Peebles Rovers are unbeaten in the East of Scotland First Division and have already collected a couple of Premier League scalps on their way to the Alex Jack Cup final at Victoria Park.

But it was the city opponents who ran out winners by three goals.

That was November 2007, with Lothian Thistle lifting the cup.

On Sunday John O’Hara’s unbeaten league campaigners didn’t deserve the same margin of defeat but they were second best to an impressive Leith Athletic team.

An own goal and two break-away counter strikes in the closing half hour were to cost the improving Whitestone Park side.

O’Hara told us: “I’m disappointed with the result but I couldn’t ask any more of my players.

“We matched them for 60 minutes but we gave away some soft goals – the fourth gave the game a false scoreline.

“I thought we tired first on the heavy pitch and that gave them the advantage.” Peebles edged in front after 10 minutes when Scott Sutherland was clipped by keeper Iain Gordon after taking advantage of some hesitant defending.

Jim Young tucked away the penalty.

Sutherland almost brought further cheer to the large Peebles crowd on 20 minutes but his low shot was saved by Gordon.

Sean Murphy’s attempt at the other end deflected off the heel of Jonny Flockhart and went a foot wide of the far post.

But the equaliser did arrive on 35 minutes as Darren Walker could only parry Jamie Lauder’s powerful shot and Keith Murray pounced from close range to bury the rebound.

Peebles responded just before the break with a Dale Richardson diving header from a Daniel McAleavy cross which was blocked in front of goal.

The final remained in the balance after the break with a Lewis Martin looping header landing on the bar for Leith, and a Young volley being well saved by Gordon just two minutes later.

Leith took the lead on 63 minutes.

Kenneth Hall’s shot was pushed round the post by Walker and from the resultant Robbie Mason corner the ball flew through a crowd of players and deflected in off Ger Rossi at the back post.

A tiring Rovers team allowed Leith much more of the ball but they almost snatched their own equaliser on 68 minutes as Sutherland couldn’t quite get a toe on the end of Chris Flockhart’s low cross.

Murray evaded the offside trap with quarter of an hour to go and managed to round Walker to make it 3-1.

Five minutes later Mason made a similar run onto a through ball and unselfishly squared for Murray to slot home his hat-trick.

Jonny Flockhart’s off side claims led to a second yellow card.

It was a miserable end to a promising start from Peebles.

O’Hara added: “From day one our aim has been to win the league. Reaching the final was a bonus.

“I don’t think many teams will beat Leith this season, they are a good team and deserved to win the cup.” If there is some consolation for O’Hara and his players – the 2007 Peebles Rovers team went on to win promotion.

Peebles Rovers: D Walker, J Flockhart, D McAleavy, J Young, D Richardson, F Arthur (S Meikle 81), G Rossi (L Maloney 77), P Murray (C Flockhart 64), S Sutherland, J Hall & S Conaghan.