Maximum points is a welcome surprise for Robbie Horn's table-toppers Tranent

The Foresters Park club have reeled off five consecutive victories to sit top of the standings, the only side that can boast a perfect record across both the East and West Divisions.

Robbie Horn is thrilled his side have taken maximum points from their opening five games. Picture: Tranent FC

Tranent fell short in their quest for league honours last season, despite being contenders for the lion's share of the 2025/2026 campaign.

Horn's men have beaten Bo'ness United, Cowdenbeath, reigning champions Linlithgow Rose, Stirling University, and East Stirlingshire, so far this term, with Civil Service Strollers next up at home tomorrow afternoon.

And the former Bonnyrigg Rose and Berwick Rangers head coach revealed he wasn't too enamoured with the fixture list when it was unveiled at the beginning of July.

"It has been a tough start but we've got through it," Horn told the Evening News. "I probably didn't think we'd take as many points as we have done if I'm being completely honest. To be fair I don't think we've been brilliant at times, but we've played well against Linlithgow and Gala, in the cup last week. We've managed games well and got results. The squad has been stretched too even this early on due to injuries.

"But I suppose you get into a habit of winning games and that's what we've done so far. We've got a strong group, we've added pretty well, and they will all contribute over the course of the season.

"It's so early on in the season and there are still so many games left to go, but you'd expect the likes of Bonnyrigg, Linlithgow, will be up there challenging. Those clubs have obviously got bigger budgets but we can be competitive, that's for sure."

This season has seen Scottish football's fifth tier split into two divisions for the first time since its inception 13 years ago, a restructure which the SFA approved last summer. Horn, who revealed Tranent are hoping to be granted their bronze licence this season, is of the mindset such a move has now made aspirations to reach the SPFL a much sterner proposition.

"I think it's made it a lot more difficult to get up now," he explained. "All they had to do was open up the promotion and relegation a bit more, maybe two up, two down. You've now got two Lowland League divisions, as well as the Highland League. That's a lot of teams vying for one spot. Obviously there is this big meeting next month and these are the things they need to be thinking about. Scottish football is struggling across the board. I watched the Dundee United against Rangers in the Premiership opener a few weeks ago and Dundee United had one Scottish player on the park. What chance have you got?

"But the whole Pyramid system really needs looked at. There are some really big clubs playing in the Lowland League who are deserving of playing at a higher level. Some of the League One and Two clubs do not boast the biggest crowds and aren't bringing much to the party, but there needs to be those opportunities for the clubs waiting to get in.

"There's a lot of focus on us pushing for our bronze licence. The SFA are taking it seriously and I think last season showed that there's no point in winning the league if you don't get the opportunity to go for promotion. I felt really disappointed for Linlithgow having got themselves into that position to be denied the right to go into the play-offs because they didn't have their bronze licence. So that's why it's so important that if we were to be successful, we have that licence in place and have the chance to go up."

Tranent will be looking to make it six wins on the trot this weekend when Strollers make the short trip along the A1 to East Lothian.

Gary Jardine's side have also fared well in these first few weeks and currently occupy eighth spot. Horn is wary of the threat the Christie Gillies Park men pose to their unblemished record.

"I get on really well with Gary," he said. "He's done an amazing job at Civil. He's got a lot less budget than everyone else but manages to make his team really competitive, well drilled, and hard to beat. It's going to be a really tough game for us. They've got a lot more physicality but they are real threat going forward too."