IMPORTANT league and cup matches are played over the next two days.
Preston Athletic travel to face Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale this evening (Friday) looking to keep up their good form in the League Cup.
The 7.30pm kick-off also offers a chance for Jack Lynch’s team to test themselves against Premier Division opposition.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Dunbar United, Musselburgh Athletic and Ormiston all have home advantage.
Dunbar United will be looking to pick up three much-needed points against Linlithgow Rose.
Meanwhile, Musselburgh and Ormiston are both in League Cup action.
Musselburgh host Pumpherston while another West Lothian team, Stoneyburn, head to Ormiston.
Finally, Haddington could move top of First Division Conference A with victory over Tweedmouth Rangers and Tranent Juniors head to Camelon in League Cup Group I.
All the Saturday games kick off at 2.30pm.
Match of the day
Premier Division
Dunbar United v Linlithgow Rose
Dunbar’s last five games: WLLLL
A VITAL game for both ends of the Premier Division table takes place at New Countess Park.
The Seasiders have not enjoyed a fruitful start to 2022 and slipped too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
Meanwhile, Linlithgow Rose can return to the top of the table if they pick up all three points in East Lothian.
Kevin Haynes and his team picked up their first win of 2022 when they defeated Stoneyburn in the League Cup last weekend.
They were also 2-1 up on title-chasers Linlithgow at the beginning of December when the game was abandoned due to poor weather.
Linlithgow also come into the game on the back of two surprise defeats having surged up the table in recent months.
League Cup Group B
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale v Preston Athletic
Preston Athletic’s last five games: DWWLL
TONIGHT (Friday) presents a real test for a Preston Athletic side with ambitions of joining their hosts in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League.
The Prestonpans side would take a major step to progressing from League Cup Group B if they were to pick up three points in the capital.
Preston’s opening two games have seen them put on a five-star showing against Bathgate Thistle and pick up a point away to Dunipace.
Meanwhile, Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale were 3-2 winners at home to Dunipace earlier this month.
The Premier Division club sit 13th in the 18-team table and will be keen to find some form as they look to ease any relegation worries.
First Division Conference A
Tweedmouth Rangers v Haddington Athletic
Haddington Athletic’s last five games: WDWWW
UNBEATEN in five games, Haddington Athletic could move top of the table in tomorrow’s (Saturday) only First Division Conference A contest.
The Hi Hi trail league leaders Leith Athletic by three points, with their rivals also boasting an advantage of five goals on goal difference.
Currently, Haddington have two games in hand over Leith and will be hopeful of picking up three points against a Tweedmouth team, with just four league wins out of 20.
Scott Bonar’s team come into the game after a 5-0 triumph over Pumpherston last weekend.
That was also the score at Millfield when Haddington met tomorrow’s opposition and a similar result would go down well for the county side.
League Cup Group G
Musselburgh Athletic v Pumpherston
Musselburgh Athletic’s last five games: DWLWD
ONE defeat in the last five games represents an upturn in form for Musselburgh Athletic.
The Olivebank side could move to the top of the League Cup Group G table with a victory over rock bottom Pumpherston.
The West Lothian team has already lost to Heriot-Watt University and Haddington, having conceded seven goals in two games.
In contrast, Musselburgh defeated Lochgelly Albert and drew with Heriot-Watt University in their opening two games.
A win would set up a top-of-the-table clash with Joe Hamill’s former club Haddington in the final round of group fixtures.
Musselburgh sit fourth in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League while Pumpherston are second bottom of First Division Conference X.
League Cup Group H
Ormiston v Stoneyburn
Ormiston’s last five games: DLDLL
A GOALLESS draw in Fife against Kennoway Star Hearts means it is one defeat in three games for Ormiston.
Home advantage could prove crucial in the contest with Stoneyburn, who head through from West Lothian.
The visitors have failed to score in their two League Cup games and sit bottom of Group H.
Away from the cup, they sit seventh in First Division Conference X and will be looking to leapfrog their hosts.
History will be made at New Recreation Park as the two sides have never faced each other before.
League Cup Group I
Camelon v Tranent Juniors
Tranent Juniors’ last five games: WDWLW
MASSIVELY boosted by results over the last seven days, Tranent Juniors will be looking to continue their impressive form.
The Belters are one point adrift of Penicuik Athletic and now have a game in hand over the Midlothian side and fellow title challengers Linlithgow Rose.
League title ambitions will be shelved this weekend though as they take on fellow Premier Division side Camelon Juniors.
Camelon were 8-1 winners over Hawick Royal Albert United in the League Cup earlier this month but Tranent come into the game as favourites.
Their hosts sit second bottom of the league table and Tranent were 4-0 winners at Carmuirs Park earlier this season.
Former Tranent Juniors player and manager Johnny Harvey is in charge of the Mariners.
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