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2015-16, Coldtream, football blog, Foresters Park, friendly, Haddington Athletic, Irvine Meadow, July 2015, Ormiston, Penicuik Athletic, Penicuik Park, pre-season, Selkirk, Swan Cup, Tranent Juniors, Vale of Leithen, wandywatson, Yarrow Park
Tuesday 14 July 2015, Yarrow Park
Pre-season continues with Lowland League side Selkirk taking on East of Scotland side Coldstream.
Selkirk are the oldest club in the Borders, having been established in 1880 and have certainly had their ups and downs since then. They have had many years in the Scottish Cup, including famously losing 20-0 to Stirling Albion in 1984.
The Souters had many different grounds in their early years before settling on Ettrick Park in 1906 where they stayed until 2000, when they moved to their present home.
After a 12th place finish in last season’s fourteen team Lowland League, they will be looking for a better season. They’ve signed Ross Gray from Berwick Rangers, Lewis Page, Kayde Reynolds from North Berwick, Sebastian Pyda from neighbours Gala Fairydean Rovers, Jordan Bruce, Michael Colin, Fraser Neave and Jack Hay. They have also managed to retain the services of Ouzy See and former Scotland striker Garry O’Connor.
Left back Murray Christie and centre half Scott Richie are both playing tonight too, although they may be as trialists. (Both players have now signed from Civil Service Strollers).
Coldstream finished bottom of the East of Scotland Premier League last season, but have escaped relegation due to league reconstruction, with the Premier and First Divisions being amalgamated for the new season.
Formed in 1895, the Streamers have had several outings in the Scottish Cup over the years, without really making an impression on it. They most recently featured just last season when they lost 2-1 to eventual Lowland League winners Edinburgh City.
During the close season, they have signed Jay Wilson, Paul Hossack and Ash Langford from Gala Fairydean Rovers as well as from the Border Amateur league – Danny Simpson, Hagen Steele, Des Sutherland, Liam Wallace and Ben Maxwell.
The 7 o’clock kick off is delayed due to an accident on the A7 which has prevented many of the Selkirk squad making it in time. We eventually kick off 25 minutes late and it’s interesting to note that O’Connor, who seemed to be the first Selkirk player at the ground, starts on the bench.
Coldstream win a corner in the first minute which is taken by Steele and Wallace gets his head on it at the front post, but the ball lands on the top of the net.
See is hauled down by Allan on the edge of the Coldstream box in 6 minutes and McInally plays the free kick to Christie out wide, whose low cross is smothered by Glasper.
See wins the home side a corner in the 7th minute and they try a short corner which goes horribly wrong. A bit more work required on set pieces before the season starts required.
In 8 minutes, Addison passes to See who is just inside the left corner of the box. He cuts inside then outside and shoots. His shot is half blocked, but manages to find its way into the back of the net to give Selkirk the lead. Some good skill, but a large element of luck involved.
Selkirk look dangerous again coming forward in 11 minutes when Christie breaks forward and plays the ball to Handren who looks to cross to the back post, but he overhits it.
Sutherland is caught in possession by his opposite number in 13 minutes and McInally has a go from 25 yards, but drags his shot wide of the Coldstream goal. Glasper is not happy with his defenders.
See wins Selkirk a corner in 15 minutes which is cleared then Page shoots for goal but the ball doesn’t leave the ground and is straight at Glasper who gathers comfortably.
Completely out of the blue in 17 minutes, Wallace shoots at the Selkirk goal and the ball crashed back off the bar with Newman beaten. Langford reacts quickest but his header from distance is too high.
See knocks the ball down for Addison in the 20th minute, but Farr gets across to block his shot on the Coldstream goal.
Christie plays a clever ball to See in 24 minutes which finds the big striker through on the Coldstream goal, but he is too casual with the finish and Ingles completes the clearance.
Coldstream attack in 28 minutes and Steele plays the ball through to Langford, but Newman is out quickly to smother the ball, although he seems to have picked up a knock doing so.
Ingles does well to keep possession with half an hour again and passes forward to Langford. The Streamers’ striker does a clever toe poke which send the ball past Newman and into the net for the equaliser.
Coldstream claim for a penalty in 33 minutes when the ball seemed to come off Handren’s hand, but the referee is having none of it.
They have soon forgotten about the penalty claim though when a minute later, Steele aims a free kick at the back post and Allan heads the ball back to Langford who strikes the ball on the volley and into the net to give Coldstream the lead. An excellent goal.
Richie plays a ball over the Coldstream defence in 36 minutes and Glasper leaves his box to play as an emergency sweeper. He gets there first but must have a foot shaped like a 50 pence piece as the ball goes behind him and out for a throw in.
Page tries to pick out See in the box for Selkirk after 37 minutes, but the big forward can’t take the ball in his stride and the chance is gone. See is involved again quickly after, holding the ball up on the edge of the box before laying it off to McInally, who shoots wide.
See is still featuring heavily and in 41 minutes, he turns well on the edge of the box before curling wide.
Selkirk’s McInally picks the ball up on the half way line and goes on a mazy run before laying the ball off to Christie. He curls a shot at goal which Glasper pushes behind. McInally’s corner is headed behind again. The next corner is cleared before Scott swings the ball back into the box again, but Coldstream get it away.
In the first half, See has shown he can be a real handful for Selkirk and McInally’s direct running is impressive, although he is prone to shoot from distance too often.
Coldstream’s back line has looked solid with Farr, Ingles and Allan defending well. McInally is skilful and Langford has already shown his finishing prowess.
The players’ shouts in the first half have been punctuated by the almost incessant baaing of sheep in a nearby field. It’s a beautiful setting Yarrow Park, but the wildlife are pretty noisy.
More Selkirk players have been arriving during the first half and many seem to be warming up at half time. Two come on before we resume.
Selkirk start the half positively and Jack Hay plays the ball through to See in 48 minutes, who tries to poke the ball past Glasper, but he saves with his legs.
See comes forward with purpose in 50 minutes for the home side but he is stopped by a good tackle by Farr.
Selkirk continue to search for an equaliser and Jack Hay gets the break of the ball in 55 minutes and shoots for the bottom corner, but Glasper is down to turn the ball round the post.
McInally has two shots in two minutes from distance, the first from about 20 yards is wide, then an even more ambitious shot from about 35 yards sails over the bar. Selkirk are looking more likely to score than they had been.
McInally brings the ball forward in 66 minutes and this time plays the ball to Reynolds out wide. His cross is deflected into the side netting by Ingles and Allan heads the corner away from the Coldstream goal.
Then in 68 minutes, Selkirk are given a great chance to get on level terms when the referee awards them a penalty. We both managed to miss the incident that led to it, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of protests. O’Connor steps up and hits the ball firmly at goal, but the keeper guesses the right way, and the penalty is not close enough to the corner, so Glasper ends up catching the ball at his midriff.
McInally tries a long range shot in 70 minutes which is on target, but Glasper is there.
Selkirk win a free kick in 73 minutes after Reynolds is fouled, and McInally’s cross into the box is met by the head of Jack Hay, who has a free header, but he nods wide.
A ball forward by Selkirk hits the hand of Hossack on the edge of the box in 74 minutes and when the referee gives a free kick, he shouts “F*cking hell man, are you having a laugh?” He is immediately substituted, with Farr coming back on. MacDiarmid sends the free kick over the bar.
Jack Hay tries to burst through the Coldstream defence with 75 minutes gone, but Farr puts in a great tackle to halt his progress.
Coldstream have a similar opportunity right after, with Sutherland through the Selkirk defence, but Pyper muscles him off the ball, with Sutherland claiming a foul. There’s a few verbals between them.
Pyper gets a free kick shortly after when Coldstream’s number 12 looks to go through the back of him on the touchline.
Langford comes back on for Coldstream and immediately chases back and wins the ball, before playing a great pass wide to number 14. It doesn’t come to anything though.
After O’Connor is fouled by Wilson in 85 minutes, he takes the free kick himself, but sees his mishit shot trundle wide. He’s involved again in 87 minutes when number 14 passes to Neave wide on the left and he cuts it back for O’Connor, but he shoots straight at Glasper.
Number 14 for Selkirk plays a good ball to the back post with 2 minutes left, which is headed back across goal, but the keeper is there to block.
A stinging shot from distance by McInally in the last minute is parried by Glasper and headed behind by a defender before Glasper punches the corner clear.
A good win for Coldstream, and a good performance. Trialists Glasper and Farr were top class, (Coldstream signed both these players after the match) and Langford always looked dangerous. A bit of work to do for Selkirk, but they are still missing a number of players.
Full Time: Selkirk 1 Coldstream 2
Admission: £5 (Although I’m not convinced everyone paid to get in).
Selkirk: 1 Newman (Malcolm 45), 3 Christie (Bruce 57), 7 Page (J Hay 45), 9 Ouzy See (O’Connor 57), 10 McInally, 12 Scott (Reynolds 57), 13 Addison (Neave 57), 14 Handren, 16 MacDiarmid, 18 Richie, 19 G Hay (Pyper 57). Subs: GK 22 Malcolm, 2 Bruce, 4 Pyper, 5 Neave, 6 O’Connor, 8 Reynolds, 20.J Hay.
Coldstream: 1 Trialist [Glasper], 2 Trialist [Farr] (Number 15 65), 3 Maxwell, 4 Trialist [Ingles], 5 Allan (Number 14 75), 6 Wilson, 7 Steele, 8 Hossack, 9 Langford (Number 12 57), 10 Sutherland, 11 Wallace. Subs: J Scott, Simpson, Trialist [Powling], Trialist [Spence], Trialist [ K Scott]
Referee: Duncan Smith
Programme: None.
Saturday 18 July 2015, Penicuik Park
This afternoon’s friendly features East Superleague side Penicuik Athletic up against West Superleague side Irvine Meadow.
Part of my youth was spent watching Penicuik at their old Eastfield Park ground, where they had been since the early 1950s. Formed in 1888, they have picked up a few trophies over the years, but never managed to win the pinnacle of the Junior game, the Junior Cup, although they have had a few near misses. They lost narrowly in the 1966 semi-final and lost 1-0 in a replay in the final in 1970.
After a good period in the 70s, the 80s hit the club hard and the ground was eventually sold in 1986 to clear debts. Although arrangements for a new ground had been promised, Athletic disappeared altogether and there were several failed attempts to secure a new pitch as the years passed.
An agreement was eventually reached in 2002 and Penicuik had itself a football team again after 16 years in the wilderness.
After a few near misses, they have worked their way back up the tree and last season saw them feature in the East Superleague where they finished a creditable sixth.
Since last season, Penicuik have signed Lowland League top scorer Aaron Somerville from Whitehill Welfare, Gala Fairydean Rovers’ Daryl Devlin and Keith Lough, Lewis Barr from East Fife, the return of former player Ross Montgomery, goalkeeper Ryan McGurk and also have young striker Kyle Mitchell on loan from Cowdenbeath.
Irvine Meadow are considered to be one of the giants of the Junior game. Formed in 1897, they have won a lot of trophies over the years and these days tend to battle it out with fellow Ayrshire rivals Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford United for the West Superleague title. They have won the title in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and became the first Junior club to knock out League opposition when they beat Arbroath in the 2009-10 Scottish Cup.
They have won the Junior Cup three times, although their latest was in 1973, so fans of “The Medda” will be thinking another win is long overdue.
The men from Irvine have signed goalkeepers Daniel Tobin and Jamie Donnelly from Stranraer and Bellshill respectively, Ross McPherson from Queens Park, Chris Wilson from Kilbirnie Ladeside, Graham Girvan from Petershill and Grant Bolton from Harmony Row.
The teams played each other in the 2013/14 season when they drew 0-0 at Penicuik before The Medda won the reply 4-3 in Irvine.
The “friendly” nature looks to have disappeared early when Medda’s McPherson gets a little tetchy at having his jersey pulled by Janczyk in just 3 minutes.
A good run down the wing by McCann after 6 minutes sees him cross the ball into the Penicuik box, but it’s behind the forwards and is cleared.
McDermott is caught in possession in the 8th minute by Deas and Irvine attack again. He passes to Fraser who curls a shot over the bar.
A great ball from Gay to Montgomery on the left wing in 9 minutes gives Penicuik a chance, but the winger’s cross is just too far in front of McCallum.
Another good pass to Montgomery in the 10th minute, this time from Barr sees Penicuik win a corner. Gay’s corner is played back across the Irvine goal by Barr, but the defence clear.
Meadow race to the other end and win a corner of their own, which is taken by Wilson. Darroch gets his head on the cross, but it goes over the bar.
Penicuik break quickly in 12 minutes and Mitchell turns and shoots after receiving the ball from Janczyk, but the shot is too close to Tobin.
Some good build up play by Meadow in 13 minutes is halted by a good tackle by Ross.
Fraser gets a telling off from the referee for booting the ball away after Penicuik are awarded a free kick in 15 minutes. This is quickly followed by Deas getting the same treatment from the ref in 18 minutes following a late tackle by Penicuik’s Barr. Deas looked as if he may have stood on Barr following the tackle, and there is getting to be a bit of animosity between the players. If it were not a friendly, the referee may well have had his cards out by now.
In 23 minutes, McCallum dispossesses Meadow defender Halliday and sends a high curling effort just wide of the post.
Penicuik attack again soon after and Gay finds Janczyk who plays the ball wide to Montgomery. He lifts the ball over the defender and runs into the box, but Evans gets across to mop up the danger.
Meadow break quickly in 25 minutes and a good pass releases Deas, who sidefoots the ball past Bejaoui to give the away side the lead.
They look to capitalise on their advantage and burst forward again in 27 minutes as Bolton finds McCann, but McDermott is there with a good strong tackle.
Janczyk takes a Penicuik corner won by Mitchell in the 28th minute. The ball comes to the edge of the box to Ross who tries his luck. His shot is going wide, but McCallum sticks his head out and tries to divert the ball towards goal, but it is too high.
Back up the other end again in 29 minutes and McCann is wide right with ball at his feet. His cross is behind Fraser and it looks as if the chance has gone, but the striker acrobatically volleys the ball and it flies into the bottom corner giving Bejaoui no chance. A great finish.
A good one-two between Gay and McCallum, before the ball is played to Montgomery gives the home side an opportunity in 30 minutes, but the winger shoots wide.
Montgomery receives the ball wide again in 35 minutes, after a pass from Barr and moves past Girvan before he seems to be brought down, but the referee waves play on.
Some slack play by Young gives Meadow an opportunity in 36 minutes and Deas feeds McCann whose deep cross finds Wilson, but his attempt to play the ball back across goal is cleared.
A great run forward by Meadow’s Evans in 38 minutes sees him exchange passes and reach the edge of the Penicuik box before he lays it off to McPherson, whose curling shot is off target.
Mitchell is brought down on the right hand side, just outside the box in 39 minutes and Gay’s delivery has White and Young diving in at the back post, but neither can get a touch.
The referee gives a throw to the home side in 40 minutes when it should either have been a free kick to Penicuik, or a throw to Meadow.
A long range effort by Wilson doesn’t threaten the Penicuik goal and we reach half time with Meadow two goals to the good.
Penicuik have actually played the better football in the first half and have to be disappointed to be two behind, but the Ayrshire team have been clinical in front of goal.
McCann produces a good run down the right for Meadow at the start of the second half, but his cross goes behind.
Meadow show good patience in 49 minutes with a slow build up, which ends with Deas crossing into the box where it reaches Fraser, who clearly wasn’t expecting it to come his way, as the ball hits him on the thigh and then is cleared.
Fraser leaves Penicuik’s Barr on the deck, again, with a late tackle in 51 minutes.
Tobin is almost caught out in 52 minutes, when he takes too long to make a clearance up the park and McCallum manages to charge down his kick, but it goes wide of the Meadow goal.
McCann plays a great ball into the Penicuik box in 53 minutes, but Ross shows great composure to head the ball back to Bejaoui, with two forwards either side of him.
Meadow seem to be taking things a little too seriously at times, and I’m sure they would argue there is no such thing as a friendly, but this is exemplified again when Deas kicks the advertising hoarding after losing a tackle in 57 minutes.
Penicuik force a couple of quick corners, but they come to nothing.
Penicuik subs combine in 63 minutes when Cunnison plays the ball to feet of 14? who lays it off for Lister, but his shot is well wide.
As Penicuik are awarded a throw in after 64 minutes which should have gone the other way, Halliday looks and sounds as though he is about to explode.
Tobin, incredibly, has another clearance blocked in 66 minutes, this time by 14, and the Meadow keeper is certainly living dangerously.
Lister does well to win the ball from Kennan in 67 minutes but his shot from outside the box is wide. The locals suggest that this is the first time ever that Lister has shot twice in one game.
A rehearsed free kick by the home side in 70 minutes almost brings fruit with the ball played into feet on the edge of the box before being laid off to Ross, who is unlucky to curl his shot narrowly wide.
A Meadow cross to the back post in 71 minutes is just too high for Wilson, but they win a corner which is palmed away by Bejaoui.
Another corner for the team from Irvine a minute later and Wilson’s delivery finds Deas at the back post, but he slices the ball behind.
The teams trade long range efforts over the next few minutes, but neither troubles the keepers unduly.
Penicuik’s 14 plays a one-two in 78 minutes, but shoots wide.
There’s a lack of goalmouth action in the second half, which may be in part due to the many substitutions.
Patterson strides in to the box in 81 minutes with the Meadow players claiming for offside, but his cutback is easy for Tobin.
A good bit of play by Devlin sees Penicuik attack again, but he is halted by a bad tackle by Keenan, who also pushes the Penicuik player. The referee could easily have sent him off there.
A good strike from distance by Montgomery in 85 minutes, but it’s straight at Tobin.
Meadow almost put the icing on the cake in 86 minutes when they get a free kick on the corner of the box and Deas crosses to the head of Evans, but his header is tipped over by Bejaoui. Deas’ corner is headed clear.
A late Penicuik corner brings them no joy and then Ntumba does well for Meadow in the last minute. Showing good battling qualities before shooting well over.
A pretty close game all in all with Meadow being more clinical in front of goal. They certainly seemed to want to win more as well, although they may have ended up some men short of the eleven in a League game.
Meadow look solid at the back and are certainly capable of scoring goals and are sure to be challenging at the top of the league again this season.
Penicuik won’t be too disheartened with this, and they look to have signed a good player in Barr. With goalscorer Somerville still to come into the team, they look in decent shape.
Full Time: Penicuik Athletic 0 Irvine Meadow 2.
Admission: £3
Penicuik Athletic: 1 Bejaoui, 2 Ross, 3 McDermott, 4 White, 5 Young, 6 Barr (Bunion 72), 7 Gay (Cunnison 57), 8 Janczyk (Lister 45), 9 McCallum, 10 Mitchell (Devlin 45), 11 Montgomery. Subs: 12 Lister, 13 McGurk, 14 Devlin, 15 Bunion, 16 Patterson, 17 Cunnison.
Irvine Meadow: 1 Tobin (Donnelly 59), 2 Girvan, 3 Halliday, 4 Evans, 5 Darroch (Buchanan 69), 6 Bolton (Keenan 63), 7 McCann, 8 Deas, 9 McPherson, 10 Fraser, 11 Wilson (Ntumba 74). Subs: 12 Keenan, 14 Murch, 15 Buchanan, 16 Ntumba, 21 Donnelly.
Referee: David Doig.
Programme: Free
Sunday 19 July 2015, Foresters Park
This afternoon sees the second day of the Swan Cup hosted by Tranent Juniors. The four teams involved are Lowland League side Vale of Leithen (who replaced the originally advertised Hibs X1), Haddington Athletic, Ormiston and Tranent.
The first games took place yesterday and saw Haddington beat Vale of Leithen 3-1, while Ormiston edged out Tranent 1-0. Today sees yesterday’s beaten teams play for 3rd spot, while the winners play for the Swan Cup.
The early kick off (12.15) therefore sees Tranent up against Vale of Leithen.
Tranent Juniors currently play in the East Region South Division. The pinnacle of their existence was winning the Scottish Junior Cup in 1934–35. They were also runners-up to Yoker Athletic in the 1932–33 final after a replay.
Gary Small is the current incumbent of the Tranent manager hotseat. Formerly the assistant to Haddington boss Johnny Harvey, he became the club’s third manager in a year when appointed in February.
Small has clearly used all of his connections at Haddington in signing four of the squad who won them promotion at the end of the season. Kenny McMillan and Mark Smith have made the short journey along with former Athletic captain Chris Gray and top scorer Joe Murray.
The signings don’t stop there though with Darren Smith coming in from Musselburgh Athletic, Kenny Fisher from Edinburgh United, Ben Miller from Berwick Rangers and local boy Stephen Manson from Kelty Hearts.
With changes also made to the backroom team and the board, “The Belters” have high hopes of a successful season.
Vale of Leithen don’t have their troubles to seek with financial problems looking like rearing their head again. The Innerleithen side have made one summer signing, with James Guy joining from Civil Service Strollers, but have yet to obtain the SFA Entrance Level Certificate to compete in next season’s Lowland League. A licensing meeting on 23 July will hopefully sort this out.
Last season’s Vale manager Mark Lamb seems to have taken over as General Manager with Ian Little taking on team duties.
There are around 50 in attendance as the game kicks off.
Despite my best efforts, I only have four names of the Vale team.
With three minutes gone, Vale’s number 6 takes out Murray on half way. It doesn’t look like this will be treated as a friendly.
A ball to the back post finds Vale’s 11 with time in 4 minutes, but he volleys over the bar.
Tranent win the first corner of the game in the 5th minute after the ball comes off the head of number 3, who knew nothing about it. Manson’s corner is headed just wide by Paterson.
Murray holds up the ball on the edge of the box in 8 minutes and lays it off to M Smith, but his shot is wide of the Vale goal.
Good build up play by Tranent in 11 minutes ends with Murray laying the ball off to Miller at the edge of the box and he rifles the ball into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.
With 15 minutes gone, D Smith plays a one two on the edge of the box and strikes for goal. His effort comes back off the post, and falls to Gray, who lashes the ball into the net to make it 2-0 to Tranent.
A great ball wide by Tranent’s Manson in 18 minutes finds Murray, who gets to the by-line, but there is a foul in the box as he crosses the ball.
In 20 minutes, Miller plays in Manson, who goes round the keeper, but with defenders getting back, he hits the post with his shot.
A minute later and Tranent come forward again, stealing the ball in midfield, Miller fires at goal from 20 yards, but it’s off the post again. Murray puts the rebound into the net, but he’s offside.
Stevens finds himself through on goal in 22 minutes in a rare Vale attack. Inglis saves, but Stevens gets to the rebound and watches in agony as his effort trickles wide.
Murray is lucky to escape the referee’s wrath when he seems to have a kick at the Vale number 5 after being caught in 24 minutes.
Some lovely skill on the touchline by Manson sees him beat two Vale defenders and get to the by-line in 25 minutes, but Murray can’t quite reach his ball into the middle.
The home team don’t have to wait long until their next goal though when they win a corner in 27 minutes. Manson takes it and Gray rises and heads powerfully into the net for Tranent’s third.
With half an hour gone, Tranent come forward again with the ball played to the overlapping Paterson. His cross comes off the hand of Vale’s number 3, but a penalty would have been harsh.
Murray has another chance in 33 minutes from another Manson cross but he doesn’t connect, before Manson is soon having a shot from the edge of the box which the keeper gathers.
Tranent continue to dominate and Manson has a good turn in the box and shot from a tight angle which the keeper saves, before he plays in McMillan who takes a nice first touch before hitting over the bar in the next couple of minutes.
Vale make a substitution in 38 minutes to try and stop Tranent’s domination with 12 replacing 7.
It seems the substitution may have worked, as Vale pull one back just before half time when their number 11 plays the ball down the left for Guy who races into the box and side foots the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1.
A very impressive first half performance from Tranent with Gray, Miller, D Smith and Murray being particularly impressive. For Vale, the keeper looks to have quite a good kick. Their body language isn’t good and the players are very quiet apart from the odd moan.
Tranent begin the second half with more good build up play and another one two gives D Smith a chance, but he shoots wide.
Vale have an opportunity in 48 minutes when a cross into the box following a cleared corner finds the head of number 11, but he can’t get any power in it.
As Vale continue to try and get back into the game, they force a couple of corners which come to nothing and a great tackle by McKenzie on Stevens halts another attack.
A strange moment in 63 minutes when Tranent play the ball out as a player is down injured. When play resumes, a Tranent player takes the throw, throws it to a Vale player, who knocks it back to the Tranent keeper. Odd.
A lovely ball by Vale sub number 12 finds 5 in the box in 64 minutes, but he can only hit the side netting.
Paterson comes back on for Tranent in place of McKenzie in 65 minutes.
Nice build up play again by Tranent in 67 minutes ends with Murray flashing the ball across the face of the goal, but there are no takers.
Tranent break quickly following a Vale corner in 68 minutes and McGrath plays the ball wide to Murray, who finds McGrath again in the box, but he misses his kick and the chance is gone.
Vale’s number 16 clips the ball to the back post in 72 minutes where number 11 runs in, but he misjudges the bounce.
In 75 minutes, Vale’s number 16 is through on goal with everyone in the Tranent team claiming for offside, but he runs on and his shot clips the outside of the post.
A long crossfield ball finds Tranent’s Manson in 80 minutes, whose cross is parried away by the keeper, but falls to the feet of Hunter, who volleys in to make it 4-1.
This goal seems to have killed off Vale and Tranent go for the jugular.
With 84 minutes gone, Gray plays the ball to Hunter down the right. He plays a good ball across goal where Murray is there to knock the ball into the net to make it 5-1.
A nice one two between Hunter and McGrath sees the former through on the Vale goal in 85 minutes, but Sclater manages to get the ball away.
McGrath is away again on the right with 3 minutes left after dispossessing number 4 and he crosses into the middle for Murray to score again.
Tranent look like a good organised side and must have a good chance in their league this season. There seems to be problems down Innerleithen way and Vale will need to improve considerably before their league season begins.
Full Time Tranent Juniors 6 Vale of Leithen 1
Admission: Free
Tranent Juniors: 1 Inglis, 2 Paterson (McGrath 61), 3 Gray, 4 Gordon, 5 McKenzie, 6 Miller (17 53), 7 Manson, 8 D Smith (Hawkins 52), 9 McMillan (16 61) 10 Murray, 11 M Smith (Hunter 53). Subs: 12 ?, 15 Hawkins, 16 ?, 17 ?, 18 McGrath, 19 Hunter.
Vale of Leithen: 2 Sclater, 5 Elliot, 9 Stevens, 7 (12 38) 10 Guy (16 70). Subs: 12, 16.
Programme: None.
Saturday 19 July 2015, Foresters Park
So the final of the Swan Cup between Ormiston and Haddington Athletic.
Ormiston FC are a young club, having been formed in 1999 after an amalgamation between Ormiston Primrose and Pencaitland. They began as Pencaitland & Ormiston but decided to shorten it in 2002 to Ormiston FC. They currently play in the East of Scotland League.
Ormiston Primrose reached the Junior Cup Final in 1989 where they lost out to Cumnock.
Regular readers may remember I was at Haddington in October last year and they went on to win promotion to the East Premier League at the end of the season. Included in Haddington’s summer signings is the Whitehill Welfare forward Wayne Sproule, who I have seen play many times and certainly seems a good signing for the Hi-His.
Both teams through their long history have enjoyed mixed fortunes at different level most notably when became the Scottish Amateur Cup winners in their centenary year 1984 and Ormiston being runners up to Cumnock in the Scottish Junior Cup Final in 1989. In 1986 Pencaitland FC moved to the Senior Ranks and participated in the East of Scotland Football League and spent seasons in both the Premier and First Division, twice winning promotion as First Division Champions.
After having some lunch in one of the local establishments, we return for the game which had been advertised as a 3.15 kick off to discover that it had kicked off at 3 and Sproule had already put Haddington in front.
The crowd seems to have swelled from the first game, which may be partly due to the players in the first game staying on to watch.
Haddington seem to be on top as Sinclair shoots at goal as we enter the ground and they force a couple of corners, the second of which, in 22 minutes, is taken by Noble and finds the head of Wright, but it’s off target with the keeper in no mans land.
Sproule brings the ball forward for Haddington in 23 minutes and passes to Wright whose shot is parried by Robertson, who manages to gather before Sproule can get there.
In 27 minutes, Miller plays the ball into the feet of Sinclair. He plays the ball wide to Sproule who plays it back to Sinclair who quickly despatches it into the bottom corner to put Haddington 2 up.
Haddington are looking impressive and a minute later Wright finds Sinclair at the edge of the box from the left hand side. Sinclair’s shot goes narrowly wide.
The Ormiston defence are caught out on the half hour by a long ball over the top which Wright gets to first, and he expertly lobs the keeper to make it 3-0.
Haddington look like scoring every time they come forward and they score their second in a minute when Sinclair plays the ball wide to Fairnie whose cross is met by Sproule at the front post to make it four.
Ormiston have a free kick in 32 minutes and Osborne plays the ball to C Robertson, but his shot is easy for Polowyj.
Haddington come forward again in 34 minutes with Wright and he cuts the ball back for Sinclair, but his dinked effort goes just over.
A long ball forward by Ormiston in 35 minutes sees Robertson fouled in the air on the edge of the box. Osborne takes the free kick which comes off the wall and ends up in the hands of Polowyj.
In 37 minutes, another long ball finds Ormiston’s Roberston who manages to touch the ball past the keeper, but Miller is there to cover.
Noble has the last effort of the half as he strides into the Ormiston half and hits a swerving effort wide.
So at half time Haddington are four up and have looked pretty impressive.
Ormiston make five changes at half time while Haddington make one.
McKillop tries a shot from distance in 48 minutes, but it’s well off the Haddington goal.
McKillop features again in 56 minutes when he plays the ball wide to Osborne who has a shot which goes narrowly wide.
Sinclair brings Haddington forward after 59 minutes and passes wide to Szemis whose cross is perfect for Sproule, but his effort goes inches past the post.
With 65 minutes gone, Haddington ring the changes, making four substitutions.
The subs feature prominently in the 68th minute when 15 plays the ball to Szemis on the wing. His ball into the box is just behind 17 and he can’t get his header on target.
Sproule wins Haddington a corner off Morgan in 69 minutes. Noble takes it short to Sproule whose cross is cleared to the edge of the box where 17’s deflected effort is well saved by Robertson.
Sproule has a chance for Haddington in 78 minutes, but Robertson gets down to save with his legs.
Haddington’s 16 plays the ball to the back post in 79 minutes to fellow substitute 17, who volleys the ball and it hits the keeper and goes past the post.
A lovely through ball by Haddington’s 17 in 86 minutes finds Sproule, but he drags his shot wide.
Morgan receives the first booking of the afternoon in 88 after pulling back Sproule, after being warned just before for taking the same player out on the touchline and he is living dangerously when he has another lunge at him just after.
Right at the death, Szemis shoots from distance and a defender sticks a foot out and deflects the ball past Robertson to make it 5-0.
Ormiston looked much better in the second half following the substitutions, but two games in two days seem to have taken their toll.
Haddington impressed with Inglis standing out. He ran the game from midfield. Sinclair looked impressive up front and Sproule’s pace and direct running will be a big plus for them.
Haddington win the Swan Cup.
Full Time: Ormiston 0 Haddington Athletic 5
Admission: Free
Ormiston: 1 D Robertson, 2 Malcolm, 3 A Morgan, 4 Ferguson (sub 45), 5 Pearson (sub 45), 6 Osborne, 7 Edmond (sub 45), 8 McKillop (Edmond 70), 9 C Robertson, 10 Ramsay (sub 45), 11 Ross (sub 45). Subs: Cunningham, Woods, Hamilton, McLeod, O’Rourke.
Haddington Athletic: 1 Polowyj, 2 Gallagher (sub 65), 3 Noble, 4 Opilka (sub 65), 5 Miller, 6 Fairnie (Szemis 45), 7 Berry, 8 Inglis, 9 Sproule, 10 Sinclair (sub 65), 11 Wright (sub 65). Subs: Forbes, Noon, Draper, 14 Szemis, Devlin Gilbertson (sg)
Programme: None.
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