of Beath Hawthorn hadn’t had the same level of activity to contend with but they’d played just three days earlier, when a 1-0 home win over Bo’ness United handed the Superleague title to Haws’ fierce local rivals Kelty Hearts.

For Musselburgh and manager Stevie McLeish, their forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup final at Kilmarnock against Auchinleck Talbot is naturally the main focal point these days, but they had no objection to maintaining if possible a twin cup challenge, with the East of Scotland Cup second only to the national competition in terms of prestige. There were four changes to the Burgh team which had gone down by the odd goal in five to Bo’ness a week earlier, with McLeish giving recalls to Ecky Christie, Kyle Doig, Robert Wilson and Lewis Turner.

The teams’ previous meeting came way back on August 9 in only the second game of the season, when a Jordyn Sheerin brace helped Burgh to a 2-1 win. With very similar league placings, it appeared probable the margin separating the teams come the end this time around would be slim,and on a bright yet breezy afternoon the course of events in the opening stages supported this notion.

The opening goal came on 14 minutes when the home defence failed to deal with a Haws free-kick from the right, just a matter of yards inside their own half – when the ball was played in high across the face of goal from the byline Christie could have cleared but was unable to do so meaningfully and the visitors’ number four took the credit for scoring, his shot cannoning in off the leg of keeper Ally Adams.

There were half-chances at either end before what looked like a crucial twist not long after the midway point in the first half, when the visitors’ left back was sent off after picking up a second booking.

Though the numerical advantage boosted Musselburgh hopes, in theory at least, they couldn’t find an equaliser before the break as the Haws upped their defensive workrate to compensate for the loss of their man. With the whole of the second half ahead of them, though, Burgh were hopeful they’d turn things around in due course. Boss McLeish replaced centre half Gary Hamilton with the more attack-minded Michael Hunter at the break.

Things looked promising for McLeish’s men when they drew level barely five minutes after the restart, with the visitors’ defence conceding without much of a fight. Steven Thomson cut in from the right, beating his man before playing the ball in for Sheerin inside the box – with several defenders in front of him, things ought not to have been terrifically straightforward for the big hitman, but from about 15 yards he picked his spot to claim his 40th goal of the season with the minimum of fuss. Very few strikers in junior football have reached that sort of figure in recent times; to hit the 40-mark competitively at any level these days is a remarkable achievement.

Within eight minutes of losing the goal, however, the 10 men of Hill of Beath were back in front with another goal which the Burgh defence won’t want to be reminded of. From a throw-in on their right, the visitors put together a neat passing sequence and from an angle from the right of the box their striker took a swing at the ball, with his shot looking as if it might go wide – instead, though, it crept just inside, with Adams static and his defence posted missing.

While perhaps some way off their best, Musselburgh kept plugging away and with eight minutes left they drew level once more, a corner from the right falling eventually to who else but that man Sheerin, who from 12 yards found the net, aided by a deflection off the heel of a visiting player.

The hosts almost claimed a last-minute winner when Graeme Beveridge had a go with a curling shot from outside the box on the left, the Haws’ keeper, though, brought off a super save to ensure the tie would be decided via a penalty shootout. The Fifers prevailed in the spot kick contest to run out 4-3 winners.

On Wednesday evening the sides met again, this time on Superleague business at Hill of Beath’s Keirs Park, and tomorrow Burgh are on the road again to meet a Carnoustie Panmure outfit now engaged in attempting to finish above Armadale Thistle and avoid a play-off against the Premier League’s third-placed team.

They then have two home games with which to finish off their league campaign, starting with a visit from vanquished Junior Cup semi final opponents Linlithgow Rose on Wednesday evening.