AFTER four wins from four in the league, Tweeddale Rovers managed to transfer that form into cup competition.

Racing to a comfortable win over last season’s bogey team, Coldstream, they booked a Wright Cup Semi Final spot. There they will face another Berwickshire side in Duns Reserves.

After suffering three defeats to this opposition last term, Tweeddale were keen to put that record to bed. A fine Nick Rogers strike in the first half sent them on the way to doing just that.

Rogers added another beauty in the second half, this time from a free kick. He then completed his hat trick from the penalty spot. David Lindsay got his eight of the season before Grant Wilson marked his comeback with his first.

Wilson was back in the side after suspension and Blair Moffat also made his first start, replacing the holidaying Ross Meikle and Finlay Moffat.

The game was played at Chirnside’s Comrades Park which is much bigger and wider than Coldstream’s own pitch. This benefited Dale, with more space in which to operate.

Streamers make it difficult for opponents to play, harrying and closing down intensely. They still employed this tactic to some degree of success but the larger pitch made it slightly less effective.

This was evident when Rogers was able to stride forward from midfield and rifle into the top corner. He had other options in the box but certainly didn’t need them.

Coldstream suffered two further set-backs at exactly the same time. After conceding a free kick for a foul on Wilson, McCann aimed an off the ball kick at the same player, in plain sight of the referee and was given his marching orders. At the same time, Turnbull had to be carried off with what looked like a nasty ankle injury.

Jamie Mackay could have made things worse for the home team. But his attempted lob fell just wide after David Lindsay had broken through from a good counter attacking move.

It fell on Rogers to again provide a moment of quality. When Tweeddale were awarded a free kick, Streamers’ keeper was having trouble setting up his poorly positioned wall. In screaming at them to add another player, he ended up being out of position himself. Rogers duly smashed the ball past both.

The big midfielder got his third of the match, and of the season, from the penalty spot. Wilson advanced into the box and was taken out by Chris Baillie as he was setting up for a shot. The foul was followed up by a stamp on Wilson’s chest. But the men from the English border took a hit of their own by falling three goals behind.

The game was as good as over, with the ten men toiling to get back into it.

Top scorer Lindsay increased his tally further with a goal from a short corner. Playing a one-two with Wilson, the teenager drove into the box before slipping it past the keeper.

Dale were well and truly out of sight when habitual top marksman Wilson made up at least a little bit of ground on Lindsay. He plucked a high ball out of the air with a deft touch before picking his spot.

This Saturday Tweeddale have a free week after their proposed Scottish Cup opponents folded, resulting in a bye to the second round. That is followed up by two home league games – against Duns on September 12 and Tweedmouth on September 19.

Tweeddale: Hall, Thomson, B.Moffat, R.Moffat, Macleod (Sykes), McNaughton, Rogers, Lindsay, Collin (Bertram), Wilson, Mackay (Russell). Subs not used: Rathie, B.Meikle.