22nd December 2022 Tranent 8 Edinburgh University 0
A rare Thursday night game and I headed to Haymarket to catch a bus to Tranent, Caught a 26 and met up with Alex who got on at Abbeyhill. Arrived at the ground about ten minutes from kickoff and watched the last of the warmups before kickoff. No programmes or teamsheets available but teams were listed on social media.
Tonight was going to be a bit of a mismatch with Tranent second in the Lowland League and the Uni second bottom with only the hapless Dalbeattie Star keeping them of the foot of the table. Tranent fielded a strong side with new signing from Penicuik playing as a right side attacking midfield player. Adam McGowan, on loan from Hamilton was on the left while Martin Maughan, the Bingham Bull, and Nicky Reid, on loan from FC Edinburgh, formed the strike force. The Uni have suffered several, heavy defeats yesterday and are in a difficult situation as the strength of their side depends on the annual student intake.
Tranent started well and looked in the mood to score a few goals. The first clear chance fell to the Uni but an unmarked Ryan Murray fired his shot high and wide from just inside the penalty area. McGowan opened Tranents account after twenty-five minutes when a poor headed clearance from a corner fell to him twenty yards out. He took a touch and fired a low shot into the bottom left corner of the goal off the post. Ten minutes later Maughan added a second, poking home a low cross from Reid from the edge of the six yard box. Lewis Henry had a chance for the Uni just before halftime but his shot as he cut in from the left hit the side netting.
The second half started with Tranent attacking and after two minutes they were three ahead. A low cross found Walsh in the penalty area to tap the ball home for his first Tranent goal. Five minutes later it was four nil as a Uni defender knocked the ball into his own net in an attempt to prevent it reaching the lurking Tranent strikers. McGowan then set up number five when he sent another excellent low cross into the box for Maughan to score. Maughan was substituted shortly after his goal denying him the chance of a hat-trick. However this did not upset the Tranent side as we then saw the Nicky Reid show. The former Spartans and Penicuik striker was on loan from FC Edinburgh but has since been signed by Tranent on a permanent contract. His first came from another flowing move down the left with Reid converting from near the penalty spot. He then scored a second after another excellent Tranent move. The referee allowed advantage after a foul on Tranent defender Craig Barr. The ball was worked through midfiield and then out to McGowan on the left.his low pass found Reid on the edge of te penalty boxinthe centre of the pitch. Reid took a touch then shot into the top right hand corner of the net giving Uni keeper Cammy Quate no chance of making a save. Tranent then misssed an excellent chance for another when a low cross found Ben Miller on the six yard line. His shot was high wide and not very handsome and flew out of the ground and probably ended up in the sea at Portobello ! Tranent however scored an eighth with two minutes to go. The referee awarded a penalty after a foul in the box with no protests from the Uni side. Reid stepped up and netted comfortably for his hat-trick.
After the game Alex and I left the ground and crossed the High Street to catch a bus back into Edinburgh. There was a fifteen minute wait for a bus back so we walked three stops to the last stop in Tranent rather than wait in the cold in the High Street. Thankfully the first bus to arrive was a 113 which is far quicker getting into town than the 26. Alex got off at Waterloo Place while I continued to Atholl Crescent. From there I walked home arriving back around 23.00 after a good night out.
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