Peebles Rovers 0

Coldstream 6

David Knox

at Whitestone Park

AS Coldstream striker Buster Briggs shone in the Whitestone Park sun on Saturday with a five-goal haul, poor Peebles wilted.

The requirement of regulation water-breaks was an indication of just how hot it was on the Tweed-side pitch.

But the soaring temperatures didn’t prevent Coldstream running amock.

Manager Johnny Fairbairn told us: “You’re looking for good application from the players at this time of the season and I got that today.

“We’ve put right our inconsistent away form with a really accomplished performance today and I’m delighted.”

It took both teams half-an-hour to acclimatise to the 25-degree heat as the chances were non-existent with the opposing players cancelling each other out.

But following the first of the regulated water stops the game suddenly sprang to life.

Only a goalline clearance by player-boss Fairbairn prevented David Lindsay’s 35th minute looping header breaking the deadlock for the hosts.

And just five minutes later it was Coldstream who went in front from the penalty spot after Sam Dawson was tripped inside the area.

Briggs tucked away the spot kick.

And the former Berwick Rangers striker doubled the advantage a few minutes later as he expertly steered Michael Allan’s angled cross beyond Tom Kerr.

Coldstream controlled play after the interval with Briggs being denied his hat-trick in the 52nd minute by the offside flag.

But he only had to wait four more minutes to chip Kerr from the edge of the area to make it 3-0.

Peebles struggled to get out of their own half as possession was constantly given away cheaply.

And they were made to pay again in the 63rd minute as Briggs slotted home during a goalmouth scramble.

Only a point-blank save from Kerr denied Allan adding to the tally.

But the home keeper was at fault in the 71st minute as he spilled an Allan freekick for Briggs to prod home his fifth of the match.

With quarter of an hour remaining Dawson curled a fantastic freekick into the top corner to make it 6-0.

Apart from a half-hearted penalty claim after Lindsay went down in the area, Peebles never looked like threatening Elliot Turnbull’s goal.

And only the woodwork prevented them falling further behind in the closing stages.

Peebles assistant Ryan Bisset said: “We were very poor and need to do a lot better.”

Peebles Rovers. T Kerr, J Runciman, B Gettle, C Smith, B Brown, D Lindsay, F Jackson (J Davidson 46), L Zavaroni, G Wilson, A McMath & Z Khan.

Coldstream. E Turnbull, E Gay, J Fairbairn, C Heugh, P Bright, M Fox, K Lee, S Bonnington, B Briggs, M Allan & S Dawson.