Tranent 'going places' despite Scottish Cup exit to East Fife as attention turns back to Lowland League bid

Tranent goal hero Steven Thomson says they will now turn their full attention to securing promotion to the Lowland League after their fairytale maiden Scottish Cup run came to an end with a 5-1 defeat at League One East Fife.

Tranent Juniors celebrate scoring against East Stirlingshire in the Scottish Cup first round. Pic: Lisa Ferguson

Thomson’s thunderbolt 30 yard-plus free-kick after just three minutes had the Tranent committee in the ground and fans watching at home in dreamland, but their story wasn’t to continue as East Fife brought this chapter to a close with dominant second half performance.

“We started off well, that’s what we wanted to do, press them high for the first five or ten and show them that they were in a game,” said Thomson. “Those two goals at the end of the first half just killed us; if we had just held on it might have been a different game.

“We had them on the ropes and I had another chance which was cut back to me, I maybe should have shown a bit better composure by taking a touch rather than hitting it first time. You don’t get many chances against a team like this.

“We have players in this team who are capable of playing at this level, we’ve got a really good team, so it was no surprise that we did so well in the first half. When we came out after half-time it felt like the wind had picked up, it was a lot stronger and we were up against it.

“The boys did well, it’s credit to us as they are three leagues above us and they have got a good side. We can hold our heads up high, at the end of the day it was just a step too far. We want to get into the Lowland League, we are top of the league just now, we just need to continue our league form.

“The club is going places, we just need to kick on again. Our main focus this season was to get into the Lowland League and we want to be there, if we get into it I think we can compete. We’ve got a lot of young players and experience of playing in games like this will stand us in good stead.”

Calum Elliot’s men did have considerable chances to increase their lead further in an end-to-end opening half, with Thomson striking the post from another free-kick attempt.

East Fife avoided a half-time earful from boss Darren Young though, as two goals in the final five minutes - Scott Agnew from the penalty spot and a Craig Watson header - gave them the lead at the break, which was harsh on the Belters for their first half efforts.

In truth, it was one-way traffic in the second period, with Agnew securing his hat-trick with two further strikes, while captain Kevin Smith ensured their was no way back for Tranent with his side’s fifth of the afternoon.

Elsewhere, Linlithgow Rose couldn’t repeat history despite taking an early lead in their second round tie away to Forfar Athletic, five years on from their sensational win at Station Park. Kyle Wilson’s opener had Rose in the lead after 11 minutes, but Forfar’s equaliser three minutes later would take the tie to extra-time where Forfar prevailed, ending up 4-1 winners.

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