Tranent and Dunbar keep Scottish Cup dream alive

The Belters dismissed Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL) side Broomhill to set up a tie with League Two outfit Stirling Albion, while Dunbar and Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale will lock horns again tomorrow (Saturday) for the chance to face Edinburgh City.

The Seasiders were only denied victory at the weekend by a lastgasp equaliser, while Haddington Athletic’s cup journey was only ended by a stoppage-time own goal at Brechin City.

Meanwhile, Preston Athletic were eliminated by Auchinleck Talbot – but only after a controversial red card for Paul Currie left the East Lothian side with 10 men for more than an hour.

Calum Elliot was delighted to see Tranent make it through to the third round for the first time in the club’s history.

Strikes from Shaun Rutherford and Tranent-born Ben Miller gave the Foresters Park side a well-deserved win in Alloa.

The manager said: “It was just a game that we deserved to win.

“We competed for first and second balls and did the basics on the day better than what they did and ultimately deserved to get through.

“They will be disappointed and probably thought it was a great chance to go through but we did more than enough to carry on the journey.”

The hosts only managed a single shot over the 90 minutes but it was not until the final 10 minutes that Miller put the game to bed with a composed finish.

Elliot felt that his side held the upper hand for the majority of the contest and praised the workrate of his charges.

Tranent will travel to Forthbank Stadium on November 27 but the manager stressed it was a contest that was far from their thoughts at the moment; instead focusing on this weekend’s league clash with Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts.

He said: “In the background, we will start planning for it to make sure we prepare the boys for it but it is a million miles away from that just now.

“We will not be judged on the Scottish Cup. “We need to make sure we are ready for Saturday and it will be a tough game.”

Dunbar United face Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale again this weekend. Picture: Gordon Bell

Elsewhere, Dunbar and Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale have it all to do again on Saturday, with a home tie against League Two Edinburgh City awaiting the victors.

Kevin Haynes, manager of the Seasiders, felt that a draw was a fair result on a day where both sides missed penalties.

Dunbar would take the lead from the penalty spot but a last-minute leveller means a replay is needed to decide the victors.

After missing the first spot kick, Haynes said: “We almost looked like we were more worried about not being beat rather than going on and winning the game.

“We were let off the hook as well with them missing a penalty.

“A draw was probably a fair result, it was an even game and one team would have been hard done by to lose.”

New Countess Park could yet host more Scottish Cup action if Dunbar can win the replay and the manager revealed that there was an added incentive for one player in particular.

Midfielder Darren Handling could come up against older brother Danny, who is part of the Capital club’s squad.

Meanwhile, Preston boss Jack Lynch described the decision to send off Currie in the first half of their tie as “ridiculous”.

The manager said that his midfielder had been called a derogatory term, which he repeated back, but only the home player was sent off.

Preston Athletic (blue) were unlucky to lose out to West of Scotland Football League side Auchinleck Talbot. Picture: Gordon Bell

Lynch felt it was a huge turning point in the match and said: “It was a massive opportunity missed.

“If Paul Currie is not sent off, we go on to win the game, 100 per cent.

“That is what makes it even harder to take.”

Preston’s 10 remaining men held out for most of the match but two goals in the final 13 minutes were enough to put Tommy Sloan’s men through to the next round, where they will face Hamilton Academical.

Lynch put the two late goals down to the efforts of his depleted team and said: “We conceded through tiredness.

“The two goals were after 75 minutes and then five minutes later.

“Even after they scored, we still had chances and were going to try to match them.

“Full credit to the boys, they were absolutely outstanding from the first minute to the last minute on Saturday.

“I could not have asked for any more and they could not have given any more.”

Attention turns to a home tie with Luncarty in the league on Saturday, with Preston still in a good position to challenge for the First Division Conference B title.

The manager added: “To be honest, I don’t care if we win the league – it is just promotion for me. “I want the club to be in the Premier Division next season.

“The aim was to finish in the top six and get into the new First Division but the way it has panned out and the way things are means we are in a great position.”

Meanwhile, Haddington had taken the lead at Glebe Park through Guy McGarry and held the advantage into the second half against former SPFL club Brechin.

However, Andy Kirk’s men turned things around and progressed to the third round to face Darvel.

Scott Bonar, Haddington boss, acknowledged his team were disappointed to see their cup journey end but felt it highlighted how far they had come.

He said: “I was talking to them in the changing room and could only take positives.

“The size of the crowd and the fact they were gutted that they lost against Brechin – two years ago that would not have been the case.

“We have come a long way and there is nothing to be negative about; it is positive and shows how far we have come.”

There is little time for anyone connected with the club to feel downbeat.

The Millfield men face Thornton Hibs in the league this weekend, while fellow challengers for the First Division Conference A title Leith Athletic and Kennoway Star Hearts play each other.

Bonar described it as the “biggest game of the season”.

He told Courier Sport: “We have learnt from the Brechin game, improved and it is good to get back to training and we go again on Saturday.

“It is the biggest game of the season and there will be no complacency and no hangover.”