PEEBLES Ams travelled to Stow to face a strong Newtown side in the final of the Collie Cup.

Hopes were high that, despite being the underdogs against the runaway league leaders, the Sanderson Cup success of May could be replicated.

However, the omens did not look good when the Peebles side found themselves a goal behind within five minutes, a powerfully struck Leitch drive evading the in-form Murphy and finding the bottom corner.

Worse was to follow when goalkeeper Murphy was the victim of a vicious Leitch lunge necessitating a change of goalkeeper for the Ams, central defender Muir having to stand-in between the sticks for the rest of the match.

After the initial period of Newtown dominance, Peebles began to come back into the game - Ben Brown leaping above the Newtown defence to nod just wide.

The Ams were beginning to create more chances and forced a number of corners as the half progressed.

Alas, Peebles couldn’t find a way to unlock a stubborn Newtown back four and the sides went into the break with Newtown leading one nil.

The Ams’s players were growing in confidence and had got the better of the closing exchanges in the first period.

Shortly into the second half a curling, dipping Shearlaw free kick was just tipped over by the Newtown keeper, but, from the resulting corner Borthwick managed to find the net; volleying past the helpless goalkeeper.

With parity restored, the Ams were looking the more dangerous side, particularly through set pieces.

Newtown, however, possessed a constant threat on the break, but Peebles were playing well and any attacks were snuffed out through smart defensive work from Dodds, Greenshields and Brown.

Against the run of play Newtown re-took the lead when Crawford finished smartly after a defensive error.

Soon afterwards it was game over and 3-1 to the league leaders when Crawford converted a penalty in the final minutes of the game.

Although not winning the cup was a major disappointment; confidence can be taken from this match, bearing in mind this Peebles side more than matched a team who are top of the league and have brushed aside all before them this season.

Thanks also to all those who travelled to support the team.