ROVERS revenged their recent Qualifying Cup defeat by Hawick to kick off their league campaign with a win.

Manager John O’Hara praised his players for the workmanlike performance that earned the points. He said: “I am pleased with the result and also scoring three goals.

“We have spoken about making Whitestone Park a fortress where teams will find it difficult to get through us and I thought we did that well today.

“Hawick are a good team and they will win a lot of games this season.” In a whirlwind start Peebles pinned back the visitors with two dangerous balls across the face of goal.

But inside five minutes the Albert broke out and only the feet of Darren Walker prevented Cameron McFarlane breaking the deadlock.

The Albert were impressive going forward with Blake Wales orchestrating much of the good passing play from midfield.

But it was last season’s First Division champions who edged in front on 12 minutes.

Scott Sutherland’s heels were clipped as he ran into the area and Jim Young fired home the resultant penalty.

Hawick should have been level just five minutes later but Alieu Faye miskicked Shaun Spence’s low cross in front of goal. Wales also went close with a 25-yard bullet on the half hour.

But it should have been Peebles who extended their advantage just before the break with Chris Flockhart heading inches over at the back post.

Walker saved well at the feet of Michael Lynch at the start of the second half.

But the goal arrived at the other end on 56 minutes with Daniel McAleavy heading Jason Darling’s deep corner in at the back post.

The vital third followed four minutes later. Chris Flockhart’s header was spectacularly saved by Kyle Rankin but Young was hand to poke the loose ball into the net.

Hawick continued to probe for a way back but the best they could muster was Craig Robertson’s shot from 10 yards that flew several yards over the bar.

Albert coach Dean Shanks told us: “We are building something and it will take time. We have some good footballers at this club and we will bounce back.” Peebles Rovers. D Walker, J Flockhart (C Flockhart 19), D McAleavy, J Young, D Richardson, K Munro, S Anderson, J Darling, S Sutherland, C Taylor (R Harris 83) & L Zavaroni (D Ndweni 65).

Hawick Royal Albert. K Rankin, C Robertson, S Spence, R Boyd, S McKenzie, S Crozier, G Pettigrew, M Lynch, A Faye (B Nwanze 67), B Wales & C McFarlane.