Stow 2

Tweeddale Rovers 3

TWEEDDALE Rovers came from behind twice last Saturday to beat Stow 3-2 for the second time this season.

A slow start saw them fall behind to a Shaun Hardie penalty after only six minutes but Grant Wilson scored the first of a hat-trick just before half time to make it level.

A thunderous strike, again from Hardie, put Stow back in front but Tweeddale’s response only took a minute this time, Wilson pouncing again.

And he was to win the shootout between himself and Hardie when he stuck away a penalty with twenty five minutes to play.

The home side started quicker than their visitors and looked as if they were on their game. They had an extra man in midfield and that allowed Hardie to flit into the gaps and get up to support the three forwards.

That was causing problems for Tweeddale and earned them a penalty when Johnny Crawford cut across Alan Dobie and had his heels clipped, and Hardie made no mistake from the spot.

Gradually, Tweeddale got into their stride and started to push Stow back although it took until moments before the half-time whistle to get the equaliser.

Craig Collin’s delightful cross from the right was served up on a platter for Wilson and he steered it beyond Tom Kerr.

Things settled down with both teams utilising the big park and passing the ball well, with no shortage of bite, making for a good match.

And Hardie produced the best moment of quality to preserve the lead on 59 minutes. He shifted the ball on to his right foot, where you might think you would want him, but he sent a strike arrowing into the top corner, giving Ryan Bertram no chance.

There hadn’t really been much between the teams and that was reflected in the score line once again as the leveller came almost instantly.

It was produced by the same combination as the first, Collin jinking down the right before meeting Wilson’s run across the face of his marker, and the big striker applied the finish.

That was turned into a double salvo five minutes later when Wilson was first to Chris Robertson’s long clearance and was felled by Kerr. The keeper was unfortunate with the kick, getting a strong hand on it but was ultimately unable to keep it out.

For a while, they were comfortable on the lead but Stow staged an onslaught towards the end.

The Tweeddale goal led a bit of a charmed life, with Pawel Marszalek striking the post from the edge.

They also came close in controversial circumstances, with a corner being awarded when it looked to all as if a Stow player had played the ball last. From the ensuing scramble in the box, the ball landed the wrong side of the post.

Tweeddale: Bertram, F.Moffat, Dobie, Robertson (C.Wilson), Macleod, Collin (McDonald), R.Meikle, B.Meikle, Warren, G.Wilson, Inglis (Mullins).