Preview: Two derby games to round off a memorable year

Musselburgh Athletic welcome Haddington Athletic in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) tonight (Friday) while Dunbar United host Preston Athletic.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Tranent Juniors travel to Fife to face Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL) while Ormiston Primrose host Tweedmouth Rangers in the EoSFL Second Division.

Tonight’s games start at 7.30pm while Tranent’s trip to Cowdenbeath is a 1pm kick-off and Ormiston Primrose’s game gets under way half an hour later.

Dunbar United (black and white) defeated Preston Athletic have faced each other twice this season, with a win apiece

Match of the Day (Friday)

Dunbar United v Preston Athletic

East of Scotland Football League First Division

Dunbar United last five games: WWWLW

Preston Athletic last five games: DLWWL

TWO teams with promotion ambitions go head-to-head at New Countess Park tonight.

The Seasiders will finish 2022 top of the pile as they have a four point gap over Newtongrange Star.

Kevin Haynes and his team are looking for an immediate return to the top flight of the EoSFL and have accumulated 32 points from their opening 14 games.

Meanwhile, Preston Athletic are looking to join them in the Premier Division after coming agonisingly close to promotion last term.

They are three points adrift of Glenrothes, who occupy the final promotion spot but with more than a dozen games still to play there will be plenty of twists and turns.

Haddington Athletic (maroon) and Musselburgh Athletic face each other in league business

Musselburgh Athletic v Haddington Athletic (Friday)

East of Scotland Football League Premier Division

Musselburgh Athletic last five games: WDLLW

Haddington Athletic last five games: WWLLW

ANOTHER East Lothian derby takes place at Olivebank as Musselburgh Athletic look to continue their march up the table.

Liam Burns has enjoyed an impressive start to his time as manager of the club and they sit sixth in the table.

They could finish 2022 as high as second with a victory and if other results go their way.

Meanwhile, Haddington Athletic have had a steady start to their life in the top flight after promotion last term.

Five points clear of the drop zone, the Hi Hi have won their last two games and another positive result would help them remain safely in mid-table.

Tranent Juniors (maroon) will be looking to finish 2022 with victory over Cowdenbeath

Cowdenbeath v Tranent Juniors (Saturday)

Scottish Lowland Football League

Tranent Juniors last five games: WWWDW

COLIN Nish’s Tranent Juniors side head to Central Park to round off an impressive 2022.

Promotion to the fifth tier of Scottish football has been followed by a hugely encouraging first half of the campaign.

The Belters sit second in the standings and a single point behind Rangers B.

Their opponents, who were relegated from League Two at the end of last season, have not had the campaign they would have hoped for.

Sixteenth in the 19-team table is disappointing and they will be hoping to at least finish the year on a high.

Ormiston Primrose (black and white) host Tweedmouth Rangers on Saturday

Ormiston Primrose v Tweedmouth Rangers (Saturday)

East of Scotland Football League Second Division

Ormiston Primrose last five games: DLLLD

A CHALLENGING year comes to a close for Ormiston Primrose who find themselves deep in a relegation battle.

The New Recreation Park team sit second bottom of the standings with only seven points from 17 games.

A single league win will need to be built upon if they are to produce a memorable escape from a drop to the Third Division.

They host Tweedmouth Rangers, who sit in mid-table after their own struggles in recent years.