Gordon 0

Tweeddale Rovers 1

THE ‘Tweeddale Express’ continues to steam through the Borders after leaving Gordon with a 1-0 win on Saturday - Rovers’ eighth win a row and 11th unbeaten.

Grant Wilson’s first half goal proved to be the decider and although it wasn’t pretty, this team seems to have found a way of winning in difficult circumstances, something they perhaps lacked in the past.

Of those 11 matches, six have been single goal victories which indicates an ability to grind out results.

The latest win was built on an organised defence despite the absence of almost all of the club’s recognised central defenders.

Experienced campaigner Chris Wilson continued at the heart of the backline but he had a new partner in Ryan Gray who adapted well.

They were up against a formidable strike force in ex-Gala Fairydean striker Craig Livingstone and the physical Kevin Utterson and Livingstone had half chances in the first half, side footing wide from the edge of the box and sending another over the bar.

Wilson and Danny Simpson had traded early strikes at goal as the pattern was immediately set for Gordon to control possession and Tweeddale to look dangerous on the counter attack.

That danger amounted to a goal midway through the half. Ross Meikle took the ball short from a corner before checking in to the box and finding Wilson who managed to squeeze it through the keeper and a defender on the line.

Scott Inglis looked a safe bet to make it two when he beat the offside trap, but after the keeper did well to block his first effort he knocked the rebound into the side netting.

A half volley at the back post from Gillie looked like it might settle the scores but Bob Hall got across to make a big save.

The home side continued to play on the front foot in the second half and Tweeddale’s counter attacks were becoming less frequent.

However, that changed when Simpson was given his second yellow card for kicking out at Finlay Moffat.

That altered the dynamic and Tweeddale became comfortable, looking like the most likely to get another goal.

But as long as the score remained 1-0 Gordon were always going to throw men forward again towards the end.

Brian Tait had probably the best chance for an equaliser when the ball fell kindly on the right of the box but his shot flashed across the face of goal and wide. Other than that Gordon had several strikes from outside the box, but nothing clear cut.

The biggest test of Tweeddale’s run will come this Saturday with league champions in waiting Chirnside United visiting Kerfield in the Beveridge Cup quarter finals.

Tweeddale: Hall, F.Moffat (Mullins), C.Wilson, Gray, Macleod, Collin, R.Meikle, B.Meikle, Warren (Shortreed), Wilson, Inglis.