League leaders Tranent maintain 100% winning start with victory at Berwick Rangers
Tranent had to work hard against Berwick Rangers to maintain their 100% record at the top of the Lowland League East.
A 2-1 win at Shielfield Park on Saturday made it seven consecutive league wins for the East Lothian side.
It had started well for Berwick when Greg Binnie forced the ball in right on the goal line after a smartly worked corner.
However, the lead only lasted five minutes when Nick Aitchison got on the end of Connor Doan’s cross to head home.
The winner came on the hour mark courtesy of Harry Girdwood after a fine team move culminated in the striker firing a powerful effort in to the top corner from 12 yards out.
Kyle Somers squandered Berwick’s best chance of an equaliser, hitting an effort over the bar from four yards out.
Berwick manager Kevin Haynes said: “I thought it was fairly even. Their second goal is a great goal from their perspective. They’ve worked it down the side of the pitch, it’s a good cut back and a great finish to win them the game.
"We had our own chances. Right after that we really should be 2-2 through when Kyle Somers missed a glorious chance to equalise.”
Haynes felt his side were the better team in the first half despite the score being tied.
"I felt we were passing the ball fairly well and our patterns of play and movement, getting into good situations but then we’d break down, just that lack that final bit of quality.
Berwick travel to face Civil Service Strollers in the league on Tuesday night followed by Musselburgh at home on Saturday. The Wee Gers currently sit 12th in the table.
"We always do alright against the top teams,” said Haynes. “My worry is always against the teams around about us. I don’t know if it’s a mentality thing or we switch off but if we can do what we did at Brechin and what we did here today then we should be good enough to get a positive result.
"The league table doesn’t look great but the performances are better than that shows.”
He also revealed the club is trying to recruit fresh blood to boost an injury-ravaged squad
Meanwhile, Berwick have been drawn away to Cowdenbeath in the first round of the Scottish Cup. The game will take place at Central Park on Saturday, October 3.