The organisation responsible for maintaining the region’s trunk roads network denies responsibility for changing the course of the River Teviot beside the A7 Edinburgh-Carlisle road near Hawick.

Oxfordshire-based infrastructure support service contractor Amey carried out work to reinforce an embankment which had been washed away on the Branxholm straight south west of the town about two years ago.

It’s claimed that ever since that work was carried out, the course of the river has changed, with waters bouncing off the newly-created wall and “eating away” parts of the nearby field.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson has raised his concern with Amey that the road could be undermined as a result, potentially forcing it to be closed at some point in the future.

However, a spokesperson for Amey ruled out any connection between the work and a change in the course of the river, suggesting instead that it could be the result of erosion of the river’s banks upstream.

The company has pledged to continue to investigate the issue.

Despite that reassurance, Mr Paterson remains unconvinced, saying: “I have been assured by constituents that this is certainly not the case and that, since this work was done, it has definitely changed the course of the river.

“When the river is in spate, it bounces off the newly-created wall and hits the other side of the banking.

“It seems to be eating away at the banking next to the A7 on the Branxholm straight.

“There is a real danger that the road could be undermined. If for any reason this road had to be closed, it would cause major disruption.”

The Amey spokesperson added: “Amey has been in contact with Mr Paterson regarding this issue.

“We have investigated this matter, and there is no correlation between work undertaken on the A7 and a change of direction in the river.

“The works did not change the alignment of the river but did reinforce the existing embankment that had been washed away.

“It appears that the issue may be caused by erosion of the riverbank at a point upstream, some distance from the A7.

“We are continuing to investigate and will provide updates to local councillors and the community as soon as possible.”

Friday night saw the announcement of Selkirk’s first standard bearer for 2018 when Selkirk Merchant Company appointed Stuart Davidson to cast their new flag in this year’s Common Riding procession.

Delighted architect Stuart, whose office is in the town’s High Street, is married to Karen and they have three young children.

He told us this week: “It’s a wee bit surreal. I was still flying at the weekend, and I’m just coming back down to earth.”

The new flag was carried into the hall by Bill Ainslie, who is the Merchant Company’s golden jubilee standard bearer, being the first man to cast the flag for the company in 1968.

Stuart added: “It’s a great honour to cast the company’s new flag, and to be able to do it in front of the man who first flew the flag 50 years ago is very special. Walking up to cast the flag in the Market Place is something I never thought I would be able to do, and I’m thrilled that my children will be there to see it.”

His appointment was confirmed at the Merchant Company AGM, which was followed by the annual dinner at Selkirk Rugby Club, presided over by company master David Heard.

Jim Harold introduced the new standard bearer and Stuart replied, sincerely thanking the company for the honour.

Other top-table guests were Gordon Newlands, who toasted Selkirk Merchant Company, Town and Trade with an impassioned speech.

Honorary provost Jake Wheelans replied in the first of the many speeches he will be called upon to give over the common riding season.

A very entertaining vote of thanks was given by Donald Francis, one of last year’s new company members.

New entrants to the Merchant Company this year were Ben Agate, Jennifer Craig, Rona Munro and recently-appointed councillor Caroline Penman.

A lifesaver is planning to take to the high road in a campervan, rather than a fire engine, after calling time on his firefighting career stretching back almost three decades.

Stewart Beattie, 50, has retired as a firefighter with the red watch at Hawick fire station following 27 years’ service, and he now plans to spend more time with his fiancée Shirley and son Harris, 11.

He’s also planning to buy a campervan so he and his family can take touring holidays around the rest of Scotland, defying the saying that a day out of hawick is a day wasted.

Stewart admits he will miss the camaraderie he enjoyed with his colleagues at the Howdenbank station but said it had been a “privilege to serve the people of Hawick”.

As he looks back on his firefighting career, two incidents in particular stand out, he says – the day Weensland Mill in Hawick was destroyed by fire in 1999 and last year when he helped save the life of a man after he suffered a cardiac arrest west of Braid Road in Hawick.

He was called out to the latter incident as part of a lifesaving scheme that sees firefighters sent to emergency calls when ambulance crews are busy elsewhere.

Stewart said: “There was no ambulance available, and red watch was called out and gave the man cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

“We stabilised him, and he was taken to hospital and, thankfully, later he was as right as rain.

“Helping to save someone’s life is so satisfying and rewarding.

“The fire at Weensland Mill also stands out because it was so huge. The building just collapsed to the ground.

“I’m going to miss all the craik and banter with the boys, but I’m planning to buy a campervan and take it touring around Scotland.

“After 27 years, it’s time to hand in my tally and go off the run. It’s been a privilege to serve the people of Hawick.

“To everyone I’ve worked with in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, thanks for the memories.”

4G mobile phone coverage could soon be offer in the Ettrick Valley now the Scottish Government has announced the first 16 sites to benefit from its £25m infill programme.

That investment was announced last August, but the procurement process involved is only just getting under way now.

The aim of the project is to build masts in areas with no existing 4G mobile connectivity, and up to 70 sites are set to benefit over its lifetime.

Scottish National Party South Scotland regional list MSP Paul Wheelhouse has welcomed the inclusion of the Borders on the list of sites in line for better communications links.

“I’m delighted to see the Ettrick Valley chosen as one of the first sites to benefit from the 4G infill project,” said Mr Wheelhouse, also business minister at Holyrood.

“We’ve already taken steps to improve broadband connections with £400m invested by the Scottish Government in the initial Digital Scotland Broadband rollout, and a further £600m being invested through our Reaching 100% programme, ensuring that every premises in Scotland can access superfast broadband with speeds of 30 mbps by 2021.

“But mobile coverage is equally important, if not more so, particularly to small isolated communities.

“I’m very hopeful that this investment will make a difference to people in Ettrick Valley, and I hope that, should it be successful, other communities in the south of Scotland might be able to benefit from it in future.”

Fellow cabinet minister Fergus Ewing, secretary for connectivity, added: “Widespread high-speed and reliable mobile coverage is just as vital as broadband and ensures that people, communities and businesses are able to stay connected.

“Improving mobile coverage across Scotland is key to achieving our ambition to become fully digitally connected.

“The infill programme will target the areas where it can make the most difference, achieving better and cost-effective connectivity.”

A £4m project to improve water quality in the Borders is due to get under way next week.

Caledonia Water Alliance will begin work on Monday on installing more than four miles of new water mains pipes from near Newstead to Earlston.

That work, expected to cause some disruption to traffic on the A68, is intended to improve the security of water supplies in Earlston and the surrounding area, ensuring that fresh drinking water is always available.

The project will be carried out in stages and is expected to take around eight months to complete in total.

Scott Fraser, Scottish Water’s corporate affairs regional manager, said: “The installation of the new water main will improve the current water quality and add capacity into our network.

“Customers in the area may see a disruption to their water supply for periods during the project, but anyone affected will be notified at least 48 hours in advance.

“Temporary traffic lights and road traffic management will be required on the A68.

“We will keep the local community informed as this progresses and will try to keep disruption from construction equipment to a minimum where possible.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of customers in Howden and Earlston as we look to deliver a project that ensures Scottish Water can continue to provide clean, fresh drinking water long into the future.”

Almost £100,000 is to be spent pointing visitors in the right direction when it comes to finding the region’s visitor attractions over the coming year.

That move comes after Scottish Borders Council’s executive committee agreed to carry forward almost £1.2m in budgetary adjustments set out after the approval of its main budget last month.

Within that total is £97,000 ring-fenced for “enhanced tourism signage”, a kitty the local authority has struggled to spend since it was agreed over seven years ago.

The council’s chief financial officer, David Robertson, told Tuesday’s meeting at Newtown: “This funding was put aside through a motion that councillor Stuart Bell took to the council early doors in the last administration to enhance tourism signage in the Borders, but there have been restrictions with what we can do with this, particularly around the trunk road network.

“The funding was agreed by that executive committee, so we are, similarly, carrying this amount forward once again.”

The committee agreed to carry the funds over once again, but Mid Berwickshire councillor Mark Rowley, the authority’s executive member for business and economic development, assured his colleagues that plans are afoot to finally spend that money.

“Transport Scotland has, apparently, got a new scheme in place where they are allowing visual signage now, so something is progressing.

“The technicalities have been largely resolved, so I think that money will be spent in 2018-19.”

It is expected that a consultation period will take place before any decisions are made on when and where any forthcoming signs will be placed.

Moves to build a new hotel as part of a Tweedbank development project have angered several members of Galashiels Community Council.

At the last meeting on Wednesday, March 7, Duncan Hamilton, managing director of developer New Land Assets, took the community councillors through the plans for the development, which is intended to include a hotel run by an as-yet unnamed national chain, a petrol filling station including a sandwich-type kiosk run by Marks and Spencer, a supermarket and a drive-though coffee shop.

However, there were several dissenting voices over what was being proposed at the site, which is located next to the Melrose roundabout, a couple of hundred yards from the Borders Railway terminus.

Chairwoman Judith Cleghorn said: “I am very disappointed that this is being planned for Tweedbank, when we were assured by council convener David Parker some time ago that the next hotel to be built in the Borders would be built in Galashiels.”

Mr Hamilton replied: “Actually, I believe a hotel in Tweedbank will be a good thing for those who want a hotel to come to Galashiels. If we can get one of the hotel chains to come, and it performs well, it will be a green light for others to follow.”

Mr Hamilton said that hotels were historically wary of coming to the area because of slow winter months, but he believed that this one, so close to the Borders General Hospital, would be busy due to people coming to visit loved ones.

Secretary Tracey Alder said: “I don’t think we can wait that long. We need a hotel now, with the tapestry coming.

Community councillor Drew Tulley said it was the positioning of the hotel in an industrial estate that worried him.

Mr Hamilton said: “You will find this happening in other areas as it gives companies a place to meet clients.”

Community councillor Bill White was more concerned about the petrol station, saying: “If you put another filling station there, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the Galashiels ones had to close.”

Other concerns raised included the loss of trees to build the complex and the possibility that fewer people would come to Galashiels to shop.

Mr Hamilton was in Tweedbank’s community centre yesterday to host a public consultation and exhibition.

Scottish Borders Council will soon be Scotland’s fourth local authority to offer discounted rail travel to the companions of visually impaired people.

Councillors have followed the example set by their counterparts in West Lothian, Fife and Strathclyde in offering a 50% discount through a companion travel scheme.

Currently Scotland’s national entitlement card offers free and discounted travel to cardholders who are visually impaired or blind. It means they can travel free of charge on all trains within Scotland and as far as Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed.

But companions are not included in this scheme meaning that those on the Borders Railway have had to pay full price for travel since it opened in 2015.

Tuesday’s decision by the executive committee, however, signalled a change to this, as councillors agreed to fund a one-year-long pilot companion rail scheme, at an estimated cost of £9,400.

Councillors agreed it will “help achieve equality and encourage social inclusion”.

While the exact cost of the trail will depend on how many people take up the scheme, officers believe it will be around £9,400 for the first year.

Councillors ruled out a different suggestion of a ‘nearly free’ offer which could have cost almost double that amount per year and would have asked companions to pay a 10p flat rate fare.

Kelso councillor Tom Weatherston said: “With the cost involved I think it is money very well spent. I welcome the trial period for a start as some people may try to jump on this scheme, so that’s something we need to watch.”

Hawick must make its wishes known loud and clear if it is to be next in line for a new school.

That was the rallying call issued by Hawick community councillor and chair of the school’s parent council Andy Maybury, on Monday night.

It comes ahead of a public event to discuss the school’s future taking place next week.

“It’s an opportunity to come and have your say about how a new campus might develop,” he said. “The Scottish Government is not going to offer up money for just a direct replacement, they are looking for something that is a different dimension.

“We need to look at ways it could give a greater input to the wider community.

“It’s a huge opportunity for the town and I hope people will get involved.”

Scottish Borders Council is currently working to decide which schools should be next in line for investment.

Its school estate review, launched in 2015, is carrying out detailed assessments of the secondary schools in Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles and Selkirk, all of which are yet to be revamped.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall said he will be “quite disappointed” if the Buccleuch Road school fails to secure investment.

“The 29th of March is a critical day for us as council members,” he said. “That is the day that the school extate review comes before us at the council.

“We all agree that this is the site and the site needs updated and brought into the twentieth century.”

The meeting takes place in the school next Wednesday, March 21 from 2.15pm to 8pm.

Former convener of Scottish Borders Council, Graham Garvie, told The Southern this week of his meeting with Prince Charles, who presented him with his OBE for services to local government and to the community in the Borders at an investiture ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

The 75-year-old travelled to London on March 8, accompanied by his wife Christine and their two daughters Jennifer MacFarlane and Marion Blackwood.

Mr Garvie, who lives in Peebles, said: “It was a truly wonderful occasion and I was particularly delighted to receive the

award from Prince Charles, who asked me how the Borders Railway was doing and

about plans for its extension.

I was able to inform him that the railway had been a huge success; that its usage had exceeded all expectations continuing to add significantly to the health of the local economy, and that there was work ongoing regarding its extension to Hawick and on to Carlisle.”

Mr Garvie added: “Whilst this national award is an important personal honour to me, I also regard it as an equally important recognition of Scottish Borders Council and all its employees, past and present.

Mr Garvie was a Tweeddale councillor for 14 years, latterly serving as convener, before retiring from public service in May 2017.

A former spokesperson on culture and sport for COSLA, Mr Garvie also held a similar position on Scottish Borders Council.

Internationally, he represented Scotland for 10 years on the European Union Committee of the Regions.

Other public positions held by him included chief executive of the former Tweeddale District Council; a trustee on the Board of the Borders General Hospital, and a governor of Edinburgh Napier University.

Latterly, he was elected as President of the Scottish Provosts’ Association.

Kelso Community Council has pledged to do all it can to preserve the town’s famous cobbles.

It comes after Scottish Borders Council began work to replace a section of stone setts on Roxburgh Street with asphalt, despite local objections.

Town provost Dean Weatherston said: “We met with David Richardson from Scottish Borders Council. Councillor Euan Robson was there, as was Christine Henderson from the Amenity Society and Hazel Woodsell from the Heritage Society.

“The officers explained what their intentions were, and the area where the cobbles are being replaced is actually smaller than we thought it was going to be.”

He added: “The work has started now. That’s part of the cobbles gone to add to those removed from Bridge Street back in the 70s or 80s. But we are going to look into ways of protecting what cobbles are left.”

Members of the community council heard that patches of tar from the Royal British Legion in Roxburgh Street, down to Union Street, were due to be replaced with relaid cobbles next spring.

It was decided that the secretary would formally contact Scottish Borders Council and arrange a discussion to see what more could be done to protect the remaining stones.

Community Councillor Harry Tomczyk said: “It would be good to try and preserve the setts we have now. They’re an important part of the visual heritage of kelso.”

Jed-Forest’s Gary Armstrong was the only Borderer selected to travel with the British Lions on their summer tour to New Zealand this week back in 1993.

Armstrong, 26 at the time, was one of eight Scots in the 30-strong squad. Returning to the international arena following an eight-month lay-off with knee ligament damage, he continued where he left off and became a double British Lion, having been a member of the party which inflicted a 2-1 test series defeat over Australia in 1990. “I like the rugby over there,” he said, “it’s tough and very physical, it suits my game.” Melrose’s Doddie Weir and Hawick duo Derek Turnbull and Tony Stanger failed to receive a call up to the Land of the White Cloud.

Send us your old photographs, together with a brief caption and the year taken, to: southern-newsdesk@jpress.co.uk

The first of four community engagement events on the future of the secondary schools in Galashiels, Selkirk, Peebles and Hawick took place this week.

The Galashiels community was first to have its say on Tuesday, and further events will follow in Selkirk High School next Tuesday, March 20; Hawick High School the day after; and Peebles High School on Monday, March 26, all from 2.15pm to 8pm.

East Berwickshire councillor Carol Hamilton, executive member for children and young people at Scottish Borders Council, said there has been a “great deal of interest generated” so far.

“What we now need is for everyone to come along to these events to share their ideas with us,” she said.

“It will also be a chance for them to speak to officers about the information that has been collected so far and hear more about the opportunities that could be available to them in terms of shaping the vision for secondary provision in their communities.”

Views can also be shared online until April 16.

Plans for a new Subway food outlet in the Borders have been given the go-ahead.

Jedburgh’s Shell filling station, in the town’s Edinburgh Road, has been granted permission to extend its forecourt building to include a 24-seat version of the famous US make-your-own sandwich shop.

West Yorkshire firm ADS submitted the plans on behalf of site owner Motor Fuel Group, requesting a 55sq m extension “to form a snack bar and seating area, raising of forecourt canopy and associated works”.

It will see the existing garage building, also including a Londis convenience store, extended at the rear, the existing plant room demolished and replaced with a storage building extension and new access provided to the building through sliding doors on the east end of the garage.

The Londis shop was granted an alcohol off-sales licence last year and has historically held a late trader’s licence.

Its petrol forecourt is open 24 hours a day.

Scottish Borders Council planning officer Euan Calvert said the plans, bringing a big takeaway chain into the royal burgh for the first time, will help sustain existing services there.

He said: “The proposal indicates Subway as being occupier of this concession.

“This diversification of a filling station to partial retailing and partial sandwich shop is supported by the council as an appropriate way of sustaining the viability of this service within the local community.”

It is not yet known how many new jobs will be created, when work will start or if the works will require a full closure of the filling station, but Subway is now listing the Edinburgh Road site in its online list of more than 2,500 UK outlets.

The Subway brand is the world’s largest sandwich franchise and is famed for its subs, foot-long sandwiches which made with soft bread and a variety of fillings and salad before being toasted.

It already has two outlets in the Borders, one in Hawick’s High Street and another in Channel Street in Galashiels.

Harestanes, near Jedburgh, has the Easter Holidays cracked! – with an exciting Easter Egg Trail, newly refurbished café and bespoke events, all set to wow families.

Visitors will be spoilt for choice with a hand-picked events programme on offer to keep adults and grownups ‘egg-cited’ during the holidays. As part of this offering, cosy theatre performers ‘Nudge Puppets’ will be bringing their own unique mix of stories, puppetry and craft to Harestanes. This performance will take place in the ‘Hares Hollow’ (the centre’s snug outbuilding), so is perfect for all weathers. Tickets £6.

As part of Borders Live Touring’s Children and Young People’s Festival - Ellie Griffiths will also be offering Sensory Storytelling Workshops taking place on April 14, with two sessions available (11.30am for ages 0-5) and (2.00pm for ages 0-18) open to all abilities. Tickets £8.

Easter fanatics can also create their very own Easter bunnies! Take your pick from a one-hour session with crafter Pauline MacGillivray – (chock full of pom-pom making fun!) or get animated with Simone Russell’s stop frame animation magic, brought to life using iPads. Tickets £6 and £8.

For those looking for a less structured Easter family adventure, the centre will be operating a ‘grab & go’ Easter Egg Trail throughout the holidays, where children can follow a beautifully illustrated map to explore the surrounding nature routes and claim a chocolate egg at the finish line. There’ll even be Easter themed face painting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Easter weekend). Tickets £3 from the centre.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to try the centre’s newly refurbished countryside café, which has recently joined the Live Borders family. Offering a seasonal menu full of delight’s such as game terrine, smoked Atlantic trout (and a foot-long sausage roll!); the café will also serve delicious coffee, home-baking and yummy food for children.

As well as family friendly fun and good food - gin fans will have further reason to visit Harestanes this Easter, with local business the Kelso Gin Company, set to begin distilling in the centre’s Tower rooms in the coming weeks. The distillers will also be available over the Easter weekend to meet the public and provide information on their upcoming botanical bounty!

Full details and tickets for all events are available from www.eventbrite.co.uk.

Big Brother is on the hunt for Scottish housemates to feature in this year’s version of the reality television series.

Borders residents who fancy themselves as the next star of the Channel 5 show have been encouraged to put their names forward.

Those keen to take part in the programme have until 8.40pm on Monday, March 19 to submit an online application outlining why they should be considered.

Producers say the ideal candidates will possess a “standout” personality and the ability to generate conversation among housemates and viewers.

Paul Osborne, Big Brother creative director, said: “Following the success of Celebrity Big Brother, we are looking for standout personalities who may be inspirational to our viewers, who have something to talk about and will spark discussion both inside and outside of the house.

“We are searching all over for the best housemates leaving no stone unturned, including in Scotland.”

For more information or to apply, click here.

Young people working with an unemployment charity in Galashiels have been left devastated after it went bust.

London-based Tomorrow’s People, set up over 30 years ago to help youngsters into work, training and education, announced the closure of all its programmes last Monday.

Staff at the Galashiels branch, which has supported almost 70 people in the Borders in the last year, said they were devastated by the news and vowed not to go down without a fight.

A statement on its Facebook page said: “We are looking at all our options with a view to adapting and evolving the Borders project.”

Kirsty Anderson, deputy manager of the charity’s shop in Channel Street, said: “It’s left everybody in shock.

“We were told on the fifth that Tomorrow’s People were finishing but we were hoping another charity would take it on.

“All the young people were sent home on Thursday because there was no petty cash for them to do anything.

“We have had them in tears in here. A lot of them felt this was their last chance to find work.”

Borders stars Stuart Hogg and Greig Laidlaw have retained their places in Scotland’s starting XV for Saturday’s concluding NatWest 6 Nations test in Italy, while Jamie Bhatti is on the bench.

Head coach Gregor Townsend has announced five changes to the team to begin the match in Rome, which kicks off at 12.30pm and can be seen live on ITV.

The changes mean the most experienced squad to be named in the tenure of the current coaching group will travel to the Italian capital seeking to secure a third championship win from five rounds, having defeated France and England at BT Murrayfield earlier in the campaign.

Wing Tommy Seymour has recovered from the back injury (sustained against England) that ruled him out of last weekend’s loss against Ireland, to replace Blair Kinghorn (Scotland’s tryscorer in Dublin who returns to the bench) and reinstate the back three with ex-Hawick’s Stuart Hogg, and Sean Maitland.

Glasgow Warriors centre Nick Grigg also comes into the backline for his first Six Nations start, alongside club mate Huw Jones, in place of former Howe of Fife player Pete Horne, who also joins the replacements.

Townsend has made three further changes to the pack, with hooker Fraser Brown, prop Willem Nel and lock Tim Swinson all promoted from the bench in place of Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan and Grant Gilchrist.

McInally is retained in the match-day 23 with a place on the bench, while new squad additions Richie Gray and Zander Fagerson backfill for promoted pair Swinson and Nel to feature for the first time in the campaign, having recovered from their respective calf and foot ailments.

Townsend said: “We’ve had a deeper look at the Ireland game, where we performed well in areas that will have to be better this weekend. There were a number of positives in how we took the game to Ireland in attack and defence but this didn’t lead to us scoring enough points to win the game.

“We’ve been pleased with how the players have responded to last week’s disappointment, with the energy they have brought to training and a determination to improve our performance in our final match in this year’s NatWest 6 Nations.”

He added: “Playing Italy will be a very tough game – it always has been for any Scotland side. We are ready for the challenge and have an experienced group of players working hard to finish our campaign with a positive performance and result.”

The starting line-up is completed by the half-back partnership of Jedburgh-linked Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell, and the back-row unit of captain John Barclay, Hamish Watson and Ryan Wilson, for a fourth successive NatWest 6 Nations Test, while lock Jonny Gray and loosehead prop Gordon Reid also return, as two of seven players to start every Test this campaign (Hogg, Jones, Russell, Barclay and Watson the other five).

Scotland team to play Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Nick Grigg, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (vice-captain), 1 Gordon Reid, 2 Fraser Brown, 3 Willem Nel, 4 Tim Swinson, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 John Barclay (captain), 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Ryan Wilson (vice-captain). Substitutes: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Richie Gray, 20 David Denton, 21 Ali Price, 22 Pete Horne, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Gretna 2008 1, Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

Gala Fairydean Rovers finally ended their eight-match search for a win in a drama-filled Saturday spectacle at Raydale Park.

GFR, missing a huge number of first team players through injury, were forced to name only two substitutes; a trialist and manager Steven Noble. They produced a monumental performance to ensure a priceless three points travelled back up the A7.

Gretna came out the blocks flying and their early pressure almost told, but Kevin Connelly’s angled drive from inside the box on six minutes came back off the right-hand post.

This seemed to wake the visitors from their stupor and they took the lead just three minutes later, through an unlikely scorer. Scott Main took the ball on the left from Calum Riddell and played a one-two with Andrew Crawford, before driving into the box and putting a wonderful ball into Sean Guiney, who finished well on the half-volley from close range.

On-loan Rangers goalkeeper Lewis Muir was called into action on 15 minutes and he delivered an excellent flying save to deny Kingsley Grandison from just inside the penalty area.

Gala could have stretched their lead further after 22 minutes, with a slick counter attack almost setting Andrew Crawford free, but a Gretna body just managed to beat him to the ball and deflect it behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

The match took an unlikely turn on 24 minutes. Gala were awarded an innocuous free kick on the halfway line, much to the annoyance of Gretna goalkeeper Johnny Jamieson, who was so frustrated he managed to earn himself two yellow cards in a matter of minutes, both for dissent towards the match officials.

Scott Main fired over from 25 yards with half an hour gone in what would prove to be the last real action of the first half, and the buoyant visitors went into the break extremely pleased with themselves.

Their satisfaction would be somewhat subdued eight minutes after the restart, as Gretna’s top scorer Kevin Connelly found himself with acres of space in the box and duly fired beyond a dejected Muir and into the left-hand corner.

Gala FR should have regained the lead four minutes later, as Scott Main drove 30 yards down the left wing with the ball and played a wonderful ball to the advancing Riddell at the back post, but he just failed to squeeze the ball into the net from a tight angle a couple of yards out.

They created an even better chance after 65 minutes – Andrew Crawford’s excellent cross was met by Grant Rose but his goal-bound strike was completely stopped in the mud of the penalty area, which was to be expected, as the pitch was rapidly deteriorating under pressure from both sets of players and the heavy rain, which had persisted throughout the game.

Lewis Muir made another outstanding save with 67 minutes gone, flying acrobatically through the air to tip Grandison’s curling strike over the bar. He was forced into another fine stop to keep out Kevin Connelly’s powerful free kick.

Gala made their only substitution of the game after 72 minutes, with trialist Fraser Malcolm coming off the bench to replace Calum Riddell. This would prove to be an inspired substitution from Steven Noble, as Gala took the lead under a minute after the change, with new boy Malcolm playing a key role.

Billy Miller took the ball in midfield and drove forward well before releasing Grant Rose on the left flank. Rose made his way to the byline and beat his man well, before crossing to the back post, where the youngster acrobatically forced the ball into the net, sparking scenes of jubilation on the Gala FR bench.

Gala FR: Muir, Guiney, Aitchison (c), Ainslie, Main, Crawford, Miller, Heugh, Rose, Paliczka, Riddell (Trialist 72).

Borders police are appealing for witnesses following a break-in and theft from a business in Earlston early yesterday morning.

The incident happened at around 12.30am on Wednesday, March 14, at the Border Chainsaws and Lawnmower Services premises at the Station Road Industrial Estate.

Four men were seen to make off from the property in possession of a motocross bike, stolen from within.

The group then made their way south along Station Road, heading in the direction of the bowling club.

Inquiries are ongoing to trace these individuals and recover the bike. Anyone with information is asked to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Stevie Halls from Galashiels CID said: “Our initial inquiries and CCTV trawl have established that we are looking for four male suspects in connection with this break-in.

“However, at this time we do not have a description of any of them.

“As such, anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity around the Station Road area during the late evening of Tuesday, or early morning of Wednesday is urged to contact police immediately.

“In addition, anyone who can provide us with information that can help trace the suspects should also get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Galashiels CID via 101 and quote incident number 074 of March 14.

Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.