This week will go down in Hi Hi’s history as the club find themselves in not one, but two cup finals. First up is the Under 20s League Cup final against St Andrews United on Friday evening. The match will be played at Station Park, Livingston, home of EoS Division 3 side, Livingston United with a 7.15pm kick off. Coach Graham Marron and is his players are looking forward to this special occasion and they will take confidence from their victory over Fife Under 20s champions, Dundonald Bluebell, in the semi final. The young Hi Hi’s were absolutely clinical, under the Millfield floodlights, that evening, with Logan Thomas (2), Riley Haston and Aaron Ewins, on the scoresheet. Opponents St Andrews finished seven points behind Dundonald so will still be tough opponents. Coach Graham Marron should be able to field a strong side for this important match.
The following day, the Hi Hi’s first team will compete in their first final since June 2000. They face Sauchie Juniors, also in the final of the League Cup, but the EoS senior version. Victories over Luncarty, Heriot Watt University, Dunbar United, Crossgates Primrose, and Preston Athletic, have taken them to this stage, but manager Scott Bonar and his players know that they face difficult opponents in Sauchie. The selection of Westfield Park, Dunipace has proved to be controversial not only because of the plastic surface, but the proximity to Clackmannanshire. Sauchie supporters only having to travel 13 miles compared to the 53 miles that the Hi Hi’s supporters are having to travel. No doubt team boss Bonar will use this as a motivation. These teams couldn’t have been closer in their two Premier Division meetings this season. Sauchie won 3-2 at Millfield back in October with the Hi Hi’s turning the tables with a 2-1 win at Beechwood Park at the end of April. Sauchie’s fourth place league finish, compared to the Hi Hi’s eighth, will probably see them start as favourites. However the Hi Hi’s form since gaining a point against Tynecastle at Meggetland back in late February has been impressive. Only two defeats in fourteen matches both by the odd goal, has confidence high at Millfield. Manager Bonar and his squad will give everything to give Haddington their first knock out silverware since they beat Bonnybridge Juniors 3-2 in the final of the Laidlaw Cup back in 1979. Although the club have won a few league titles during this time, the silverware has eluded them.
