TRANENT JUNIORS V FAULDHOUSE UTD

Three games a week, two of them against tough opponents, may explain the poor performance in Tranent's initial League game. Fauldhouse relegated last Season had the Juniors on the back foot for the first hour. Our usually reliable defence was stretched to the limit by the eager Fauldhouse forwards and when the third goal was scored on 54 minutes, credit to Tranent they got stuck-in but were unable to salvage a point.
Mel Graham was missing in attack and will be out for a few weeks due to the injury sustained against Bonnyrigg. Keith Salton was in the starting line-up having been unavailable against Arniston. It was good to see Brian White on the sub. bench after a lengthy period on the side-lines.
Within seconds of kick-off Mark Wilkins outstripped the Tranent defence and one-on-one with Sinclair Inglis his shot was just outside the post. Fauldhouse's opening goal developed from a free kick on the centre line by Lee Meekison after Steven Tait committed the offence. The ball was played deep to the back post. Kenny Martin crossed low and eager - beaver Wilkins shot home. Salton was booked for dissent. The referee wasn't influenced by his protest.
Three saves in quick succession from Jamie Hallford, Jason Deans and Martin demonstrated that Inglis was by far the busier keeper. However, James McPartlin was unmarked when he failed to work the keeper and dinked the simple header from Steven Tait's cross, over the bar. The chance was missed on 35 minutes. Tranent paid dearly for another defensive lapse on 44 minutes. Jason Deans had time and space around the penalty spot to shoot inside Inglis's near post.
Michael Lawrie went close with a shot which curled wide at the start of the second half. Then Tait was booked for dissent. He created a good chance with a darting run. The keeper could only parry Mark Stevenson's effort and Lawrie was unable to force the ball home.
Tranent, up the park, were dealt a sucker punch on 54 minutes. Kenny Martin, unmarked, shot past the unprotected Inglis. Gary Small made way for Michael Fairney and at last Tranent were rewarded with some crumbs of comfort. On 63 minutes Tait made a diagonal break from left to right. He got the pass away to Lawrie who was in an offside position but in the process he took the brunt of a wild tackle from Jamie Gallagher. The red card was shown and Fauldhouse were down to 10 men. Mark Ellis took the free kick from central position. The keeper dived low but was unable to hold Ellis's effort. Lawrie rammed the loose ball Home. Tait was unable to continue and replaced by Jordan Mack.
A shot from Fairney was palmed over. Another chance fell to Stevenson but his header lacked power. Then he was fouled on 79 minutes. This time Ellis chose to go for a near post free kick. The keeper was badly positioned and Ellis curled the ball over the wall and inside the post.
For the remainder of time it was backs to the wall stuff for Fauldhouse. McPartlin had a good shot blocked and Stevenson was booked for diving in the penalty area.
Tranent's injury list continues to grow. At least they have a full week to remedy the mistakes which were made against Fauldhouse and to prepare for another tough away game against Sauchie.

Teams: Tranent. Inglis. Munro. Moriarty. Horne. Salton. McPartlin. Small. Ellis. Stevenson. Lawrie. Tait. Subs. Anderson. Fairney. Mack. Miller. Dunlop. White.

Fauldhouse. I. Stewart. Meekison. Cunningham. Wilson. Gallagher. McLenaghan. J. Hallford. Deans. Wilfins. Martin. Connelly. Subs. Baird. C. Stewart. Bucknell. Sommerville. M. Hallford, Barnes. Brunton. Gk.

Referee,Mr R Thomson.

JAMES LOGAN














TRANENT JUNIORS V ARNISTON RANGERS

The Juniors were faced with a number of problems pre-kick off in this Dechmont League Cup Section decider against Arniston Rangers. The hard bruising encounter against Bonnyrigg took its toll and although Tranent named five subsitutes four of those were carrying injuries from the Bonnyrigg game. Keith Salton was another notable absentee from the squad. The referee agreed to a delayed kick-off off 15 minutes as Goalkeeper Sinclair Inglis was travelling between the Borders and Tranent. Substitute Mel Graham held down the goalkeeping position for 10 minutes until Inglis was kitted out and made his appearance between the sticks. It is doubtful if Graham would have been risked at any stage in the game had Inglis not run into travel difficulties because big Mel was one of the walking wounded. In any event his goalkeeping expertise was untested.
Inglis faced his first action after 15 minutes. Alan Horne conceded a foul for halting a break by Lewis Coult through the middle. Inglis saved Coult's free kick at the second attempt.
The game was very evenly poised at this stage. Both teams showing lots of determination to get the all important first goal. Kenny Munro was fouled by John Paul McLennan and the referee decided to take no action, which was surprising considering he had awarded the free kick to Tranent. Arniston's David Morris had a good shot just wide. Followed by an inswinging corner from James McPartlin which Keeper Rachowski failed to get a touch on.
On 26 minutes Gary Small burst through the Arniston cover. He unleashed a powerful shot which struck the bar and went over. Credit to Rachowski he must have got a touch because a corner was awarded.
Scott McNaughton was booked for a foul on McPartlin. Followed by a booking for McPartlin for his treatment on McLennan.
The game looked to be heading for no score at half-time but Arniston struck on 43 minutes. Callum Martin drove in a free kick from the left and Mikal Opilka measured his run forward to power a header into the corner of the net.
Tranent could consider they were unlucky to be a goal down. Early in the second half they had a good opportunity to equalise. The Keeper came for a long clearance from Kenny Munro, misjudged the flight and was beaten by the bounce. Quicker reaction from Michael Lawrie and he could have shot into the empty net. Rachowski resisted the challenge and grabbed the loose ball.
Ex Arniston player Tadg Moriarty was booked for dissent after a foul on Alastair Forster on the centre line. A great run by Alan Horne and lay-off to Michael Fairney on the right should have produced the equaliser. He rushed the shot and blasted wide.
On 55 minutes Arniston scored a second goal. Coult cut in from the left beat Inglis with a shot inside the near post. Then Tranent were faced with mission impossible when Moriarty let his team-mates down by receiving a red card for bad-mothing the Referee.
The ten men continued to show character with Mark Stevenson and Lawrie going close with good shots. Coult looked offside when Horne was booked for halting the run. Inglis did well to save Coult's free kick. Forster received a booking for a late challenge on Gary Small. With 15 minutes to go Small was booked for applying too much muscle on McLennan. Tranent kept plugging away Fairney and Richard Miller were on target with shots which tested the Arniston Keeper. Arniston substitute Matty Lynch was then shown a yellow card. Tranent sub. Paul Dunlop then rattled the Arniston bar with a shot. However, it was Arniston who had the last word and were Section winners. Coult fired in a shot which rebounded from the upright and Forster scored Arniston's third goal. Near the end Forster was booked for a foul, then red carded for kicking the ball away.
Tranent weren't disgraced. The score suggests an easy win for Arniston but this was far from the case and of course Moriarty's indiscretion didn't help the cause.

Teams: Tranent. Graham. Munro. Moriarty. Horne. Miller. Small. Fairney. McPartlin. Stevenson. Lawrie. Tait. Subs. Anderson. Dunlop. Ellis. Mack. Inglis.

Arniston. Rachowski. Cunnison. Cennerazzo. Tolmie. Opilka. Forster. McNaughton. McLennan. Coult. Morris. Martin. Subs. Nicholson. Lynch. Cropley. Howitt.

Referee: Mr G. Thomson.

JAMES LOGAN














TRANENT JUNIORS V BONNYRIGG ROSE

Manager Brian Johnston was delighted with the team's performance in Monday's Dechmont League Cup game against Super League Bonnyrigg and so he should be. I can't recall when we last had a win over the Rose from "Up-the-braes". Another cracking game is scheduled for Wednesday night against Arniston Rangers. A win for the Juniors will secure a semi-final place. Considering the quality of the Teams in the Section this would be some achievement.
Apart from a glaring miss in the opening minute of the first half Tranent competed successfully and were certainly not out played or over-awed. Bonnyrigg striker Ryan McCallum was through on goal and rounded Sinclair Inglis, however, he chose to slide the ball left to the unmarked Sean Paliczki, he scooped the ball over the bar. The Referee blew for offside against the winger. McCallum should have taken resposibility to shoot for goal.
After this incident the half developed into a thrust and counter-attack affair in which Tranent were giving as good as they got. Then Mel Graham was set-up by McPartlin. His finishing shot missed the post by a whisker. Sinclair Inglis did well to save a close range downward header at the second attempt. Veteran, Rose keeper Michael Burgess, clutched a strong free-kick from Ellis under pressure from Mark Stevenson and Graham. A good piece of footwork on the right touchline by Graham gained a foul. McPartlin's free kick produced a corner which Bonnyrigg scrambled clear. Prior to the half ending Inglis excelled when he parried a long range howitzer and held the return follow-up.
Hopes were high that the Belters could bring home the bacon in the second half. The support felt they had nothing to fear.
On 55 minutes Tranent opened the scoring. There was sustained combined play on the right in which Jordan Mack was prominent. The ball was crossed deep and James McPartlin ghosted in from the left to strike a delectable shot across the Keeper, inside the post.
Unable to recover their composure, Bonnyrigg were completely stunned 2 minutes later. Alan Horne showed coolness, skill and determination to break from defence and attack through the middle. His lay-off to Mel Graham was exquisite. Graham went into over-drive and beat the advancing keeper with a shot. He was injured in the collision and substituted by Steven Tait. The effervescent Tait was immediately booked for an over-zealous tackle.
On the hour McPartlin was fouled on the left. Tadg Moriarty took the free kick. The industrious Mark Stevenson was very unlucky when he connected with a header which rebounded from the near post.
Bonnyrigg Manager Allan Miller knew he was in a game rapidly ending League Cup progress and introduced three substitutes. Tranent responded to those changes with replacements for Gary Small and Jordan Mack. Both had put in good shifts. Michael Fairney and Richard Miller were able deputies.
Tranent grew in confidence as Bonnyrigg huffed and puffed in their efforts to get a goal. The Tranent back four were solid in dealing with high balls being slung into their penalty area. Keith Salton was booked for a heading joust with Bonnyrigg's James Steele. Sean Grady's continued back-chat to the Referee resulted in a booking. This was a growing sign of Bonnyrigg frustration. In fact on the final whistle Tranent looked the fitter side and dealt with the late Bonnyrigg pressure admirably.
The League Cup Section winners will be decided at Foresters Park on Wednesday night against Arniston. This will be a thriller especially after their demolition job on Dunbar. Tranent have nothing to fear and irrespective of the outcome the Juniors can be proud of their achievements thus far.

Teams: Tranent. Inglis. Munro. Moriarty. Horne. Salton. McPartlin. Small. Ellis. Stevenson. Graham. Mack. Subs. Lawrie. Fairney. Miller. Dunlop, Anderson. Tait.

Bonnyrigg. Burgess. Fell. Caine. Dunn. Ritchie. Martin. Grady. Devlin. McCallum. Morrice. Paliczki. Subs. Steele. Bracks. McLeish. Reid. Bunyan. Amos.

Referee: Mr Paul Reid.

JAMES LOGAN













TRANENT JUNIORS V DUNBAR UTD

Tranent continued to impress in this Dechmont League Cup Section match against local rivals Dunbar. Manager Brian Johnston's comment at the end of the game was "We were comfortable winners and continue to be very much in the frame for a semi-final place if we can win our remaining two games. Today's results will influence how we approach these games. It was a good performance all round."
The Tranent starting line-up showed several changes. New signing Tadg Moriarty, from Arniston Rangers, was featured at left-back. Michael Lawrie and Paul Dunlop were in attack. The Tranent sub-bench was very strong with Gary Small, Mel Grham and Jules Anderson likely to be used should the first half go awry. In fact as the game panned out Tranent were coasting from early in the second half.
From the kick-off the game was played at a whirlwind pace. Dunlop cut in from the left and crossed low. Dunbar scrambled the ball clear. Then ex Tranent player Ritchie Weir had a fierce shot which Sinclair Inglis parried brilliantly, followed by clutching Weir's dangerous corner.
Tranent opened the scoring from the penalty-spot on 22 minutes. Credit to Referee Mr Duncan Smith for spotting the hand ball. Brendan Rooney was booked for the offence. Mark Stevenson powered his low spot-kick home.
The end to end football caused excitement as a minute later Callum Hill rattled the Tranent post from a free kick on the right with Inglis beaten. Then hard-working Steven Tait forced a superb save from Daryl Johnston as he got a hand to a close range header.
Tranent's second goal on 28 minutes came unexpectedly. Kenny Munro on the right, just inside the Dunbar half, struck a free-kick on target, Johnston and the Dunbar defenders were deceived by the flight of the ball as it dipped under the bar and entered the net. Moriarty then showed his class with a terrific long pass which sent Stevenson clear. He had time to spare but rushed the shot and Johnston saved low at the near post. Richard Miller was booked for a professional foul as he prevented Dunbar breaking through when Alan Horne was beaten with his tackle. John Morgan's free-kick was mopped-up.
Immediately after the interval Jules Anderson was introduced for Michael Lawrie and within three minutes Anderson on a diagonal left to right run was brought down with a rash tackle. No doubt about the penalty but no booking on this occasion. Johnston had no chance with another blistering spot kick from Stevenson. Another booking followed for ex Tranent player Mark McEwan. The Dunbar wall held firm from Stevenson's ferocious free-kick. Dunlop and Fairney made way for Graham and Small as at this stage Tranent had the game sewn-up.
Dunbar's consolation goal came when the referee insisted that a short corner be retaken for no apparent reason. On the retake Munro was adjudged to have armed the ball blocking a shot and a penalty was awarded. Callum Hill scored from the spot on 71 minutes.Alex
Tranent continued to pose a greater threat to the end. Weir was booked for a late tackle on 84 minutes.
This was an entertaining game, played competitively but never dirty even although the three penalty awards may suggest otherwise.

Teams: Tranent. Inglis. Munro. Moriarty. Horne. Miller. Fairney. Tait. McPartlin. Lawrie. Stevenson. Dunlop. Subs. Small. Ellis. Graham. Mack. Anderson.

Dunbar. Johnston. Gibb. Gardiner. Notman. Rooney. McEwan. Weir. Morgan. Hill. Shaw-Stewart. Purves. Subs. Aitken. Fisher. Stewart. Brown. McHoul. Thomson. Johnstone.Gk.

Referee: Mr Duncan Smith.

REPORTER JAMES LOGAN













TRANENT JUNIORS V MUSSELBURGH ATH

Tranent were hoping for another victory after their high scoring win over Haddington in this Dechmont League Cup Section. Super League Musselburgh, playing their third game with only a point thus far badly needed a win to get their Section hopes on track.
Two ex Tranent players were in the Olive Bank line-up. Chris Gordon in central defence and Gerry Draper wide left. Tranent featured from kick-off new signings, Richard Miller from Blackburn and Mark Ellis from Arniston.
Musselburgh almost went ahead on 12 minutes. Kris Renton chose to play a pass inside to Gerry Draper rather than shoot. Steven Tait read the dangerous situation and conceded a corner. Burgh's next attack produced the opening goal. Graham Beveridge did the damage down the right, firing in a low cross, beating the central defence for Mathu King to shoot home from close range.
Tranent after this shock gradually worked themselves back into the game. On 20 minutes a blistering shot from Jules Anderson brought out the best in Goalkeeper Renton. He excelled fisting the ball over the bar. Mel Graham's tricky run stretched the Burgh defence but Tranent were unable to cash-in on the corner conceded.
The Juniors suffered another major set-back on 28 minutes and the second Musselburgh goal was of the avoidable type. A missed tackle in central defence allowed Kris Renton to go one-on-one with Sinclair Inglis. Renton cooly picked out the unmarked King lurking at the back post and he finished with consummate ease.
With half-time looming the Belters were thrown a life-line. In a concerted attack Mel Graham released a shot which was beating Renton. Draper used his arm to stop the ball crossing the Burgh line. The Referee adjudged the offence merited a red card for Draper and a Penalty award for Tranent. Graham's spot-kick goal made Tranent's prospects against a 10 men Musselburgh a great deal more promising.
Tranent introduced Keith Salton for Richard Miller after the interval and Musselburgh used Alan Morgan and Iain Ramage to ensure defence and midfield solidity. Tranent's best chance for an equaliser fell to Steven Tait on 58 minutes. Graham from the left found Tait with a diagonal pass in the right channel. The usually reliable Tait was perhaps too deliberate with the shot and Renton managed to save at the second attempt. Gary Small was booked for a late tackle on Graham Beveridge. Shortly after, he was replaced by Michael Lawrie. Michael Fairnie was also introduced for Kenny Munro as Tranent pursued an equaliser. Near the end Musselburgh, right back, Scott Gourley, ventured forward and fully tested Inglis with a powerful shot. Tranent found out to their cost that it is often more difficult to score against a tightly organised depleted side than a full eleven.

Teams: Tranent: Inglis. Munro.. McPartlin. Miller. Horne. Small. Anderson. Ellis. Stevenson. Graham. Tait. Subs. Fairlie. Lawrie. Dunlop. Mack. Salton.

Musselburgh: Keiron Renton. Gourley. Noble. Gordon. Shand. Kelly. Doherty. Beveridge. King. Kris Renton. Draper. Subs. Morgan. Gray. Ramage. Olston. Fraser. Porteous.

Referee: Mr Neil McLennan

REPORT JAMES LOGAN