East Stirlingshire 5

Selkirk 0

David Knox at Ochilview

REVENGE was sweet on Saturday as Shire sunk Selkirk with a dominant display that suddenly turns them into title contenders.

After a rocky start to life in the Lowland League, which included a 7-4 defeat at Yarrow Park, John Sludden’s team have racked up four straight wins.

And going by Saturday’s display they will pick up a few more before Christmas.

It should have been a day of celebration for Selkirk as gaffer Gary O’Connor agreed a new three-year deal to remain at Yarrow Park.

But his side were second best for most of the 90 minutes.

O'Connor told us: "We are a young team and that lack of experience is costing us in some matches.

"We know what we have to work on."

Paul Sludden, who went onto to score a hat-trick, struck the bar after 10 minutes with a powerful back post header.

And only a few alert stops from Gregor Amos helped the Souters weather the early storm.

Ricky Millar, who was returning to his former club, almost broke the deadlock on the quarter hour with a blistering shot from 25 yards which was brilliantly tipped away by Jamie Barclay.

But Shire were soon in front with Sludden firing home following a sweeping counter attack on 26 minutes.

The home team continued to press but Selkirk’s central defence of Andrew Fleming and James Harley held firm.

The game was more or less killed off in the first five minutes of the second half.

Selkirk had failed to clear as the ball bounced around the area on 48 minutes and Jamie Glasgow struck from close range.

Just two minutes later Sludden tucked away his second after some neat build up play.

Andy Rodgers found far too much space at the back post just after the hour to fire home his 15th of the season.

O’Connor rung the changes with the introduction of Ross King, Darren McGrath and Kerr Scott appearing to steady the ship.

But Selkirk were to leak one more in stoppage time as Sludden charged into the area to fire beyond Amos.

Selkirk. G Amos, M Donoghue (D McGrath), M Christie, J Harley, A Fleming, R Millar, G Nicholson (K Scott), U Koroma, P Addison, D Baxter (R King) and J Doyle.