Newtown 2 (3)

Peebles Ams 2 (5)

David Knox at Runciman Park

THEY say that penalty shoot-outs are a bit like playing the lottery.

If this was true, Peebles Amateurs should be loaded.

All five of Barry Thomson’s spot-kick takers – Peter Shearlaw, Darren Thomson, James Dodds, Scott Inglis and Finlay Muir – provided a masterclass in holding your nerve to hit the net and lift the Sanderson Cup.

For long periods of the regulation 90 minutes – and most of the additional half hour – Newtown had looked the most likely to add to their season’s silverware tally.

But a tenacious performance by the underdogs, which had seen them win their previous ten games, earned them victory.

Manager Thomson was delighted after lifting the trophy. He said: “We stuck to the task and showed the character that has taken us up the league since Christmas.

“Newtown are a really good team and they will probably win promotion again next season but the longer the game went on today the better we were.

“I’m delighted for all of my players, they work really hard and they deserve this.”

In a blistering opening quarter hour both teams threw players forward at every opportunity.

Chances were created at either end before Andrew Crawford capitalised on a sixth minute mistake to fire the Division C champions in front.

Peebles captain Muir failed to cut out Neil Macvicar’s low cross and the striker made no mistake from eight yards.

The response arrived five minutes later as Nathan McDonald fought his way into the area to slam a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Only the heroics of Ams keeper Ryan Swan prevented Crawford adding to Newtown’s tally.

But they did restore their advantage on 21 minutes as Stephen Swanston nipped between Muir and Swan to round the keeper for a tap in.

Newtown’s pressure continued after the interval with Russell Hunter forcing a good save from Swan on 48 minutes.

And approaching the hour, the same midfielder broke clear only to shoot a foot wide.

Peebles suffered a setback on 65 minutes as Craig Entwistle collected his second yellow card for pulling back Blacklock.

Despite being down to ten men, the Ams appeared to step up a gear and they were rewarded on 70 minutes after Mark Mathison chopped down McDonald inside the area, for Shearlaw to level the match from the penalty spot.

Only an amazing goal-line clearance from James Dodds prevented Darren Blacklock winning the final for Newtown in the 89th minute after great build up play by Louis Blacklock.

Another reactive stop in the 100th minute by keeper Swan denied Crawford.

Peebles also had their chances in extra time with Thomson firing inches wide and Scott Inglis failing to convert a Thomson cross in front of goal.

After Macvicar had rattled the bar with his penalty, it was left for Muir to convert his spot kick to claim the trophy.

Finlay told us: “I was glad when the ball hit the net. I was trying hard not to show any nerves but I knew it was for us to win the cup.”

Newtown. G Murray, P Scott, D Richardson, M Mathison, S Tuddenham, S Swanston, N Macvicar, D Blacklock, A Crawford, S Leitch & R Hunter. Subs L Ballantyne, S Deacon, C Paterson, N Todd & L Blacklock.

Peebles Amateurs. R Swan, F Muir, C Robertson, S Inglis, C Entwistle, J Dodds, N McDonald, R Greenshields, P Shearlaw, B Thomson & D Thomson. Subs R Baillie, J King & S Taylor.