Tranent eyeing late surge as they bid to reel in Sauchie

TRANENT are one of the sides hoping Sauchie are hit worse than anyone by the recent shutdown as they're going to need the leaders to slip up if they are to get back into the South Division title race in the second half of the season.

With seven wins and a couple of draws from their nine games, Sauchie are sitting pretty at the top of the pile, having games in hand over nearest challengers Livingston and Fauldhouse.

Spartans have played one game less than the leaders but are eight points adrift, while Tranent, who have also played nine matches, are 11 points off the pace. After agonisingly missing out on promotion last season, Tranent were strongly fancied to make amends this time around.

But Brian Johnston's side got off to a slow start in the league, with the manager often having to scrape a side together due to injuries. The Forrester Park side have since strung together a six-game unbeaten run and, though Johnston certainly hasn't thrown in the towel, he admits Sauchie are going to be hard to catch. "I still think we can finish in the top three but we need Sauchie to start dropping points to be in with a chance of the title," said Johnston.

"I've got everyone fit again, which is a help."