Hotspurs come from behind to topple Rovers

Published 26 Feb 2010 13:20 0 Comments

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Franklin Morrison pulls Hostpur ahead from the spot late in the first half

Tweeddale Rovers 2 v 2 Linton Hotspur ( Hotspur win 7 - 6 on ps)

LOCAL derbies don't come any tighter than this one.

A large crowd lined Kerfield to watch Tweeddale and Linton battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the South Cup.

And in the end it came down to sudden death penalties.

The opening 10 minutes were evenly matched with the first real chance resulting in the opening goal for Tweeddale.

Blair Moffat blasted a 25-yard shot over the head of starnded Linton keeper Peter Burke.

The goal sparked the West Linton team to life and they piled on the pressure before being awarded a penalty on 20 minutes for a late challenge by Moffat.

Campbell Forsyth's spot kick was brilliantly saved by Bob Hall.

Barry Thomson had a golden chance to double Rovers' lead when he beat the offside trap but he shot weakly into the arms of Burke.

Linton were awarded their second penalty just before the break following a mistimed lunge by Thomson in the box. Frankie Harrison tucked the ball away for the equaliser.

It looked as though the teams would go in level but Moffat had other ideas - and he rose well above the Linton defence to head Tweeddale back in front on the stroke of half time.

Hotspurs stepped up the pace following the break as they looked for a way back into the tie.

And although Tweeddale created their own chances on the counter attack it looked as though the 2-1 scoreline would survive.

But deep into injury time Linton were awarded their third penalty of the game after another clumsy challenge by the Rovers defence.

Mikey McEwan held his nerve to equalise from the spot at the second chance after Hall managed to get his fingertips to the penalty.

The additional half hour saw play swing from one end to the other.

Tweeddale were unfortunate not to edge back in front when Jason Brown managed to round Burke in the final minute of extra time but his angled shot hit the post.

If it was excitement the large was after, they certainly got it.

Both teams converted their first six penalties but following a Tweeddale miss Jonathon Wardman scored from the spot to take Linton through.

Linton captain Campbell Forsyth said: "Tweeddale were probably the better team during most of the match but we're just delighted to have come out on top."

Tweeddale Rovers. R Hall, F Moffat, S Johnson, M Rathie, B Moffat, B Thomson, S Warren, C Forsyth, N Rodgers, D Thomson & G Smith. subs R McNaughton, J Brown, C Cassidy, G Wilson & B Leavy.

Linton Hotspur. P Burke, P Whelan, D Cooper, C Forsyth, R Kidd, F Harrison, S McFarlane, G Forsyth, G Muirhead, M McEwan & J Wardman. subs N Nisbet, A Cursiter, L Cain, I Campbell & D Fraser.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 26 Feb 10

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