Haddington faced a tough task when they travelled to play Hill of Beath Hawthorn in Fife last Saturday. The home side were chasing Musselburgh Athletic for the East of Scotland Premier League title and the Hi Hi’s knew that they were in for a difficult ninety minutes. Their cause wasn’t helped by injuries to key men Gary Windram and Grant Rose. Things didn’t look good after the opening twenty minutes as the home side dominated on a rock hard surface that the Hi Hi’s struggled with. The visitors fell behind early on when goalkeeper Smith was deceived by a cross cum shot and then went two down in the 20th minute when they failed to defend a cross to the back post and the ball was eventually swept into the net. It could have been more but Seamus Russell handed his side a lifeline on the stroke of half time when Craig Reid flighted a free kick into the box and Russell netted with a well placed header.
Manager Scott Bonar made a couple of changes at the interval with Luke Kennedy and Wilson Ngomo replacing Corey Robertson and Robbie Peffers. Haddington were more on the front foot now and they were starting to ask questions of the home defence. It was no surprise when they equalised just after the hour mark. A corner was cleared only as far as Tom Davies at the edge of the box and he netted with a well placed shot. Hill of Beath rung the changes as they set about regaining the lead, but the Haddington defence, with Lucas McGarry replacing the injured Brandyn Neil, stood firm under some late pressure. In fact the Hi Hi’s could have snatched it late on with the home goalkeeper saving well from Ryan Quinn, and Tom Davies again coming close.
The Hi Hi’s have now gone to Jeanfield Swifts, Sauchie and Hill of Beath in recent weeks and come away with a win and two draws. They continue to chase a top four finish but face three tricky matches to end their third East of Scotland Premier Division campaign.
