Hawick Royal Albert 4

Selkirk 3

David Knox at Albert Park

FINDING their feet is something Hawick Royal Albert have mastered since joining the Lowland League this season.

Having already reached the second round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in over three decades, Dean Shanks’ team have also commanded a mid-table spot in the fifth tier of Scottish football.

Last Tuesday evening the Albert took arguably their biggest scalp to date by toppling near neighbours Selkirk.

And the victory was little more than they deserved for a workmanlike performance against the in-form Souters.

Manager Shanks told us: “I am delighted with the effort the players showed tonight.

“We got ourselves in front but Selkirk kept coming back at us.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy as they are a quality team but we did enough to earn the win.”

Hawick set the pace from the off with Josh Morris and Kris Mitchell stretching Selkirk’s youthful defence in the early stages.

And the quick closing down from Shanks’ midfield didn’t allow the normally reliable Ricky Miller any time or space to orchestrate Selkirk’s play.

Morris twice forced good saves from Mark Wilson after breaking into the box.

And the keeper was finally beaten on 20 minutes as Hamish Hunter’s 20-yard effort deflected into the net.

Selkirk became more and more reliant on the long ball and did force two or three corners approaching the half hour.

But the Albert continued to look dangerous with one Selkirk corner ending with Morris scurrying clear only for Wilson to produce another fine stop.

Kyle Rankin made a good save at the other end to prevent a powerful Jay Doyle shot hitting the net.

And moments later Miller’s header from a Mark Samson long throw was scrambled clear.

Hawick doubled their advantage on 36 minutes with two Selkirk old boys teaming up for the goal.

Jon McInally’s corner was headed home by Daryl Johnson.

The lead lasted barely three minutes as Dale Baxter was on hand to nod the ball over the line after Miller’s initial effort defelcted high into the air.

On the stroke of half time Mitchell made it 3-1 after turning away from James Harley to slot a strong shot inside Wilson’s near post.

The longer the second half went on the more pressure Selkirk built.

And they were rewarded on 68 minutes as Phil Addison slipped a neat pass to Michael Collin to score from 15 yards out.

Moments later a Baxter shot was blocked in front of the Hawick goal.

And with quarter of an hour remaining Collin forced a fine save from Rankin at his near post.

Hawick reopened the two goal gap with 12 minutes remaining. A long angled cross appeared to be caught by Wilson but the ball somehow came loose and was stabbed over the line by Mitchell.

Selkirk responded immediately with Collin smashing home a stunning shot from 25 yards.

Despite several half chances and a few goalmouth scrambles Garry O’Connor’s team couldn’t salvage an equaliser.

O’Connor said: “We were disappointing tonight.

“We didn’t play the type of football we’ve been playing lately – you don’t win games when you play like that.”

To compound Selkirk’s misery captain Miller was sent off during injury time for collecting his second yellow card.

Hawick Royal Albert. K Rankin, R Stevenson, S Spence, D Johnson, R Boyd, S Meikle (J McPartlin 78), H Hunter, S Conaghan, J Morris, K Mitchell (T Crease 85) & J McInally.

Selkirk. M Wilson, M Samson, M Christie, J Harley, A Fleming, R Miller, R King, G Nicholson (M Collin 58) , P Addison, D Baxter & J Doyle.