AFTER five wins out of five, East Lothian’s footballing sides get back to action this afternoon (Saturday).
All six teams are in action with a mix of league ties and cup clashes on the fixture card.
In the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League, both Haddington Athletic and Musselburgh Athletic have home advantage.
The Hi Hi face a stern test against Penicuik Athletic (2.30pm) while Musselburgh Athletic will be out for three points against Vale of Leithen (2.30pm).
In the First Division, Preston Athletic, who did not have a competitive game last weekend, travel to Luncarty (2pm).
Ormiston Primrose face promotion-chasing Syngenta in the Second Division (2pm).
The fourth round of the Challenge Cup pits Tranent Juniors against Linlithgow Rose (3pm) while Dunbar United host Dalkeith Thistle in the first round of the King Cup (2.30pm).
Match of the Day
Tranent Juniors v Linlithgow Rose
South Region Challenge Cup – Fourth Round
Tranent Juniors last five games: WLWWL
TOP of the Lowland League takes on top of the EoSFL Premier Division at Foresters Park.
Losing is not a habit either team has become accustomed to in recent months as both battle it out for promotion.
Colin Nish’s Tranent side sit one point clear of Spartans at the top of the fifth tier of Scottish football.
Meanwhile, their West Lothian rivals have a massive 15-point gap over Jeanfield Swifts in the tier below.
The sides met on three occasions last term with Tranent failing to win any of the meetings.
It promises to be an exciting contest.
Haddington Athletic v Penicuik Athletic
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Haddington Athletic last five games: WWDWW
UNBEATEN in five, Haddington Athletic face a stern test against Penicuik Athletic.
The Midlothian side only missed out on the league title last term on goal difference.
They have found the course a bit trickier this time round but are still firmly in the hunt for second spot.
Meanwhile, the Millfield men have made steady progress in recent weeks after a tough first half of the campaign.
Five games unbeaten has edged them into the top half of the table and three points would move them to within two points of their opposition.
Musselburgh Athletic v Vale of Leithen
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Musselburgh Athletic last five games: WWLWD
LIAM Burns’ side put seven unanswered goals past second bottom Oakley United last weekend and will be looking to do the same to the team below them.
Vale of Leithen have won just one game from a possible 18 this campaign and saw those three points docked for fielding an ineligible player.
Seventeen points from safety it looks near impossible for the Borders side to pull themselves to safety.
At the other end of the table, Musselburgh sit fourth with a game in hand over second placed Jeanfield Swifts.
If they are to claim the runners up spot, this is the sort of game they will be looking to win.
Luncarty v Preston Athletic
East of Scotland Football League First Division
Preston Athletic last five games: LWLDL
INCONSISTENCY has hampered Preston Athletic’s bid for promotion in recent weeks.
The Pennypit side sit fifth in the First Division and just three points off of the promotion places.
However, third placed Glenrothes have four games in hand over the county side and look favourites to join Newtongrange Star and Dunbar United in moving up come the end of the season.
The trip to Luncarty offers Preston the chance to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
However, their opposition are just one point behind them and will have their own promotion ambitions.
Ormiston Primrose v Syngenta
East of Scotland Football League Second Division
Ormiston Primrose last five games: WLDLL
A MUCH-NEEDED victory last time out has given renewed hope to Ormiston Primrose in their bid to avoid relegation.
Sean Ballard’s header gave the New Recreation Park side all three points against Edinburgh United last weekend.
They have home advantage again this afternoon but face a stern test in a Syngenta side sitting second in the Second Division table.
The visitors have scored 72 goals compared to Ormiston’s 19 this season and won the reverse fixture 7-1.
One little bit of hope for Richie Weir’s men is the fact their opposition lost their last two games.
Dunbar United v Dalkeith Thistle
King Cup First Round
Dunbar United last five games: WLWWW
DOMINANT in the EoSFL First Division, Dunbar United put their quest for the league title on hold this afternoon.
The first round of the King Cup pits the New Countess Park side against a Dalkeith Thistle team who are looking to move up to the First Division.
The Midlothian men are four points adrift of St Andrews United and Syngenta in the race for a top three spot.
Twelve wins from 20 games mean they know all about winning but Dunbar will be looking to keep up their momentum and progress to the next round.
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