Selkirk 1 - 4 Civil Service Strollers

SELKIRK’S soft boys have been told to toughen up by their manager or start looking for another club.

Furious Garry O’Connor tore into his players after a dismal performance saw them crash out of the South Challenge Cup.

Following the final whistle O’Connor said: “It was an unacceptable performance from us – they should have just stayed in the house as few, if any, came and played football.

“There was no conviction and they have been told that if they play like that again I will bring in players to replace them.

“Civil were nastier than us and we were far too nice, thinking we’re good football players and we don’t need to tough it out. We need to get a bit nastier and toughen up in order to beat teams like Civil Service.

“I am going to take this club forward and I won’t accept performances like that.”

Selkirk almost took an early lead as Ross Gray slipped the ball through for Jordan Allan but Stuart Burnside anticipated well to smother the ball at the new striker’s feet.

A howling gale and boggy surface made life difficult for both teams.

But it was the visitors who seemed to master the elements the quickest with Ian Ballantyne running onto Jordan Finnie’s pass and squaring for David Stewart to score from close range.

And just 90 seconds later Stewart managed to dink his way past Jamie Pyper to slot home a second from the angle.

Pyper almost made amends immediately with a 30-yard shot which shaved the crossbar.

But the home team looked sluggish despite enjoying plenty possession.

Phil Addison danced his way into several cul-de-sacs, Gray was continually barged off the ball, and the few times Allan did get some service he dithered long enough to be crowded out by a strong Civil defence.

The introduction of O’Connor at half time did give the home side more of a threat in the final third.

An Addison corner was headed inches wide by Allan before a Gray bullet deflected off Barry Milven in front of goal. O’Connor also forced a good finger-tip save from Burnside.

But the Strollers always looked dangerous on the counter attack with Selkirk’s defence regularly being stretched.

The impressive Craig Newall shot over for the visitors. And on 71 minutes they did find the net with Ballantyne diving at full stretch to head home Stewart’s corner.

Allan pulled a goal back just two minutes later as he produced a powerful header from Murray Christie’s in-swinging cross.

But with players pushed forward the home side were caught again on 78 minutes as Ballantyne burst through to chip home the fourth.

With O’Connor having three or four new players lined up to sign this week, a few of the home team who trudged from Yarrow Park on Saturday may have been playing their last game for Selkirk.

Civil manager Alex Cunningham was delighted with his team’s performance. He said: “Considering we’ve not had a game for three weeks I thought we played exceptionally well.

“We were strong at the back and didn’t give Selkirk many chances.”

Selkirk. J Newman, J Harley, M Christie, J Pyper, C McDiarmid, C Handren (M Samson 83), M Collin (S Ritchie 59), J Easton (G O’Connor 46), J Allan, P Addison & R Gray.