Tranent can hold heads high despite Scottish Cup exit at hands of East Fife

Tranent Juniors’ maiden Scottish Cup adventure came to a shuddering halt as they fell to a 5-1 defeat away to East Fife.

Steven Thomson fired Tranent into a surprise lead with a fine free kick but despite a valiant effort, the Belters exited the competition

The final scoreline was an unfair reflection on the efforts of the East of Scotland league-leaders who gave a great account of themselves in the opening period at Bayview, and even took a shock lead to stun their League One opponents.

Steven Thomson stepped over a free-kick at least 30 yards out and after a late shout from goalkeeper Ally Adams urging him to go for goal, he unleashed an effort that caught home ‘keeper Brett Long off guard and flew into the net with just three minutes on the clock.

The first chance for the hosts arrived after eight minutes when Ryan Wallace beat the offside trap but Adams got down well to stop the striker’s effort.Tranent were presented with a big chance to double their lead after 19 minutes. Adam Watson’s hooked ball over the top of the home defence put Kayne Paterson through on goal, but Long came rushing out and Paterson was unable to add to the visitors' lead.

East Fife came within inches of an equaliser after 26 minutes, Stewart Murdoch’s cross finding Danny Denholm at the back post, but his header hit the crossbar with Adams beaten.

Tranent then had strong penalty appeals waved away by referee Barry Cook and Adams made an important save to deny striker Kevin Smith after 32 minutes with Tranent’s ‘keeper pushing the ball onto the bar and out for a corner-kick.

Thomson then came close to doubling his and Tranent’s tally from another free-kick; his direct strike from wide on the right flashing across goal and cannoning off the back post much to the relief of the stranded Long.

East Fife equalised five minutes before half-time from the penalty spot. Wallace was brought down by Adams as he tried to round him and Scott Agnew dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom left corner to level the score.

The Fifers took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Craig Watson headed home from Agnew’s corner-kick; a cruel blow to the visitors who had matched the hosts in the opening period.

Buoyed by their end to the opening half, the hosts picked up where they had left off in the second half with two quick-fire goals to leave Tranent deflated.

Agnew’s second and East Fife’s third was one to forget for Adams, as a low free kick from wide on the right squirmed through the Tranent No.1’s legs but he could do nothing about the fourth as Agnew’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected past him, sealing the former Dumbarton man's hat-trick.

The tie was over as a contest just after the hour mark as Smith netted number five; a fine touch and finish past Adams sealing East Fife’s place in the third round.

Calum Elliot’s men could hold their heads high at the end as attention now turns to securing automatic promotion from the East of Scotland Premier Division into the Lowland League.

East Fife: Long, Higgins, Murdoch, C Watson, Denholm (Dunsmore), Slattery, Wallace, Smith (Swanson), Agnew, Watt (Newton), Davidson.

Tranent: Adams, Whitson, Greig, McKenzie, R Miller, B Miller (Lander), A Watson (Renton), Craigie, Paterson (Ponton), Murphy, Thomson.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.If you haven't already, please consider supporting our sports coverage with a digital sports subscription.