13th August 2022 Haddington Athletic1 Crossgates Primrose 2

  

A new ground for me today. Although I worked in Haddington for three years I have never been to Millfield before. I wandered down to Haymarket to catch the 12.40 X37 bus to arrive in Haddington for the 14.30 kickoff. I arrived in the centre of the town around 13.45 and then had a fifteen minute walk to Millfield. When I arrived the gates for spectator entry were still locked although several others were waiting for entry. The gates were unlocked and I paid my £5 admission charge. A free pram e was also available on entry. Ok the presentation was not brilliant with no pictures but the content was excellent. The ground is compact with a food hut to the right on entry. beyond that area was a covered terrace with seating on the back step. The seats continue beyond the covered area. The areas behind the right hand goal and behind the dugouts are both grass. To the left on entry are the dressing rooms with a building behind them which I assume is for club functions. One thing I would say is the scotch pie from the food hut was delicious.

Haddington won promotion to the East of Scotland Preimer League last season as champions of their Conference. They are now in their highest league position for a number of years. I saw them a couple of times last season and they play a nice style of football. Goalkeeper Dale Cornet was missing today due to holiday commitments. He was replaced by ex-Leith keeper Campbell McLellan making his first start for his new club. Upfront the goal threat will come from Gabby Auriemma and Sean Hill who have been consistent scorers at lower league level. I know very little about.Crossgates  as the Fife club only moved up from Junior level a couple of years ago. However as the are in the Premier Division they do have a bit of quality in the side. Their main attacking threat comes from Archie Cameron. He started his career with Rangers before playing for several lower league clubs in the SPFL. He then moved to Junior football and has been a regular scorer throughout his career.

The match had a sensational start with Haddington scoring in the first minute. Hill ran onto a through ball and shot high into the net past Sean Robertson in the Crossgates goal from around twenty yards. The goal seemed to galvanise Haddington until Crossgates broke forward and forced a corner after eight minutes. The cross from the right was floated into the penalty box for David Cross to head home the equaliser from about ten yards. Crossgates scored again just before halftime. Campbell chased a through ball and at the edge of the penalty area took the ball to the side of McLellan before rolling it into the empty net. To be honest I am not sure it was a deserved lead after a fairly even first half.

The second half was a strange affair with most of the action being in midfield. Brodie McKenzie on the left of the Haddington attack look the biggest threat for a goal but crosses and shots were blocked by the Crossgates defence with keeper Robertson doing well to block a goal bound effort. Substitute Dylan Tait also looked threatening for Haddington but they just could not create clear chances. Crossgates Craig Reid was red carded for a second bookable offence after eighty-three minutes. The referee adjudged he had committed a deliberate handball although I was not convinced. Despite being down to ten men Crossgates held out for the three points.

After the final whistle I walked back to the town centre. I was not happy when I saw a bus turn into the town centre when I was about five minutes walk away. However it was still sitting at the bus stop when I reached the Main Street and I got on to arrive back in central Edinburgh around 17.30.

Teams

Haddington Athletic: McLellan, Robertson, King, Szemis, Aitchison, Simpson, Russell, Wardlaw, Hill, Auriemma, McKenzie.

Subs: Tait, Neave, McGarry

Crossgates Primrose: Robertson, Brown, Graham, Campbell, McAteer, Muirhead, Reid, Cross, Dow, Pollock, Ward.

Subs: N. Lawrie, Paterson, S. Lawrie