Published: Friday, 2nd May, 2008 12:00
Peebles plan to cash in on local derby
By David Knox
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IT’S time to throw the formbook out of the window.
Peebles may be poised for promotion to the East Premier League.
And their foray into Innerleithen a fortnight ago was rewarded with all three points.
But when bell sounds for the second round of this season’s Peeeblesshire derbies it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge victors.
Peebles boss Mark Lamb will enjoy his final derby with Vale of Leithen tomorrow (Saturday), and he knows there much more at stake than pride or fond farewells.
Lamb told the Peeblesshire News: “We are back on track in the league and we need to keep that going this week.
“Both the Vale and Peebles are good footballing teams and I expect it will be an excellent game.
“The last game was tight and this won’t be any different.”
With closest promotion rivals Civil Service Strollers and Tynecastle clashing at the same time, the derby is a chance for Lamb’s team to take a giant step towards the Premier League.
And Strollers will be the Whitestone Park team’s next opponents on Tuesday night.
Lamb added: “Something will have to give between Civil and Tynecastle and I feel if we beat them on Tuesday it would finish off their chances.
“I have the best bunch of players I’ve ever worked with and I hope we can win the derby to get us closer to our goal.”
Lamb doesn’t have any injury problems ahead of tomorrrow’s clash.
His opposite numbers at Victoria Park, Lindsay Rathie and Robbie Clark, will be without Ronald Fleming and Scott Johnston for the Peeblesshire showdown.
But the return of midfielder Steven Notman, who played his first full game in almost four months last Saturday, has boosted the Vale ahead of a huge week for the club.
Rathie told us: “We have four games coming up in the space of a week and we will be looking to win them all.
“We are concentrating fully on the Peebles game just now and it will give us a chance for revenge.
“They have had the bragging rights over the past couple of weeks and we hope that will stop this weekend.”
Vale’s busy schedule continues on Tuesday with a second round King Cup tie against Hawick Royal Albert at Victoria Park.
Rathie added: “It’s our last chance this season of winning silverware and we will have to be at our best to get through.”
The Innerleithen side also host Gala Fairydean in the league next Thursday evening.
The Peeblesshire derby at Whitestone Park kicks off tomorrow at the earlier than normal time of 2pm.
Kick off times have yet to be arranged for all midweek games.
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