BATTLES for league titles continue this weekend as all six of East Lothian’s football teams are in action.
Haddington Athletic are the only team not contesting three points as their focus is on the King Cup.
In the top flight, all three county representatives – Dunbar United, Musselburgh Athletic and Tranent Juniors – are away from home.
Dunbar cross the Forth to face Hill of Beath Hawthorn while Musselburgh swap East Lothian for West Lothian and a trip to Broxburn.
Finally, Tranent venture into the Capital to face Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.
Joining them in Edinburgh are Ormiston, who face a basement battle with Craigroyston in First Division Conference A.
Finally, Preston Athletic welcome Burntisland Shipyard to the Pennypit.
Tranent’s game kicks off at 3pm, with the remaining fixtures getting under way at 2.30pm.
Match of the day
Dunbar United
Last five games: LLDWW
FOOTBALL is closing in on the final straight of the season when promotion and relegation will be decided.
Dunbar United sit two places above the relegation zone but could put real distance between themselves and the drop when they travel to Hill of Beath Hawthorn.
The Seasiders have endured an interrupted start to the new year, playing just three Saturday fixtures.
The interruption is reflected in their form.
In their final three games of 2021, they picked up seven points from a possible nine, while they have picked up just one point from three games since the turn of the year.
Hill of Beath sit four points below Dunbar but the Fife side are on a great run of form and have not tasted defeat in their last eight games.
Premier Division
Tranent Juniors
Last five games: DWWLW
THE battle for the Premier Division title and the chance of promotion to the Scottish Lowland Football League looks like going down to the wire.
While Penicuik Athletic were inactive last week, both Tranent Juniors and Linlithgow Rose dropped points.
Tranent fought back to take a point against Hill of Beath Hawthorn, which ended up narrowing the gap on Penicuik to a point and Linlithgow to three points.
Calum Elliot’s men travel into the Capital today to face a Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, who have played both Musselburgh Athletic and Dunbar United in recent weeks.
That saw them win at New Countess Park before going down at Olivebank last weekend.
Linlithgow face rock bottom Whitehill Welfare while Penicuik travel to a Blackburn United with its own relegation worries.
Musselburgh Athletic
Last five games: WDLLL
VICTORY seven days ago over Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale ended a lengthy winless run for Musselburgh Athletic.
The Olivebank side had not picked up three points since before Christmas but did it last weekend, despite playing much of the game with 10 men.
READ MORE: Musselburgh Athletic back on track after ending winless run
Joe Hamill will be hoping his team can build on that as they head to West Lothian to face Broxburn Athletic.
The Albyn Park side seventh in the standings having played one game fewer than their guests.
Musselburgh were 3-1 winners in the previous meeting at the end of October and will be out to match that result and keep the pressure on fourth placed Jeanfield Swifts.
First Division Conference A
Ormiston
Last five games: LLLLD
A CHANCE to move off the bottom of the table is on offer to Ormiston this afternoon.
Richie Weir’s men were due to face Craigroyston last weekend but the game was called off due to the weather.
Now, they are hoping it is second time lucky.
Three points separate the two sides, who drew 0-0 earlier in the season.
Craigroyston come into the game after victory over Rosyth and have scored 31 times in 21 league encounters.
In comparison, Ormiston have managed just 13 goals from 19 games.
First Division Conference B
Preston Athletic
Last five games: LWLWW
DEFEAT last weekend to league leaders Oakley United has left Preston Athletic nine points off the top of First Division Conference B.
The county side have six games in hand over their rivals and they will be looking to close the gap, with Oakley not in league action this weekend.
Burntisland Shipyard, who sit eighth in the table, are the visitors to East Lothian.
Jack Lynch’s men have already played the Fife opposition twice this campaign, with the visitors having already won at the Pennypit this season.
That came in the King Cup before Preston picked up three points in Fife just a couple of weeks later.
Three points for Lynch and his team would be greatly appreciated.
King Cup
Haddington Athletic
Last five games: WLWWW
JOINT top of First Division Conference A faces top of Conference B in the King Cup this afternoon (Saturday).
Haddington Athletic bounced back from a defeat to Leith Athletic with a 5-0 thumping of Rosyth last weekend.
League title ambitions will be briefly put on hold at Millfield as they host Oakley United, who are back in East Lothian after defeating Preston Athletic last weekend.
Victory will mean a trip to either Bo’ness Athletic or Fauldhouse United, who are also in action today.
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