Recap

Blackburn United 0
Tranent 4 (McDonald 29mins & 30mins, Landers 42mins, McGovern 85mins)

Tranent arrived at the Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium smarting after a weekend defeat at Bo’ness United that knocked them from the summit of the league despite the Belters controlling large swathes of the game and they were the busier of the two teams from the off, McDonald firing an angled shot from the right just past Jonny Clements right hand post and then Berry firing a stunning effort from a similar angle but from further out against the underside of Clements bar. United then had a short period of possession that came to an end when a piercing, right to left ball from Michael Browne was just too far in front of Andy McQuillan. Just before the half hour mark the visitors were rewarded for their dominant start when Rutherford found McDONALD and the striker took a touch before spinning into space and firing through a clutch of players and past Clements from the edge of the area. Within a minute the Belters were two ahead when Barrett tricked his way to the left byeline and pinged a delivery onto the near post that McDONALD was onto in a flash to drill into the bottom corner for his own second of the evening. Minutes from the break the visitors lead became three when Barrett was again the creator, jinking into space on the left to pull an inviting ball back into the stride of LANDERS whose effort took a deflection to wrong foot Clements and nestle in the waiting net.

With the points secure, the Belters controlled much of the possession and territory in the second period without bringing too much further pressure to bear on the Blackburn back line, although Landers came close with an acrobatic hitch-kick that scraped over the crossbar. At the other end United mustered their first real attempt at goal but substitute David Howe’s shot was charged down and despite some lukewarm appeals for handball the danger was cleared. Five minutes from the end Tranent wrapped up the evening with their fourth and final goal, a long ball forward bisecting the Blackburn defence to allow McGOVERN to gallop through on goal and thump past the exposed Clements despite the young ‘keeper getting fingertips to it.

Blackburn United line-up: Clements, Mildren, S.Devine, Lawrie, Browne, Kane, Young (Howe 68), McLeod, McQuillan (Robertson 76), Campbell, Hutton (McDowall 63) Subs (not used): L.Devine, McIntosh, Mitchell

Tranent line-up: Inglis, Hawkins, Rutherford, Donaldson, Whitson, Hill, Berry, Landers, McDonald, Murphy, Barrett Subs: Jones, McKenzie, Moffat, McGovern, Stirling

Referee: Mr. George Calder
Assistants: Mr. Kian Gallacher & Ms. Emmanuelle Hingant