Reivers Fjordhus 1
Erskine Stewart’s Melville 4
EAST MEN’S DIVISION ONE
REIVERS’ men were optimistic about obtaining a result against a team they had beaten earlier in the season and, despite the extended mid-season break due to snow, were in a positive mood when taking to the Tweedbank astroturf on Saturday.
With some familiar faces filling the ranks, the Borders men made a more positive start than usual and the first period was competitive, if lacking in fluency, until a penalty corner was conceded which was converted by the visitors. The remainder of the half continued in the same vein, with the Reivers getting increasingly frustrated and struggling to keep possession. Ultimately, this led to another goal being conceded before half-time.
Captain Jonathan Fletcher made some positional changes at the break and, for a spell, this allowed the team to achieve better linkage between the defence and the rest of the team, allowing Reivers to take more positive moves. Using right winger Callum Stockdale to stretch the opposition and provide the service the team required, eventually resulting in a converted penalty corner by Reivers’ Gareth Roberts.
This should have been the spur to go on and take something from the game but it was not to be as both sides tired. Gaps appeared and ESM were able to slip their markers to score twice more in the last five minutes.
A disappointing result and the Reivers will have to do better in their remaining matches to maintain their league position.
Reivers Fjordhus: S. Young, P. Conkie, B. Montgomery, D. Johnston, C. Stockdale, J. Fletcher, J. Bure, G. Lofthouse, P. Cairns, C. D. Stockdale, G. Roberts, R. Lawler, S. Girvan.