East of Scotland: Tranent, Penicuik Athletic and Linlithgow Rose in hunt as thrilling title race goes to wire as

Tranent and Penicuik Athletic both recorded impressive away victories last night to create a four-point gap between them and third-placed Linlithgow Rose, who have hit a something of sticky patch as the race enters the final straight.

However, the league fixture secretary has guaranteed more twists and turns by keeping head-to-heads clashes between the three contenders for the very end. Anything could happen and it looks increasingly like the title race will go right down to the final day of the season on May 14.

The prize for the champions is three-way play-off with the South of Scotland and West of Scotland League champions for promotion to the Lowland League, tier five of the pyramid.

With all to play for, the top two are neck-and-neck at the top on 66 points from 28 games, but Tranent have a far superior goal difference. Linlithgow have 62 points from the same number of games.

After an incredible 16 league wins on the bounce over winter shot them to the top, Gordon Herd’s team have since lost three of their last four. But their last three games are away and at home to Tranent before they travel to Penicuik on the final day of the season. It is still in their hands.

Tranent’s trip to sixth-placed Sauchie last night was a potentially hazardous one, particularly after spilling two points at the weekend in a 1-1 draw to home to Crossgates. But Jamie Docherty’s impressive second-half hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Beachwood Park got Calum Elliot’s men immediately back on track, despite a red card late on.

The leaders have another tricky trip this weekend away to Inverkeithing Hillhead Swifts, who recorded a shock 1-0 at Foresters Park when the teams last met in late October.

Penicuik negotiated a tricky trip to Fife in muddy