TRANENT  took on Salvesen in an end of the season under 16’s clash at Elphinstone on Sunday. The windy conditions caused both sides a few problems but they deserve great credit for serving up a real cracker of a game.

Salvesen kicked off down the slope with the wind at their backs and immediately began to force the pace. They took the lead in the 6^th minute when a corner was played in from the right and when the wind held the ball up, it dropped straight down catching everyone except Paul Colemen unawares and Coleman swept the ball into the net from 6yd. Tranent immediately upped the pace and Brad Thomson and Tom Hobbis worked  well together up the Tranent left. Hobbis had a shot from 25yd in  the 11th minute that just scraped past the post and two minutes later had a strong run and fine finish to deservedly bring Tranent level.

Salvesen were forced to shoot from range to have any hope of adding to their total but were unable to find the target. The second half continued in the same vein and as the effort of working with the slope and the wind took its toll, chances were made at both ends. Shaun Smith looked comfortable in the Salvesen goal and gave his defence confidence by taking several high balls with ease. Brian Burnett in the Tranent goal was also having a great game and kept his side in the match with three fantastic saves, the pick a great one handed save from a Lewis pile driver. Tranent took the lead in the 68^th min when the impressive Robert Berry beat the offside trap and coolly lobbed Smith from 20yd.

Salvesen threw everything forward in an effort to get back on level terms but couldn’t find a way past Burnett. Salvesen can count themselves very unlucky not to take anything from this game and if Tranent had put this much commitment and effort into all of their league games they would not have ended the season at the wrong end of the table. A great advert for youth football played with spirit and sportsmanship.

Tranent - Brian Burnett, Alexander Christie, Robert Berry, Steven Glynn, Daniel Hall, Scott Luby, Brad Thomson, Eddie White, Steven Yuill, Liam Fitzpatrick, Tom Hobbis: Jamie Marshall, Kenneth Hall, Lee Hoey, Sean Meechan, Sean Patterson

Salvesen - Shaun Smith, Michael Valentine, Colin Curnyn, Sean Lally, Scott Mackintosh, Christopher Sellar, David Lewis, Chris Milligan, Paul Coleman, Craig Nisbit, Bradley Carnie: Michael Willis, Raymond Singleton, Gary Ward

Referee - Campbell Duncan.