EAST Lothian’s football sides will be hoping the weather is kind and they get back to action this afternoon (Saturday).
December ended with the fixture card being wiped out and the county’s six teams on the sidelines.
Today, all six are scheduled for league action.
Tranent host Berwick Rangers in the Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL) while Dunbar United take on Musselburgh Athletic in the top flight of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL).
Haddington Athletic also have home advantage as they welcome Penicuik Athletic in the Premier Division.
Preston Athletic host St Andrews United in the First Division while Ormiston Primrose head south to take on Tweedmouth Rangers in the Second Division.
Match of the Day
Dunbar United v Musselburgh Athletic
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Kick-off 2.30pm
THE New Year begins with a derby at New Countess Park for Dunbar United and Musselburgh Athletic.
Just two points separate the two sides who are fifth and sixth in the top flight of the EoSFL.
Victory for the visitors, who have two games in hand, would see them leapfrog their hosts.
Both sides will be looking for three points in a bid to keep the pressure on league leaders Broxburn Athletic.
Home advantage proved crucial in the last meeting of Dunbar and Musselburgh as the Olivebank side picked up all three points.
Tranent v Berwick Rangers
Scottish Lowland Football League
Kick-off 3pm
FOURTH-PLACED Tranent will look to keep the pressure on league leaders East Kilbride when they host struggling Berwick Rangers.
The former SPFL stalwarts have not had their troubles to seek and sit 15th in the fifth tier of Scottish football.
In contrast, Ian Little’s Tranent are again battling it out at the top of the table.
Trailing East Kilbride by 11 points, they will be looking to pick up three points with two games in hand as well.
Haddington Athletic v Penicuik Athletic
East of Scotland Football League Premier Division
Kick-off 2.30pm
PENICUIK Athletic are the first footers to Millfield when they visit this afternoon.
The Midlothian side have been inconsistent this term having lost as many games as they have won.
Despite that, they can move to within two points of their hosts if they pick up a victory.
Scott Bonar’s men are hot on the heels of county rivals Musselburgh Athletic and Dunbar United and will be looking to strengthen their position in the top half of the EoSFL Premier Division table.
Preston Athletic v St Andrews United
East of Scotland Football League First Division
Kick-off 2.30pm
PRESTON Athletic head into 2024 looking to address the problem of their inconsistent form.
Five wins and five draws from their opening 16 games highlights the fine margins of a hotly-contested First Division.
Achieving three points on a more regular basis has to be the aim if they are to mount a sustained promotion challenge.
Their visitors also have their eye on a top three finish as they could move top of the pile with victory in their games in hand.
Tweedmouth Rangers v Ormiston Primrose
East of Scotland Football League Second Division
Kick-off 2.30pm
A POTENTIALLY season-defining contest pits Tweedmouth Rangers and Ormiston Primrose against each other at the bottom of the Second Division.
Two points is all that separates the two teams but they are adrift of Peebles Rovers, who are two places above the drop zone.
Victory for Richie Weir’s men would lift them off the bottom of the table and potentially out of the relegation places.
A defeat would leave them with a gap to close in the second half of the campaign.
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