Hawick Royal Albert 0

Spartans 4

David Knox at Albert Park

NEW Hawick manager Kevin Milne believes his team are capable of playing their way out of trouble.

The former Hibernian Ladies coach was talking after his side were put to the sword by a clinical Spartans team on Saturday.

But the battling performance from his players has given Milne some hope.

He told us: “The guys put in a good performance and I don’t think the result reflects how we played.

“Spartans are a good team but we made it difficult for them and if it wasn’t for a lack of concentration in a 10 minute spell before half time it would have been a really tight game.

“We will have another week of training under our belt before the Cumbernauld game and that will help us.

“We are good enough to pick up a few more wins before the end of the season and catch the teams above us.”

Albert Park quickly cut up during the opening stages of Saturday’s match.

And the sticky surface appeared to be a leveller during the opening half hour as neither team could stamp their command on the match.

Josh Morris had headed a Daryl Johnson cross just wide and also slammed a powerful shot into the midriff of Blair Carswell after turning neatly inside the area.

But it had taken an acrobatic goalline clearance from Sean Conaghan to prevent Paul Thomson heading Spartans in front on 17 minutes.

Devon Jacobs and Ryan Stevenson had both shown up well in Hawick’s defence during the opening half hour.

But, with half time approaching, Spartans found the quality that has them competing for runners-up spot in the league.

Scott Maxwell drew two defenders before slipping in Alan Brown to stroke home the opener on 34 minutes.

Just four minutes later Jack Beesley burst down the flank to reach the byline and his cut-back was fired home by Ross Allum.

Beesley added to the tally in the 42nd minute with a stunning solo effort which saw him evade two challenges before beating Andy Jack with a powerful shot.

It was game over before the interval, but nobody seemed to tell the home team.

Hawick came out fighting in the second half with Johnson twice firing close from distance and some early pressure forcing a few corners.

But with their first attack of the second period, on 64 minutes, Spartans went further in front.

Jack had made a good save to deny Allum, but in the race for the loose ball the keeper clipped the opposing striker.

Beesley slotted home the penalty for 4-0.

Milne’s team stuck to their task with Morris forcing a good save from Carswell and David McKenzie flashing a powerful freekick just wide.

But effort will have to be turned into points over the coming four weeks for Hawick to move away from relegation danger.

Hawick Royal Albert. A Jack, R Stevenson, S Spence, D Jacobs, S Campbell (J McPartlin 68), D Johnson, Y Bernawi, S Conaghan, J Morris, H Hunter & D McKenzie