THE first Saturday of 2023 kicks off with half of East Lothian’s football sides at home.
Tranent Juniors, Haddington Athletic and Preston Athletic welcome teams to the county.
Tranent Juniors take on former SPFL side East Stirlingshire in the Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL).
Meanwhile, Haddington Athletic welcome Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts to Millfield in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) and Preston Athletic host Leith Athletic in the First Division.
Musselburgh Athletic head to the capital to take on Tynecastle while Dunbar United venture to Dunipace and Ormiston Primrose swap East Lothian for West Lothian as they face Whitburn Juniors.
Ormiston’s game gets under way at 2pm, with the remaining EoSFL games starting at 2.30pm and Tranent’s match kicking off at 3pm.
Match of the Day
Tranent Juniors v East Stirlingshire
Scottish Lowland Football League
Tranent Juniors last five games: LDWWW
A FIRST home game of 2023 for Tranent Juniors means a third consecutive match with a former SPFL side.
Colin Nish’s team drew with Cowdenbeath at the end of 2022 before going down to Berwick Rangers on Tuesday evening.
Now, they are looking to get back to winning ways against East Stirlingshire.
The Belters sit fourth in a congested race for the top of the SLFL.
Spartans sit top on 46 points but Tranent are joined by Celtic B and Rangers B in joint second spot just a point adrift.
East Kilbride are three points off top spot and University of Stirling are one point behind them.
The reverse fixture in September was Nish’s first game in charge and finished 2-2.
Haddington Athletic v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Haddington Athletic last five games: WWLLW
SCOTT Bonar and his Haddington Athletic side will almost be glad just to get back to playing football this weekend.
The Hi Hi have not tasted defeat since a narrow loss to Penicuik Athletic at the beginning of November.
Unfortunately, they have contested just two competitive games over the following two months.
Victories over Blackburn United and Vale of Leithen have helped them keep clear of the relegation zone as they look to avoid an immediate return to the First Division.
Now, they welcome an Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts side who were 3-0 winners in Fife earlier in the season.
Despite that, Haddington sit above their rivals in the table and will be looking to close the gap on those above.
Tynecastle v Musselburgh Athletic
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Musselburgh Athletic last five games: WDLWW
POSTPONEMENT last time out against neighbours Haddington Athletic stopped Musselburgh from bidding to round off 2022 with a win.
Now, they are looking to open the New Year with three points and continue their push up the table.
Any relegation fears have been eased since Liam Burns took charge at Olivebank and they will be looking to strengthen their position in the top half of the Premier Division.
However, they have not had it all their own way against Tynecastle in recent encounters.
The capital club have posted three victories at Olivebank in the last 12 months or so and the last meeting in Edinburgh finished in a draw.
Dunipace v Dunbar United
East of Scotland Football League First Division
Dunbar United last five games: WWWWL
THE Seasiders are exactly where they want to be as they come into 2023.
Top of the table with a seven-point advantage over their nearest rivals, Dunbar are hoping for an immediate return to the top flight of the EoSFL.
Kevin Haynes and his team have only tasted defeat twice in the league and have the joint meanest defence in the First Division.
They will be looking to maintain their advantage when they travel to a Dunipace side who still harbour their own promotion ambitions.
Four points adrift of Glenrothes – and having played two games more – they will be keen to cause an upset to keep them firmly in the hunt for a top three finish.
Preston Athletic v Leith Athletic
East of Scotland Football League First Division
Preston Athletic last five games: LDLWW
ANOTHER team with hopes of reaching the top division in the EoSFL, Preston Athletic will be hoping 2023 proves memorable for all the right reasons.
The Pennypit side narrowly missed out on promotion last term and are looking to go one better this time round.
Dunbar United inflicted a narrow defeat on their county rivals to close out 2022 and it was a result which leaves Preston three points adrift of third placed Glenrothes.
Paul Currie’s men have played three games more than their Fife rivals and will be looking to get more points on the board against Leith, who also missed out on promotion last season.
The two sides shared four goals late last year and Preston will be hoping home advantage proves vital.
Whitburn Juniors v Ormiston Primrose
East of Scotland Football League Second Division
Ormiston Primrose last five games: DLLLD
SECOND bottom of the Second Division, Ormiston Primrose will be hoping for better fortunes in 2023.
Richie Weir’s men have only enjoyed three points on one occasion so far this season and, on paper, face a tough task against Whitburn Juniors.
The Central Park side have scored 67 goals in 15 games to sit second in the table behind Syngenta.
Weir and his team were 4-1 winners on their last visit to the town in August 2021.
A repeat performance would be most welcome and could lift them above Lochgelly Albert.
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