Lovie takes centre stage

TRANENT UNITED produced a stunning performance to proceed into the last 16 of the Foster's Scottish Sunday Amateur Trophy by beating Broadwood Clyde 3-2 at Saughton's 3G pitch.

After a brisk start, the Edinburgh Sunday Amateur FA side took only nine minutes to take the lead when a shot from Steven Lovie took a deflection off a Broadwood Clyde player and into the net.

For much of the first half, the Tranent defence were not under any pressure.

But, in the 35th minute, they were cut open with a break down the right side but the Clyde player's final shot flew high over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, a Clyde striker was clean through until player-manager Fraser Arnot slid in to clear the goalscoring opportunity.

Two minutes before half-time, a great run from Alexander Vardell down the left-hand side saw him skip past two defenders before sliding the ball thought to an unmarked Lovie, who coolly side-footed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net for a 2-0 half-time lead.

The visitors started the second half well, pulling a goal back after only two minutes when they capitalised on an error in midfield.

The goal gave the visitors extra impetus and they started to pile on the pressure but the home defence held firm under the superb stewardship of Jonathan Leslie in the back three. Clyde gave away a free-kick in the 65th minute for a foul on Dale Boyle and Lovie stepped up to curl the ball round the wall and into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Tranent battled to keep their two-goal cushion but in the 80th minute, Clyde pulled a goal back from a well-worked move from the middle of the park.

Clyde then regained their momentum and pushed forward for their equaliser but it was Boyle who grabbed the limelight for the home side. Through in the box, he was fouled by a desperate Clyde defender who received his second yellow card after the referee had pointed to the penalty spot.

Boyle looked sure to cap his great performance by stepping up to take the penalty but he sadly put past his spot-kick outside the left-hand post.

However, the experienced East Lothian club maintained their superiority and held on for a 3-2 victory. Manager Fraser Arnot said: "The team didn't play at their best but we have achieved a victory that is entirely down to great team work.

"We have a superb squad of lads here and coach Andy Leishman and I are sure we can build on our success to progress even farther."

Tranent now face Cleland from the Glasgow Sunday FA in the last 16 of the national competition in Macmerry tomorrow.