FOUR of East Lothian’s six football teams search for three points with home advantage today (Saturday).
Tranent Juniors, Musselburgh Athletic, Dunbar United and Preston Athletic are all in East Lothian while Ormiston Primrose make a short journey into the capital.
Colin Nish’s Tranent host Celtic B in the Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL) while Musselburgh Athletic welcome Sauchie in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL).
First Division sides Dunbar and Preston welcome Lochore Welfare and Dunpiace respectively.
Ormiston Primrose travel to Edinburgh South in the Second Division and it is only Haddington Athletic who face a lengthy journey as they go to Jeanfield Swifts in the Premier Division.
The EoSFL games kick off at 2.30pm and Tranent’s match starts at 3pm.
Match of the Day
Tranent Juniors v Celtic B
Scottish Lowland Football League
Tranent Juniors last five games: WLWWL
COLIN Nish’s Tranent Juniors bounced back from a surprise defeat at Gretna 2008 with a midweek win over Hearts B.
Now, they tackle another of the B teams as they face off against Celtic B.
The 3-2 win over Hearts on Wednesday evening was enough to push Tranent up to fifth in the SLFL table and just five points adrift of league leaders East Kilbride, with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Celtic sit four points adrift of Tranent but again with games in hand.
The Parkhead side have lost twice in their 10 games – going down to Berwick Rangers and East Kilbride.
Jeanfield Swifts v Haddington Athletic
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Haddington Athletic last five games: DLDWD
A STOPPAGE time strike from Corey Robertson gave Haddington a welcome point against Sauchie Juniors last weekend.
The Hi His have not been without their injuries this campaign but have shown resilience on occasion to pick up points.
After facing both Linlithgow Rose and Sauchie, they now face another tough test with a trip to Jeanfield Swifts.
The Perth side trail league leaders Linlithgow Rose and Penicuik Athletic by three points after the first nine fixtures.
Last time out, they shared six goals with Penicuik, who finished runners up to Tranent last season.
Musselburgh Athletic v Sauchie
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Musselburgh Athletic last five games: WWDLW
THE Liam Burns era has started in fine fashion for Musselburgh Athletic with back-to-back wins.
Burns and his team picked up their first home win of the season with a 3-0 triumph over Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale and followed that up with a 6-1 thumping of Oakley United last weekend.
Those six points have moved Musselburgh up to seventh in the table and another victory could see them leapfrog today’s opponents.
Sauchie have been in fine form this campaign, scoring 29 goals in their nine games.
Even in their two defeats, they have scored two goals in both games.
Dunbar United v Lochore Welfare
East of Scotland Football League First Division
Dunbar United last five games: WDLWW
A DETERMINED performance against then league leaders Luncarty saw Dunbar get back on the winning trail last weekend.
Dunbar had stumbled against Preston Athletic and Camelon Juniors but were 1-0 winners at Hallhill.
They are back on home soil today as they welcome Lochore Welfare.
The visitors have endured an inconsistent start to the campaign, with three wins and five defeats in their opening eight games.
Dunbar moved back to third in the First Division table with the victory last weekend and will be looking to strengthen their position with another three points.
Preston Athletic v Dunipace
East of Scotland Football League First Division
Preston Athletic last five games: WWWLW
ONE place above neighbours Dunbar United in the table, Preston Athletic will be hoping to make it four wins in a row.
Dunipace travel to the Pennypit with their own promotion ambitions in what is shaping up to be an incredibly competitive First Division.
Newtongrange Star lead the way but there are only five points separating them from Leith Athletic, who sit ninth.
Preston have played one game more than all the teams round about them and will be hoping to keep picking up points.
Last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Kinnoull – another team hunting promotion – will have given them a real boost.
Edinburgh South v Ormiston Primrose
East of Scotland Football League Second Division
Ormiston Primrose last five games: LLDLL
PROMISING results at the start of the season have slipped away for Ormiston Primrose, who find themselves in the relegation zone.
Defeat to Newburgh Juniors was frustrating as the county side attempted to get back into the game in the second half but their visitors held firm.
Now, they face a trip to Edinburgh South, who sit comfortably in mid-table.
Victory for Richie Weir’s men could be enough to lift them up the table and end the unwanted winless run.
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