Tweeddale Rovers 3 Duns Reserves 0

TWEEDDALE Rovers will have the chance to turn their early season form into something palpable after they booked a place in the Wright Cup Final. They overcame a stuffy Duns side who made things difficult, as they had in Dale’s 1-0 win two weeks earlier.

It is the club’s first cup final since 2011, when they beat Langholm Legion in the same competition, and Eyemouth Amateurs in the Walls Cup Final. And it is a first hint at a possible return to the good times after a difficult two seasons.

It was all made possible when David Lindsay burst from midfield to break the deadlock late in the first half. Grant Wilson and Ruaraidh McNaughton added second half goals to put some gloss on it and relax any nerves.

Gala Hotspur will be the opposition in the final after they overcame Earlston Rhymers by five goals to three.

In the league game between these sides, Duns had proven to be difficult to break down while also more than capable of playing some football of their own. It was the same to an extent here, but getting the first goal earlier proved to be crucial.

Duns had to be more open in the second half as they tried to level Lindsay’s crucial opener. Tweeddale continued their miserly defending, making it four clean sheets in a row, and picked them off at the other end.

There had not been much to shout about for either side until the opening goal. The home team in particular lacked a bit of conviction going forward and were unable to create too much to trouble the Dingers’ goal.

But a good, quick combination of passes saw Dale take the lead. At the end of it, Grant Wilson was able to release Lindsay who had made a penetrating run from midfield. The youngster was confronted by the goalie but slid it underneath him.

We did not have to wait as long for a goal in the second half. Craig Collin broke the offside trap on the left wing. With defenders pushing up looking for an offside call, Collin was allowed to travel a long way unchallenged. When he was eventually faced with a defender he showed composure to lay it on a plate for Wilson, who did the rest.

McNaughton made it safe shortly after. Wilson’s shot was well saved by the keeper but wide man McNaughton was left with a simple tap in from the rebound.

Duns began to exert a bit of pressure but they were up against a defence not in the mood to give up their run of shut outs. The best they could muster was a succession of free kicks and corners but these were all defended well.

This week is Scottish Amateur Cup week and Tweeddale welcome Fife outfit Dysart AFC to Kerfield.

Dysart are mid table in the FAFA Premiership so will provide a good test. One of the few bright spots of last season was a good run in the Scottish Cup and the boys will be looking to emulate that.

Tweeddale Rovers: Bertram, Thomson (Rathie), B.Moffat, R.Moffat, Macleod, McNaughton, R.Meikle, Lindsay, Collin (B.Meikle), Wilson, Mackay.