Two wins and a defeat were the outcome of our last three Premier League matches. We travelled to Sauchie on the last Saturday in April looking to avenge a 3-2 home defeat back in October. On that day the Hi Hi’s had led 2-1 at the break but a strong second half performance by the visitors saw them score two second half goals and win 3-2. So manager Scott Bonar and his players knew they faced a difficult task in Clackmannanshire. However the Hi Hi’s rose to the the challenge and a good first half performance saw Guy McGarry set up Tom Davies for two goals. The home side pressed for most of the second half but could only manage a solitary goal and Haddington ran out winners by two goals to one.
The following week Jeanfield Swifts were the visitors at Millfield looking for a first win in Haddington. They found themselves behind in the first minute when their goalkeeper failed to hold a shot from Tom Davies and Guy McGarry pounced. The goal was timed at 23 seconds – one of, if not, the quickest seen at Millfield. Jeanfield immediately pushed forward and were level in 7 minutes when home goalkeeper Cornet had to deal with a short pass back and his clearance ricocheted off skipper Nick Aitchison and just crossed the goal line. The Swifts maintained the pressure and soon after they took the lead with a low shot. Guy McGarry had come close on several occasions before the break and he looked the likeliest to get the equaliser in the second half. Twice the Swifts ‘keeper thwarted McGarry as the home side looked to rescue a point. A draw would have been a fair outcome but it wasn’t to be and Jeanfield recorded their first Millfield victory.
Haddington were in midweek action at Crossgates in their penultimate match of their current league campaign. No one expected the Primrose to be fighting relegation at the start of the season but they needed to beat the Hi Hi’s or their relegation would be confirmed. The visitors got off to a perfect start and good play by Gary Windram saw him strike the post and quickly react to score a 7th minute opener. But some slack defending three minutes later saw Cornet beaten by a well placed shot. The goals kept coming and within a minute Windram restored Haddington’s lead with another fine finish. It could have been more as McGarry, Peffers and Simpson all came close before the interval. Crossgates threw everything at the visitors in the second half as they battled hard to retain their Premier League status. But despite having to face numerous corners and free kicks, the visitors defence stood firm and Dale Cornet mainly had to deal with high balls. The Hi Hi’s started to exploit gaps in the home defence but several good openings were squandered until Tom Davies scored two almost identical goals in a minute during time added on.
