Duns 1
Hawick Royal Albert 1
EAST OF SCOTLAND FIRST DIVISION
JOHN SLORANCE reports from
Berwickshire High School
FOR many clubs to remain undefeated in two games is perhaps a very ordinary affair. But for Hawick Royal Albert it is somewhat extraordinary.
And on Saturday, following a victory over Easthouses Lily the previous week, the Teries gained a share of the honours at a windswept Duns, and in doing so showed that a wind of change could be in the air as well.
In the doldrums for so long, Royalists could have come away with a win.
Hawick assistant manager Graeme Chadwick said: “We are competing with other teams now.
“Our guys are raising their game every week. Duns are a good side, but we should have won today as we had the more chances and played the better football.
“Before the game I would have been more than happy for us to have got a point, however I have ended up being a little disappointed that we didn’t get three.
“I am not disappointed with our performance, though, as we played very well.”
Duns were first to look like scoring when Grant Keenan fired wide on connecting with a James Robertson free kick.
Hawick then showed what they had to offer and Dougie Brydon came to the homesters’ aid by blocking an Andy Noble shot that could well have been destined for the net.
Minutes later, Darrell Laing troubled Duns with a surging run and set up a chance for Martin Patton with a low cross, but the recent Albert signing miskicked with only keeper Scott Lumsden to beat.
Hawick continued to press and Lumsden pulled off a fine save when punching out a Jack McGhie shot following a Patton throw-in.
Paul Power in turn came close to netting with a header from a well-flighted Kris O’Neil cross.
Towards the interval, Duns began to gain the edge, but failed to trouble Andy Jack in the Albert goal.
With four minutes of the second period gone, Royalists broke the deadlock.
On breaking through, Power attempted to round Lumsden, only to be brought down by the home number one. A penalty it was, and Power took the resultant spot kick himself and made no mistake.
After John Waugh had hit a Mark Weatherburn cut-back wide at the other end, he made amends in the 57th minute when Bruce Chisholm sprayed a pass to the feet of Waugh, who shot home.
Within minutes of this, Jack denied the Dingers a second, getting down well to tip a Weatherburn effort round the post.
Both sides were pushing for a goal and Brydon was off-target for Duns while O’Neil did likewise for Royalists after being set up by Noble.
In the closing stages, O’Neil almost snatched a last-gasp winner with a free kick that dipped over the bar.
Hawick Royal Albert: A. Jack, G. Burnett, J. Wood, L. Dunn, J. McGhie (S. Drummond), G. Clee (L. Rodgers), D. Laing, P. Power, K. O’Neil, A. Noble, G. Chadwick.