East of Scotland Premier Division
Haddington Athletic 0–0 St Andrews United

Saints made the journey to East Lothian and returned with a well-earned and thoroughly respectable point after an entertaining, competitive, and good-natured 0–0 draw away to Haddington Athletic.

Before we even get into the action, credit where it’s due. Our hosts provided a warm welcome, a tidy and well-presented ground, and a truly excellent pie and Bovril combo,  the kind of matchday essentials that put everyone in a good mood long before kick-off.

The football followed suit. Saints had an early wobble when Haddington forced a sharp save from Margetts inside the opening minutes, but that proved to be a brief moment of alarm rather than a sign of things to come. From there, Saints settled nicely, moving the ball with confidence and growing into the contest.

Tomany was again central to Saints’ attacking play, seeing plenty of the ball and linking well with teammates. An early exchange with Lumsden ended with a snap shot drifting just wide, before Graham went close soon after, his free kick shaving the post and drawing a collective intake of breath from the travelling support.

At the back, Saints were well organised and alert. Sneddon produced a superb last-ditch tackle on 17 minutes to deny a dangerous Haddington attack, a moment that drew appreciation from the sidelines. Just minutes later, Tomany nearly broke the deadlock, turning smartly on the edge of the box and firing narrowly wide of the upright.

Saints continued to threaten and came closest just before the interval. A neat cut-back found Dempsey in space inside the box, but the home goalkeeper was equal to it, producing an excellent save to tip the effort round the post. At half-time, it remained goalless, an even contest, but one full of promise.

The second half picked up where the first left off, played at a good tempo and with chances at both ends. Tomany again caused problems down the right, his teasing cross somehow evading Lumsden in the middle, before Saints produced a lovely passage of play involving Cunningham, Lumsden and Graham, the latter firing over from a decent position.

Haddington responded with a couple of near misses of their own, but Margetts continued his solid afternoon, producing another smart save to keep Saints’ clean sheet firmly intact.

Fresh legs were introduced as Craik and Maskrey entered the action, and with the intensity rising, things briefly got a little spicy on 77 minutes when Craik and a Haddington player shared a coming together, and a yellow card each before normal service resumed.

Saints finished the match strongly and looked the more likely to nick a winner late on. Dempsey broke with purpose down the left and picked out Graham, whose shot took a deflection and went behind for a corner. From the set-piece, McManus’ header drifted just wide, agonisingly close to a late breakthrough. Haddington applied some pressure in the closing moments, but Saints defended resolutely.

At full time, it finished 0–0. A good game, a clean sheet, and a decent point on the road for Saints. Two evenly matched sides, plenty positives to take, and — let’s be honest — one of the better Pie and Bovril’s you’ll find anywhere in the division!

On to the next one…