Haddington Athletic v Musselburgh Athletic

Wednesday 2 May 2018, 18.45, Millfield

Haddington Athletic against Musselburgh Athletic in the East Premier League.

Third against first in an East Lothian derby and the last one between the sides in the Juniors, with both set to join the East of Scotland League next season.

We’d last seen Haddington at Musselburgh, when the home side won by three goals to nil in what was a somewhat flattering result for the Burgh.  Haddington were unbeaten at home in the league, having won eight of their eleven games.

It had been a fine season for the Hi-His, and they were battling with Fauldhouse United for second spot.  Although they had games in hand on Musselburgh, even a win in the derby would be very unlikely to give them a chance of catching them.

That derby in February was also the last time we’d seen the Burgh, and with six games left, they had only lost once in their league campaign.  With just three draws, they had won twenty of their matches.

Although Fauldhouse had three games in hand on the Burgh, they were eighteen points adrift and the title looked to be heading for the Honest Toun.

A good contingent from Musselburgh travelled the short journey to boost the crowd to around 120.

Although no excuse was needed, not having had any dinner meant I could tuck into the excellent pie which is served at the Haddington Athletic food stall, guilt free.

With two minutes gone, Burgh’s Murphy played the ball to the back post for King, but on the stretch, he was unable to make good contact and the ball went wide.

Murphy got a foot in to win the ball for Burgh in four minutes and King played the ball to Myles who strode forward before side footing for goal from about 20 yards.  Although it wasn’t hit with great power, it was placed right in the corner and the diving Alysandratos couldn’t reach it and the ball hit the back of the net to give Burgh an early lead.

In 8 minutes, a Murphy shot from the edge of the box was turned around the post by Alysandratos for a Burgh corner.  Davie’s corner saw the keeper struggle to get the ball away, but the defence completed the job.

Haddington won a free kick in 9 minutes and Jones took it quickly trying to catch the defence and keeper out, but his effort from 23 yards was off target.

King played a one-two with Davie and received the ball near the by-line on the left of the box in 13 minutes.  He cut the ball back to the feet of MacDonald who seemed to have loads of time to steady himself and shoot into the far corner to double the visitors’ lead.

Jones got a shot away from the edge of the Burgh box in 19 minutes, but it took a deflection, which made it easy for Adams to claim.

A great turn by Moffat in 21 minutes got him away from a Burgh defender and he passed wide to Jones.  He fired the ball across goal and Quinn slid in at the back post but couldn’t get the touch to send it into the net.

A Burgh through ball in 24 minutes saw King chasing and Alysandratos coming out of his goal.  The two clashed and the referee awarded a free kick to Haddington.

Donaldson miskicked in his own box in 26 minutes and gave the ball to Jones.  He seemed to be torn between a cross into the Burgh box and a shot and he ended up with neither, blootering the ball behind.

Just after the half hour, Hill passed to Berry on the left for Haddington.  His cross was blocked behind.  Hill’s corner was met at the front post by Moffat, but Davie was there to head the ball off the line.

Gray struck a shot at goal from 20 yards in 36 minutes which produced a flying save from Alysandratos to push the ball behind for a Burgh corner.  The kick dropped in the box and Donaldson, MacDonald and King all had a touch, but nobody could direct the ball at goal.

Alysandratos reacted furiously after claiming he was caught by King for the second time as he came out to clear a Burgh through ball in 39 minutes.  The referee had a word with the keeper.

A fine crossfield ball by Burgh’s Donaldson in 41 minutes picked out Whyte on the left, but the referee gave offside, much to the chagrin of the Burgh fans who were in line.

With two minutes to the break, MacDonald slid the ball through for King but Alysandratos was out of his goal quickly to block his shot.

As the teams left the field at half time, Haddington’s Cunningham seemed to be having an argument with some of the Burgh fans in the crowd.

Disgracefully, I had a second pie at the break.

The first real action of the second half came in 49 minutes, when for the third time, Alysandartos came out to clear and went down as King closed him down.  This time, the Burgh striker was booked.

Burgh came forward in 52 minutes and King passed to Murphy whose shot at goal took a nick off a defender.  Alysandratos spilled the ball but was up quickly to smother.

Berry had a strike at the Burgh goal in 53 minutes from 22 yards.  It was well hit, but just too high.

A great ball through the Haddington defence in 56 minutes by Murphy found King racing in on goal.  He took the ball round Alysandratos and was caught by the keeper, but no penalty was given, and the ball ran out.  Alysandratos wanted the striker booked for diving, but King hadn’t gone down.

Cherrie showed some good skill to get into the Haddington box on the left in 60 minutes.  He hit the ball across goal and Alysandratos got a hand to it before it hit Cunningham who booted clear.  The ball was quickly returned to Myles whose shot was pushed away by the keeper.

A mistake by Burgh’s Myles in 65 minutes gave the ball to Berry who passed through to Quinn, but his shot was half blocked and trickled through to Adams.

Haddington pushed Cunningham up front for the remaining minutes, going to three at the back.

Myles’ corner in 68 minutes came all the way to Whyte on the other side.  He showed great skill to get to the by-line and cross back into the Haddington box, but King couldn’t get a touch.

Murphy found King on the corner of the visitors’ box in 69 minutes, but he shot straight at Alysandratos.

In 70 minutes, Adams pushed away a Haddington cross.  Quinn hit it back towards goal and Cunningham tried to get a touch, but it went back to the keeper.

Jones shot at the Burgh goal from 22 yards in 78 minutes, but it drifted wide.

A bit of a lunge by Haddington’s Quinn on Murphy in 80 minutes saw him booked by the referee.

Berry put a good cross to the back post in 81 minutes and Quinn headed down, but it was a comfortable save for Adams in the Burgh goal.

Burgh’s Gray clattered Moffat in 83 minutes and was shown a yellow card.

With five minutes left, a Cairney ball into the Burgh box was headed down by Moffat and Jones shot for goal but saw his strike hit the outside of the post.

Two minutes later and a Jones cross into the Burgh box was palmed away by Adams only as far as Moffat, whose volley smashed off the bar.

Another cross in 88 minutes saw Quinn cleverly flick the ball into the path of Cunningham and his shot was parried by Adams before Lynch cleared over the bar.

A long kick by Adams in the final minute found Moffat on the left and he turned away from Cairney before lobbing the ball over the advancing Alysandratos, but the ball hit the top of the net.

Full time and another win for Musselburgh who wouldn’t have too long to wait until they secured the title.  Particularly with Fauldhouse losing to Tranent on the same night.  Although the game was killed off by the two early goals, the home side never gave up, but it wasn’t their day.

Brown and Berry were the best performers for the hosts, with Gray, Cherrie and the excellent Murphy the stand-outs for Burgh.

Full Time: Haddington Athletic 0 Musselburgh Athletic 2

Admission: £6

Haddington Athletic: 1 Haris Alysandratos, 2 Gavin Brown (Cairney 66), 4 Frazer Paterson, 5 George Cunningham, 3 Joe Hamill, 7 Shaun Hill, 6 Chris Inglis (Devlin 50), 8 Bob Berry, 10 Declan Quinn, 9 Scott Moffat, 11 Andy Jones.  Subs: SG Craig Cockburn, 12 Chris Cairney, 14 Jordan Cropley, 15 Paul Devlin, 16 Mark Torrance.

Musselburgh Athletic: 1 Ally Adams, 3 Matty Lynch, 12 Bradley Donaldson, 4 Chris Gray, 11 Jed Davie, 18 Bradley Whyte (Moffat 74), 8 Gary Cherrie, 6 Jackie Myles, 7 Sean Murphy, 10 Mathu King, 20 Stephen MacDonald. Subs: SG Asher Tufail, 2 John McManus, 14 Michael Moffat, 19 Calvin Shand.

Referee: Iain Snedden

Programme: None.

Haddington Athletic v Dunbar United

Wednesday 16 August 2017, 18.45, Millfield

The East Premier League game between Haddington Athletic and Dunbar United.

One of many East Lothian derbies in the East Premier this season, with Musselburgh Athletic and Tranent Juniors also in the league for season 2017-18.

We saw Haddington twice last season, a 2-2 draw at Arniston Rangers when they were 2-0 down with a minute left, and a Junior Cup tie against Shotts Bon Accord, where they were 3-0 down with 13 minutes left and they ended up winning on penalties.  They had a lot to live up to replicate that entertainment.

In what is starting to become a bad habit at Haddington, the manager resigned just before the season’s start, this time David McGlynn leaving on 19 July.  (Johnny Harvey left for Penicuik in July 2016).  Joe Hamill has taken charge.

Haddington signed goalkeeper Haris Alysandratos from Greek football for the new season.  Departing the club were Michael Fairnie, Arran Ponton, Andrew Sinclair and Kevin Keane.

After a ninth placed finish last season, Haddington began their league campaign this season with a 4-0 home win over Bathgate Thistle and then won 6-0 at Dalkeith Thistle.  A 3-1 defeat at St Andrews brought them back down to earth.

We saw Dunbar last year when they played St Andrews in the East of Scotland Cup.  They were to lose a tight match on penalties. 

Chris Grant has retired and Chris Gordon has been transferred.  Coming in were central defender Zach Szemis from Fareham Town, midfielders Grant Burns from Leith Athletic, and Kieran Ingram from Berwick Rangers and Kevin Motion from Vale of Leithen, left back Kenny Hall from Leith Athleticch is an ex Aberdeen youth player who spent a season at county neighbours Haddington Athletic before work commitments took him to England for a couple of years. Zach is a strong and athletic player who is very comfortable on the ball, offering flexibility in a number of positions. He has been signed predominantly as a centre half.’s East of Scotland side and forward Fraser McLaren from Bonnyrigg Rose.

Dunbar won the East South League last season and are still finding their feet after promotion.  They have so far drawn 3-3 with Glenrothes, lost 6-0 to Musselburgh Athletic, and lost 3-2 to Tayport.

Sad to see that the pie stand wasn’t open upon arrival, as Millfield is famous for the quality of its pies.  I expect holidays may have played a part.

There were around 140 at the game.

Haddington looked to put pressure on right from kick off, but couldn’t get a shot away.

Hill strode forward in 6 minutes and had a shot at the Dunbar goal from 22 yards, but it was wide of the target.

Johnstone came well out of his goal to clear the ball in 9 minutes and Haddington got possession, but Gillon blocked the attempted shot from half way.

A minute later and Hamilton put a good ball into the Dunbar box and Hill headed just wide.

 

A poor kick by Johnstone in 12 minutes saw Jones try a first time effort at the Dunbar goal from 28 yards, but it drifted past the post.

Some lovely football by Haddington in 14 minutes involving Cairney, Jones and Hill ended with the ball played into the box from the right to the feet of Moffat, who sidestepped a defender before hammering low into the net to give the hosts the lead.

 

Cairney played a dangerous ball across the face of the Dunbar goal in 22 minutes, but there were no takers in the middle.

 

A clever chipped through ball by Devlin in 23 minutes looked for Jones in the Dunbar box, but Smith did well to get a toe on the ball to turn it behind.  Hill’s corner was met by the head of Berry, but Smith was there again to clear the ball off the line.

 

Smith seemed to be single handedly repelling the home side’s attacks as he blocked Hill’s shot in 24 minutes.

Hill receive a Haddington throw-in after 25 minutes and knocked the ball past S Tait before firing a low ball across goal where Moffat was there to tap home his and his side’s second.

 

Moffat was causing problems again in the Dunbar box in 29 minutes, but his ball across was headed behind by Smith.

Hamilton was booked in 31 minutes for a foul on Dunbar’s K Tait on the corner of the box.  King’s free kick was straight into the arms of Cockburn.

In 36 minutes, Cairney won the ball and charged forward into the Dunbar half.  With other options available, he decided to go it alone, but his shot from 22 yards was comfortable for Johnstone.

 

It looked as if the referee showed a yellow card to a Dunbar player in 40 minutes, but I couldn’t make out who it was.  Inglis put the free kick into the box and it was flicked on by Hill for Moffat, but his shot was blocked and Johnstone gathered.

King swung a Dunbar corner into the box in 43 minutes and the ball fell to Szemis whose shot took a deflection and flew into the net to bring Dunbar back into the game.

 

In injury time, S Tait found Handling 20 yards from the Haddington goal and he made some space before shooting, but there wasn’t enough power in it to trouble Cockburn.

Two–one at the break in a half that should have had Haddington out of sight.  They completely bossed the opening 45 minutes and must have been scratching their heads as to how they were only a goal in front.

With Hall on at half time for Dunbar, they moved S Tait into midfield and the sub went to left back.

A good ball down the line by Devlin in 48 minutes saw Hamilton run onto the ball and cross into the Dunbar box.  Hall got his head to the ball, but not enough to clear the box and it fell into the path of Moffat who thumped a half volley into the net for his hat-trick.

 

Good skill by Dunbar’s McLaren on the left in 54 minutes saw him beat Cairney, but his cross was deflected to safety.

Moffat passed to Devlin in the Dunbar box in 57 minutes and he turned and shot for goal, but couldn’t get power in it and Johnstone smothered.

Cairney slipped in 58 minutes, but got up and put a great cross into the Dunbar box which looked right on Moffat’s head, but he didn’t make contact.

Up the other end a minute later King put a free kick into the box and Smith went up for it with Bauld.  The ball fell to McLaren who swept the ball into the net to put Dunbar only one behind again.

 

Bauld required treatment following the arial challenge, which had looked innocuous from where we were, but he may have landed awkwardly.

In 64 minutes, Moffat brought the ball forward for Haddington and laid the ball into the path of Jones.  His shot was parried by Johnstone, but fell to Inglis, who somehow fired over the bar.

A header on half way in 65 minutes saw Moffat racing clear on the Dunbar goal and he confidently slotted past Johnstone for his and Haddington’s fourth.

 

Incredibly, it was Moffat’s second four goal haul of the season already.

McLaren played the ball wide to Hogg in 76 minutes and his cross into the Haddington box was headed in by Steven Tait from close range.  Dunbar were back in it again.

 

Smith was booked in 77 minutes for a foul on Haddington’s Wright.  Hill’s free kick saw Wright try an overhead kick, but he didn’t make contact.

In 82 minutes Hill curled a free kick toward the Dunbar goal and Berry ran in to get the slightest touch and the ball flew past Johnstone and into the net to make it 5-3.

 

With three minutes left Wright tried a curling effort from just outside the Dunbar box which went narrowly wide.

The ball bounced up in the Haddington box in 88 minutes and hit a defender’s hand, but the referee waved away appeals.  McLaren was booked for complaining.

Dunbar’s Handling was yellow carded in 89 minutes, although it wasn’t for hand ball.

In the first minute of injury time Cairney’s cross saw Wright try another overhead kick, but again, he didn’t make contact.

Cairney was next to go in the book after squaring up to Dunbar’s McLaren.

A Dunbar free kick deep into injury time was flicked on by Smith and S Tait hit the ball off the post.

There was still time for Moffat to pick up a booking for a late tackle before the referee blew for time up.

A hugely entertaining game which Haddington should have won more convincingly.  Credit to Dunbar for never giving up in a game where they were outclassed.  They haven’t had a good start.  Haddington impressed going forward and Moffat is on fire at the moment, but they must be concerned by their inability to deal with crossed balls into the box.

Hill, Cairney and of course Moffat stood out for Haddington while Smith and Handling were best for Dunbar.

Full Time: Haddington Athletic 5 Dunbar United 3

Admission: £6

Haddington Athletic: 1 Craig Cockburn, 2 Chris Cairney, 4 Euan Bauld, 5 George Cunningham, 3 Jamie Hamilton, 7 Bob Berry, 6 Chris Inglis, 8 Shaun Hill, 9 Scott Moffat, 10 Paul Devlin (Wright 66), 11 Andy Jones (Temple 66).  Subs: 12 Scott Wright, 14 Lewis Temple, 15 Joe Hamill, GK Haris Alysandratos.

Dunbar United: 1 John Johnstone, 2 Keith Tait (Kean 74), 4 Zach Szemis, 5 Kevin Smith, 3 Steven Tait, 6 Kieran Ingram, 7 Darren Handling, 8 Darren Gillon (Hall 46), 10 Chris King (Hogg 69), 9 Dean Ballantyne, 11 Fraser McLaren. Subs: 12 Scott Gibson, 14 Chris Hogg, 15 Kenny Hall, 16 Steven Kean, Liam McCathie.

Referee: Colin Whyte

Programme: None.

Haddington Athletic v Shotts Bon Accord

Saturday 29 October 2016, 14.30, Millfield

Scottish Junior Cup Second Round Replay action between Haddington Athletic and Shotts Bon Accord.

Second viewing of the season of Haddington Athletic, after being at their late comeback draw at Arniston Rangers in August.  With so many changes to their team, they have unsurprisingly had an inconsistent start to their season in the East Premier League.  Their previous league game resulted in a 7-0 home win against Dundee Violet, but they seem to win one week and then lose the next.

Our first look at Shotts Bon Accord this season.  Formed in 1950, they are currently playing in the First Division of the West Region Superleague, which is kind of the West version of the league that Haddington are in.

Originally playing in the now-defunct Lanarkshire League, Bon Accord had early success, winning the  Scottish Junior Cup  in 1958.  The sixties saw many clubs in the area fold and the remaining clubs were incorporated into the Central League with the Glasgow based clubs.

Shotts faced tougher opposition in the Central League, but were runners-up in their first 2 years before being relegated two years in a row.  A yo-yo period ended for a while after promotion to the top league in 1985/86.  In all but one season for the next 10 years, they stayed in the top league.  In 1995 they were suspended from the Central Junior League for one season, and were re-admitted to the third tier in the 1996-97 season. Remarkably they won each of the league’s three divisions in consecutive seasons upon their readmission.

After reaching the Junior Cup semi-final in 2000, they were relegated again the following year.  Further league reconstruction and the formation of the West Superleague in 2002 has seen the club return to its up and down ways.

2012 saw Shotts win their second Junior Cup, when they upset the big favourites Auchinleck Talbot in the final.

New signings for Shotts this season are midfielders Barry McGowan from Bellshill Athletic and Ally Martin from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, and defenders Jamie Brophy, also from Bellshill and Shaun Fallon from Hawick Royal Albert.  Returning to the club are forward Mark Duffy from Thorniewood United and midfielder Andy Scott.  Also returning are two members of the Scottish Cup-winning squad of 2012, goalkeeper Johnny Murdoch and Andy Scott from Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

Shotts play their home games at Hannah Park.  The ground was created using local volunteer labour, one of whom, James Hannah, died of thrombosis contracted during the efforts to finish. The park is named in his honour.

It’s worth noting that Shotts Bon Accord are not the Bon Accord responsible for the famous 36-0 loss in the late 1800s.

I confess to a bit of a soft spot for Bon Accord.  My father was responsible for the original plans for Hannah Park and an uncle is a former manager there.  I was at their Junior Cup win in 2012.

I should also mention a liking for Haddington.  They have a lovely picturesque ground and the best pies I’ve ever had at a football ground.

The replay came about as a result of the draw between the teams the previous Saturday, which seemed to be quite an event.  Haddington raced into a three goal lead and led by that at half time.  Shotts got a quick goal back at the start of the second half, then a second before having a man sent off.  They still grabbed the equaliser with 18 minutes left and the game finished 3-3.

I made it around 120 in the ground for this one, with a fair number through from Lanarkshire.  Fortunately, these numbers didn’t prevent me from getting a pie.

Shotts were quick out of the blocks and looked to still have their tails up from their amazing comeback the week before.

In the second minute, Martin played the ball to Burns who turned away from a defender on the edge of the box to give himself a chance, but his shot was blocked by Inglis in the home goal.

Shotts won a free kick in the third minute 23 yards out which was taken by Martin and went narrowly wide.

Berry lobbed the ball forward for Moffat in 4 minutes as Haddington looked to break away, but the referee gave offside.  Disappointingly, there were no linesmen present.

In 8 minutes, Bauld slipped in his own half and gave the ball to Shotts.  Martin took possession and ran to the corner of the box before sending a delightful chip over Inglis to give Bon Accord the lead.

Some excellent build-up play by Shotts in 13 minutes saw Scott play the ball to McKenna, who found Burns inside the box, but Inglis did well to turn his effort round the post.

McKenna played a great ball to Burns on the right in 15 minutes as Bon Accord came forward again.  He cut inside and rifled a low shot beyond the keeper to make it 2-0.

Shotts were threatening to run away with it and in 23 minutes, Scott passed to Livingstone, who had a strike from distance, but it was wide of goal.

With 25 minutes gone, Scott’s ball in from the left saw Martin chase it into the box and strike goalwards, but Inglis spectacularly pushed the ball away.

The Hi-Hi were looking to get back into the game and Wright ran down the left in 29 minutes before playing the ball back to Ponton.  He crossed to the back post and found Berry, but he volleyed wide.

Shotts’ Livingstone picked up the first booking of the afternoon with half an hour gone.  A late challenge on Cairney brought about the yellow card, but it was the third time he had been pulled up.

Fairnie played a clever ball to Cairney on the right in 31 minutes and his cross into the Shotts box was flicked just wide by the head of Moffat.

In 38 minutes, Berry picked out Wright on the left of the Shotts box.  It was a good chance, but Murdoch was out very quickly to block.

Shotts had a powerful shot at goal in 39 minutes, but Inglis gathered.  Straight up the other end and Wright had an opportunity to square the ball to an unmarked Woods, but a defender managed to cut it out.

With three minutes to half time Burns was a little fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after aiming a kick at a Haddington player, although the referee strangely didn’t give a foul.

A good first half from Bon Accord who looked well in control.

The referee continued to show leniency at the beginning of the second half when Haddington’s Moffat caught Cairney with a late tackle in 46 minutes, but escaped a booking.

Two minutes later Moffat did go in the book after doing something to Barr as he tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

In 53 minutes, Barr went in the book himself for a foul on Moffat.

The game was in danger of boiling over at this point with a few niggles seeming to start.  Maybe some leftover from the previous weekend.

Moffat won the ball on the left for Shotts in 56 minutes and cut inside before shooting at goal.  Inglis got down well to turn the ball round the post.

Following the resultant corner, the ball came back into the box and was bobbling around before Burns latched onto it and sent a low drive into the net for Shotts third of the afternoon.

With 32 minutes left, there certainly didn’t appear to be any chance of a reverse of the previous game as Shotts looked secure with their lead.

Bauld and Cairney picked up bookings for Haddington within a couple of minutes of each other as Haddington tried to press the away side.

Fairnie was the next to go in the book in 70 minutes as the game began to run away from Haddington.

Haddington had their best chance since the start of the game in 72 minutes when a cross picked out Moffat in the middle of the box, but he headed straight at Murdoch.

In 74 minutes, another great chance for Moffat when Ponton’s cross found him in the box again, but this time his header flashed wide.

The chances were starting to come for the home side now, but time was rapidly running out.

Devlin was next to go for goal in 75 minutes, but his half volley from the edge of the box, although a decent effort, was too high.

Haddington came forward on the left in 78 minutes and Berry squared the ball for Woods who managed to squeeze the ball into the corner past Murdoch to give the Hi-Hi the goal that they had been looking like scoring.

There was a short break in play as MacPherson got a change of shirt after it looked like his had been ripped off.

If he was turning into the Hulk, he would have been even more angry when the home side scored again straight from kick off.

Chapman put a fine cross into the Shotts area and Woods either missed the ball or cleverly dummied it and Moffat tapped in from inside the six-yard box.

Ten minutes left and very close to the exact opposite of the first game.

To make things even more like the previous week, the team chasing the game had a player sent off when they were one behind, with Cairney sent off after his second yellow card in 81 minutes.  It was good of him to follow the script, but it could have ruined his team’s chances of getting what looked like an unlikely equaliser.

From the resultant free kick, Martin saw his effort come back off the Haddington bar.

A curling shot by Haddington’s Chapman in 84 minutes looked in, but a defender managed to get his head to it to divert it away from goal.

In 86 minutes, Moffat was almost through, but Murdoch in the Shotts goal was out to clear with his feet.

Tempers were threatening to boil over again as players pushed each other following the award of a Haddington free kick on the half way line.

As the clock reached 90 minutes, a curling ball into the Shotts box by Chris Inglis was headed behind by Lindsay for a Haddington corner.  Woods flicked the ball on and it hit Shotts’ Eadie who could only watch in horror as it ran into the net past the despairing dive of Murdoch for the equaliser.

Both teams had chances to win it with Livingstone shooting over the bar for Shotts after being set up by Burns and then Haddington’s Jones stepped away from a defender and saw his shot tipped over the bar by Murdoch.  The resultant corner was taken by Devlin and found the head of Moffat, whose downward header went inches wide.

The end of the match and straight to penalties.

Shotts took the early initiative with Burns and Finnigan both scoring.  Ponton scored Haddington’s first, but Chris Inglis saw his shot saved.  Haddington’s keeper then saved attempts from Eadie and Livingstone, with Devlin and Woods scoring for Haddington.  MacPherson had to score to keep Bon Accord in it, but Inglis saved his third penalty in a row and Haddington had the win.

A truly remarkable game which would have seemed incredible on its own without the reverse having happened the previous week.

With both teams having a maroon home strip and a light blue away one, it was a mirror image of the previous week, with the team in maroon coming back from three goals down.

Shotts looked a very good side for about an hour on this evidence and really should have had it sewn up (as I believe Haddington should have the week before).  Scott and Martin looked good in midfield and McKenna held the ball up well.  The defence had looked very solid, but were at sixes and sevens as soon as they conceded the first of Haddington’s goals.

Berry and Fairnie looked like Haddington’s best on the day for me, with Chapman making a big contribution to the comeback when he came on.

Hugely entertaining afternoon.

Apologies to Haddington’s Andy Jones, but I didn’t see him coming on and am not sure who went off!  He was certainly on from about 58 minutes in.

Can these two teams play each other every week?

Full Time: Haddington Athletic 3 Shotts Bon Accord 3 (Haddington won 3-2 on penalties)

Admission: £6

Haddington Athletic: 1 Sinclair Inglis, 2 Chris Cairney, 3 Arran Ponton, 4 Euan Bauld (Devlin 61), 5 Chris Inglis, 6 Shaun Hill, 7 Bob Berry, 8 Michael Fairnie, 9 Dean Woods, 10 Scott Moffat, 11 Scott Wright (Chapman 65). Subs: 12 Paul Devlin, 15 Andy Jones, 16 Jamie Chapman, 14 Kieran Ingram, 17 Kidd.

Shotts Bon Accord: 1 Johnny Murdoch, 2 Glenn Eadie, 3 Jonathan Lindsay, 4 Gavin Macpherson, 5 Gary Barr, 6 Stuart Livingstone, 7 Andy Scott (Sutherland 78), 8 Ally Martin, 9 Sean McKenna (Campbell 72), 10 Stephen Maguire(Finnigan 88), 11 Danny Burns. Subs: 12 Dean Sutherland, 14 Kieran Campbell, 15 Kris Russell, 16 Paul Finnigan.

Referee: Peter Stuart

Programme: None.