Published: Friday, 19th March, 2010 11:14am

Linton still looking for first win

Peebles 1 V 2 Eyemouth United

Rab Linton still awaits his first points since returning to Whitestone Park.

IN a game of two contrasting halves, the second half proved to be a lot more entertaining than the first with Peebles playing well after the break before Eyemouth pinched all three points with two late goals against the run of play.

After some competitive midfield exchanges, it was Eyemouth who posed a threat after 14 minutes when a Michael Wales through-ball sent Andrew Sword racing into the Peebles box.

Then after rounding the Peebles 'keeper, Sword seemed almost certain to score until David Simmons recovered in time to bring off an excellent save at close range.

Peebles replied with a neat build-up before Steven Murray was well off target with an effort from long range.

But shortly afterwards, Peebles came a lot closer to scoring with Peter Shearlaw sending the ball just over the Eyemouth crossbar with a spectacular free-kick attempt from 30 yards.

Then nearing half-time, after latching onto a David Knox through-ball, Shearlaw fired the ball narrowly over the Eyemouth crossbar with a cracking shot on the turn from 20 yards.

But Eyemouth missed a good chance to take the lead two minutes before the interval when a defence-splitting pass from Mark Windram sent Sword racing into the Peebles box.

But with only Simmons left to beat, Sword could only drill the ball harmlessly wide of the far Peebles right-hand post with an angular shot from 14 yards.

However, Peebles made a bright start to the second half with Murray coming close with a good effort from 20 yards before Peebles should really have put their noses in front ten minutes after half-time.

A Murray right-wing cross found Shearlaw completely unmarked right in front of the Eyemouth goal. Then when a Peebles goal seemed to be a certainty, Shearlaw could only blast the ball straight at United 'keeper Dean Avery, who brought off a marvellous instinctive save at close range.

From a Sean Simpson corner-kick on the left, United substitute Johnny Simpson headed the ball just over the Peebles crossbar from close in when it almost seemed easier to score.

But it was Eyemouth who finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute. John Buchan made a menacing run into the Peebles box on the left before his angular shot from 14 yards could only be parried by the diving Simmons to Alan Spiers before he bundled the loose ball home from close range after a scramble in the Peebles goal-mouth.

Then Eyemouth scored a second goal just three minutes later. A James Wilson through-ball sent Sean Simpson racing into the Peebles box before the diving Simmons deflected his angular shot onto the far Peebles left-hand post before Mark Windram slotted the ball home from the rebound at close range.

But Peebles reduced the leeway after 87 minutes when after Avery had failed to gather in a Shearlaw free-kick from the right, Paul Welsh promptly slammed the loose ball into the Fishermen's net from close range.

This had been another good performance by Peebles, who didn't get any reward for their efforts.

Peebles. D. Simmons, J. Kane, C. Dilworth, P. Welsh, K. Barr, S. Herd, R. Harris (E. Anderson 71), S. Murray, P. Shearlaw, D. Johnson (D. Crosbie 67. (M. McCormack 90)), D. Knox.