Published: Friday, 26th September, 2008 12:38pm

Peebles are stung all over

Lothian Thistle 9 v 0 Peebles FC

Peebles went down to a rampant Lothian Thistle side in an East of Scotland League Premier Division match at Saughton Enclosure last Saturday.

In fact, Lothian practically dominated this game from start to finish with Thistle keeper Kevin Swain hardly having to make a save during the entire 90 minutes.

However, Peebles had certainly tried their best, putting in plenty of effort, but they just had no answers for a well-drilled Thistle side that played some excellent football.

After five minutes, Thistle opened the scoring after some hectic midfield exchanges. Craig Hume tapped the ball home from close range after a Paul Scales right wing cross.

They added a second goal ten minutes later when, from another Scales cross, Gary Black beat William turner with a splendid downwards header from six yards.

Then Thistle notched up a third goal after 25 minutes when a Daniel McAleavy through ball sent Scott Dickson racing into the Peebles box before he slammed the ball past a helpless Turner with a terrific shot on the volley from 12 yards.

Lothian then grabbed a fourth goal after 33 minutes when, from a Black right wing cross, Douglas Blackley blasted the ball home with an unstoppable shot from 14 yards.

Nearing half time, Hume was narrowly off target with a crisp angular shot from 18 yards, while moments later Daniel McAleavy struck the Peebles crossbar with a terrific free kick from 20 yards.

The fifth goal for Thistle came just before the interval when a Blackley left wing cross picked out Gary Black, who swiftly fired the ball home from just eight yards.

Shortly after the break, Peebles keeper Turner brought off a couple of fine saves to foil Hume and Scales before Peebles built up to Darren Thomson sending in a cracking shot from 20 yards, which was well saved by the diving Swain.

Thistle scored a sixth goal after 70 minutes when, from a Scales right wing cross, Craig Hume beat Turner with a spectacular diving header for six yards.

Peebles responded with a swift breakaway that involved Colin Jack and Michael Holness before it came to a disappointing end. But then at the other en, Lothian substitute James Yong just missed the target with a good effort from long range.

Back again came Thistle as from a Dickson free kick on the right, Young sent the ball just over the Peebles crossbar with a flashing header from 10 yards.

But Thistle were in seventh heaven after 80 minutes when, from a Dickson left wing cross, Craig Hume coolly slotted the bal home from six yards to notch up his hat-trick.

Lothian continued to press forward as a Black through ball sent thistle substitute Mark Lothian racing into the Peebles box before he was foiled by an excellent save from Turner at point blank range.

Back again came Thistle as, from a Scales corner kick on the right, Young was on target with a blistering shot on the turn from 18 yards until turner brought off a brilliant two-handed diving save at full stretch.

Then moments later, from another Scales corner kick, Young seemed almost certain to score with a header from close in until the ball rebounded off the Peebles crossbar and away to safety.

Thistle eventually grabbed an eighth goal just one minute before full time when, after some good leading up work from Blackley and Hume, Gary Black turned the ball home from six yards to collect his hat-trick.

Then Lothian Thistle were on cloud nine just before the final whistle when after a mix up in the Peebles defence, Craig Hume coolly rounded an exposed Turner inside the Peebles box before he calmly stroked the ball into the vacant net from close in.

Lothian Thistle: K.Swain, M.MacAulay (T.Lowrie, 57 mins), M.Boggie (J.Young, 57 mins), R.Wilkes, C.McAleavy, G.Black, P.Scales, D.Blackley, C.Hume, S.Dickson, D.McAleavy (M.Lothian, 74 mins).

Peebles FC: W.Turner, J.Kane, N.Livingston, M.Steiger (C.Jack, 16 mins), A.Lucas, C.Dilworth, M.Howell (S.Jordan, 57 mins), P.Shearlaw, D.Thomson, R.Glass, M.Holness. Substitutes not used: R.Smillie, C.Borthwick.

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