Peebles Rovers 2

Dunipace 3

Malcolm McGill

at Whitestone Park

ROVERS bowed out of the Alex Jack cup at the second round stage after a 3-2 defeat at home to former Junior side Dunipace.

It was a scrappy opening period but one in which the visitors looked more lively although the first notable chance fell to Rovers’ Mikey McEwan who fired a fierce volley at Kane in the Dunipace goal but the stopper was equal to the task and parried away to safety.

That aside, chances were few and far between in the first half but the only other effort of note saw Rovers take the lead.

A long clearance from Tom Kerr was flicked on by McEwan allowing Robbie Renwick to outpace his marker and coolly slot under the advancing Kane.

Despite not providing much of a threat in front of goal, there was enough about Dunipace in the first half to suggest they could be a danger, particularly in the wide areas.

And so it proved five minutes after the break as Moulangou showed a clean pair of heels down the left side before being bundled over in the area. Tulloch stepped up and drew Dunipace level with resultant spot kick.

Just after the hour mark, Rovers fell behind as failure to usher the ball out of play at the byline allowed Rayen to cut the ball back for Stephenson to fire into the net from close range.

Shortly after, Peebles were given a numerical advantage as the visitors were reduced to 10 men after McHaffie saw red for protesting a foul.

Sadly, with just over 10 minutes remaining, it was Dunipace who found the net again as Raymen took advantage of an injury to Lee Zavaroni to play in McFadden who produced a fine finish.

Zavaroni had to limp off, reducing Rovers’ one-man advantage as all three subs had already been used.

Rovers tried hard to find a way back into the game, Gregor Lamb firing over the bar in a crowded box before he capitalised on a parried save from Kane to volley home from six yards.

As the clock ticked down, Ross Lamb latched onto a loose ball 25 yards out but a slight deflection took some of the power from his shot.

The keeper still did well to stop the effort low to his right. Disappointingly for Rovers, they finished the game with nine men after Ross Forrest was red carded for protesting.