Peebles 0

EoS Premier Division

A LONG-awaited win came Selkirk's way last weekend, just what they needed before facing SFL side Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park in an East of Scotland Cup semi-final tomorrow, writes Fiona Scott.

Realistically, the Souters know that they can't expect too much out of the game in the way of a winning result. What they are looking for, however, is incentive for their young players.

Chairman Jim Moody told The Wee Paper: "It is going to be a hard game. Let's face it, they are an SFL side and our guys are East of Scotland and still in the process of rebuilding.

"In saying that, it should be a great learning curve for them and give them the incentive they need to play at a higher level."

Ryan Pritchard and Craig Wilson remain sidelined but the club are hopeful of the return of Barry Mulveen. Everyone else is fit and well and Moody is hoping the skills of goalkeeper John Dodds will help keep the score down.

"Berwick have already been looking at Dodds and will be green with envy when they see him in goal for us tomorrow," added Moody. "I don't think we have to worry though. Dodds is happy playing at Selkirk and has no plans to leave just yet."

Last week the Souters took the opportunity to put in some much-needed scoring practice when table props Peebles came to Yarrow Park.

And some outstanding work from Dodds in the Selkirk goal prevented the visitors getting any back.

Selkirk posed an early threat in the East of Scotland bottom-of-the-table clash with good efforts from Euan Pritchard and John Waldie before Waldie latched on to a Craig Evenden cross to flick the ball past a helpless Willie Turner in the Peebles goal.

The hosts missed a golden opportunity to increase their lead minutes later when Lee Stephen missed from the penalty spot, after Jason Kane had upended Darren Munro inside the box. Peebles tried hard to get into the game and Peter Shearlaw almost grabbed an equaliser but a fine two-handed diving save from Dodds prevented a score to leave Selkirk 1-0 up at the break.

Alan Kerr came close just after the restart, his shot from 18 yards hitting the woodwork, but Selkirk were back in the driving seat in the 54th minute when Evenden flummoxed Turner with a spectacular diving header.

It was the turn of Pritchard next to hit the post before being tripped by Darren Thomson in the Peebles box. Alan Kerr stepped up to take the resulting kick and made no mistake with a perfectly placed shot.

Another fine save from Dodds at the other end of the pitch saw an end to the Peebles challenge and Evenden finished things off for the Souters with a powerful header into the visitors' net.

Selkirk: J. Dodds, L. Stephen (C. Main 84), M. Mair, C. Lowrie, J. Waldie, D. Munro, G. McShane, A. Craggs (I.Potts 57), C. Evenden, E. Pritchard, A. Kerr (C. Monaghan 68).