Reivers 8
Grange Development 5
EAST MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
THE Reivers welcomed Grange to Tweedbank knowing that they needed a win to have a chance of finishing in the top four of the league.
Grange also needed a victory to keep their slim hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
The furious pace of the game started straight from the whistle with both teams setting out to attack at every opportunity.
Reivers took the lead, after good work down the right flank allowed Jordan Bure to pop up at the back post to net his second goal in as many games.
The lead, however, was shortlived. The Grange midfield split the home defence and the initial shot was blocked by the home keeper, but the rebound was drilled home.
Again the Reivers fought to take control of the match, Spencer Pitman scoring his first of the game with a neat lifted shot. The lead was further stretched when Jonathon Fletcher shipped in with a rare goal to put the Reivers in control.
Grange hit back, though, with two quickfire goals to level.
At this point there was a lengthy delay in the game with a nasty head injury to a Grange player resulting in a lot of blood and a trip to hospital, thankfully no severe damage was done. The resulting short corner saw Grange go ahead with a well-worked move.
This galvanised the home team who worked hard to create an opening for Pitman to add his second and go in at half-time with the unlikely scoreline of 4-4.
The second half started badly as once again Grange took the lead, lapses at the back proving costly for the hosts. Parity was restored, however, when Gareth Roberts unleashed a powerful drive from the top of the D to rattle the backboard. This was bettered only by his pre-rehearsed goal celebration which raised the spirits of the team and their supporters.
Grange went down to 10 men after a differing of opinion with the visiting umpire and the grip the Reivers had on the match was tightened further with Roberts adding his second. With the spirit of the visitors now broken it was down to the Reivers version of Jack and Victor, the old timers, to add a little gloss to the scoreline.
Man of the match was Reivers legend Andy Bell for his hard work in midfield and a well-taken goal.
Reivers: S. Young, S. Ramsay, P. Conkie, B. Montgomery, C. Stockdale, J. Bure, G. Lofthouse, G. Roberts, A. Bell, J. Fletcher, S. Pitman. Subs: Ca Stockdale, P. Gibson, T. J. Watkin, S.Girvan.