Peebles Rovers 2

Penicuik Athletic 6

David Knox

at Whitestone Park

IT'S around a century since these two historic clubs last faced each other in a senior derby.

But neither side was in the mood for reminiscing as pride as well as points were up for grabs in this East of Scotland Conference A opener.

Penicuik are deserving of their favourites tag to win the Conference, but on Tuesday they were given a reminder that it won't be easy.

Peebles raced into a two-goal lead before being hauled back just before half time.

And only fitness levels allowed the former junior champions to race away to a comfortable enough victory in the closing quarter hour.

Rovers new coach Colin Smith told us: "We just didn't have the legs to compete in the final 15 minutes of the match and they managed to score four goals.

"If we can get our fitness levels up to the same level as teams like Penicuik then we will be able to match them for the whole 90 minutes.

"I thought we shaded most of the first half but losing two goals just before the break gave them a lift."

Penicuik pressed early but it was the hosts who took the lead on 10 minutes.

David Lindsay's corner was brilliantly side-footed into the net by Gregor Lamb.

The visitors looked for a response with Wayne McIntosh and Aaron Sommerville both going close.

But the large Penicuik support was silenced once more approaching the half hour.

Lindsay's initial corner was cleared back out to the left and the midfielder curled a tremendous angled shot beyond Thomas Cordery and into the top corner of the net.

Both Ross Forrest and Ben Brown had coped well with Penicuik's three-pronged attack.

And when McIntosh did evade their clutches on 37 minutes Tom Kerr showed great reactions to save the shot.

With half time approaching Sommerville managed to pull a goal back after latching onto McIntosh's cut back.

And just two minutes later Ryan Baptie's deep angled cross was expertly converted by Sam Jones at the back post.

Penicuik were in control for much of the second half with Forrest heading a Sommerville effort off the line on the hour.

And a few minutes later the fingertips of Kerr prevented McIntosh scoring after bursting clear of the defence.

Peebles had defended bravely, but the visitors finally edged in front for the first time on 74 minutes as McIntosh steered a near post corner into the net.

The former Whitehill striker grabbed his second five minutes later with a delicate chip.

And goals from Lewis Barr and Nico Salazar in the final five minutes took Penicuik's tally up to six.

Smith added: "The boys are disappointed to lose six goals but I am proud of the effort they put in tonight.

"There is a lot of talent in our squad and they will cause teams problems this season."

Peebles. T Kerr, C McKenzie, L Zavaroni, B Brown, R Forrest, J Davidson (C Sclater 64), D Lindsay (R Lamb 56), G Lamb, G Wilson, A McMath & M McEwan (R Renwick 43).