Tweeddale Rovers 3

Hawick United 1

David Knox at Kerfield

TWEEDDALE reaped the benefits of an unbeaten start to the season on Saturday by lifting the B Division Championship Shield.

The in-form Peebles team had already claimed the title ahead of the clash with Hawick United.

But a convincing enough showing from Jimmy Moffat and Rab Stewart’s team made sure the party started on the right foot.

Following his side’s win Moffat told us: “We wanted to win our final home game as we had the Champagne ready for the presentation.

“We set our goal out to gain promotion at the start of the season and winning the league as well has been a bonus.

“We’ve had the same squad of boys all season and they deserve a lot of credit.”

Grant Wilson got the party started with a delightful curling shot into the top corner of the net on 13 minutes.

David Lindsay should have added his name to the scoresheet midway through the half after being slipped in, but the youngster shot straight at Dean Fry.

The surging midfield runs of Ross Scott did cause the Rovers defence some bother but Ryan Bertram didn’t have a serious save to make during the first half.

And Rovers almost went in two-up after an excellent, one-touch build up led to Nick Rogers curling a shot inches over the bar.

Two quick goals at the start of the second half made sure of the points.

Colin Turnbull’s attempted clearance fell for Lindsay to squeeze the ball between the legs of Fry.

And just seven minutes later Grant Wilson tucked away a penalty after Simon Warren had been chopped down inside the area.

United continued to battle away with Aaron Swailes and Ryan Shepherd both forcing saves out of Bertram.

They were rewarded in the 82nd minute as Swailes pounced on a loose clearance from a corner to slam home a shot from the edge of the area.

On another day Tweeddale could easily have stretched their lead further – Lindsay blasted a shot past the post with only Fry to beat, and substitute Stuart Mullins should have done better with a header in front of goal after good work from Craig Collin – but the misses were quickly forgotten as the Champagne was popped and the party began.

Moffat added: “After the disappointments of the past two seasons with relegation and then missing out on promotion the players deserve their celebrations tonight.”

Tweeddale Rovers. R Bertram, M Rathie (S Mullins 58), M Macleod (B Meikle 66), S Warren, D Lindsay, C Collin (J Smith 78), G Wilson (F Moffat 58), R Meikle, M Cockburn, J Mackay & N Rogers