ANOTHER Saturday and another hard luck story for Tweeddale.

There is a bit of a theme emerging for their season as once again missed chances and defensive frailties were the order of the day.

Chirnside are looking like one of the most likely to go on and win this league and it is easy to see why.

While they don’t offer much in terms of attractive football they are big, strong and don’t give much away at the back.

In this game they scored three goals from five or six chances and Tweeddale’s goal scoring opportunities were well into double figures. Chirnside’s clinical striking play and stiff defence make for a successful winning formula.

It took less than two minutes for the home team to open the scoring. Marcus Thomson’s loose pass just inside his own half allowed them to break forward and make the most of the gap that left back Thomson had left behind.

Tweeddale deserve credit for the way they reacted. Many teams would crumble at losing such a disappointing early goal but they set about searching for an equaliser in a determined fashion.

No-one was more determined than Thomson. When supporting an attack from his full back position, he picked up the ball on the left edge of the box. After taking a couple of touches to settle himself, her arrowed a strike into the bottom corner to make amends for his earlier misdemeanour.

With the scores level, there was no sign of let up from Tweeddale as they continued with their attacking style of play.

They actually scored a second but were denied by a dodgy offside call from the referee.

Blair Meikle cut in from the left and fed Grant Wilson on the right edge of the area. Wilson caught the defence out by playing an early pass into the path of the onrushing McNaughton.

Ruaraidh’s effort was blocked by the keeper and fell straight to Craig Collin who finished easily.

The referee blew for offside despite the presence of the goalkeeper and two defenders in deeper positions than Collin.

If Tweeddale felt aggrieved at that decision, it was to get much worse when Chirnside took the lead against the run of play.

Up until this point, Blair Moffat had been a stand out at centre half, winning every ball that came his way.

After winning yet another tackle though, he tried to run the ball out of defence and was robbed. The Chirnside forward then went on to score with a very expertly taken goal which went in off the post.

In the second period, ‘Dale continued to press after being told by management to keep playing the way they were with a little less carelessness at the back.

The best chances of the second half fell to Grant Wilson. Firstly, he intercepted a short bye kick and steadied himself before his low effort was well blocked by the left boot of the keeper.

Shortly after this Wilson was to be denied by the keeper again. After being sent clear for another one on one he looked odds on to score. However, the keeper had different ideas and saved well again.

Tweeddale conceded a third midway through the second half. Just as with the first two goals, they gave up possession in their own half.

This time it was Nick Rogers who was dispossessed in his own half, although it was hard to criticise as he was closed down by at least two green shirts and couldn’t have done much more. Chirnside showed ruthlessness yet again to break quickly and finish with aplomb.

In the last half an hour or so Tweeddale launched wave after wave of attack. They had numerous attempts from in around the edge of the box but many of them were wayward and the ones which did find the target were saved well.

A disappointing end to the year for Tweeddale in what has been a difficult campaign so far. They remain confident of turning things around and climbing the table in the New Year.

Tweeddale Rovers would like to thank all sponsors for their continued support and would like to wish all sponsors and supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tweeddale: Bertram, Macleod (Greenshields), B.Moffat, R.Moffat (Robertson), M.Thomson (Cassidy), MacNaughton, Rogers, R.Meikle, B.Meikle, Wilson, Collin (B.Thomson).

Chirnside Utd 3-1 Tweeddale Rovers