Broxburn Athletic 4

Selkirk 1

Stow 1

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES

IT'S often better being thrown in at the deep end – as long as you can swim.

Selkirk kick their first ball in anger tomorrow at Ferguson Park against Whitehill Welfare – not the easiest of starts.

But, even though it's a new-look squad with several players drafted in from the amateur leagues and they have suffered a patchy pre-season, the Souters are still raring to go.

There's no doubt, too, that there are some in the Selkirk camp who would rather they were in the First Division after all.

Assistant manager Davie Main told The Wee Paper: "Our first four games are all tough ones and, really, that's the way it is going to be all season.

"We have been given a second chance and are still in the Premier Division so things are going to be hard. But we will just have to get on with it and see what we can do."

Selkirk travel without injured pair Ryan Pritchard and Gary McShane.

Judging from their two latest friendlies, the Yarrow Park men will find things difficult this year and it will take time for them to gel.

Saturday's game against spirited junior side Broxburn Athletic was a case in point.

Craig Wilson stepped into the breach to become the side's playmaker.

And they showed they are still able to stick the ball into the net, with decent efforts from Euan Pritchard and Darren Munro avoiding an embarrasing scoreline.

Broxburn's goals came from Chic Pearson, Craig Young, Lee Cruikshanks and Ian Douglas. Although the first was blatantly offside, the home side could not complain about the others.

Caretaker boss Ian Potts said: "That was a bit more of a challenge than the game against Kelso last week. Broxburn were of a better standard and it was a good workout.

"We performed better in the second half. We knocked the ball about a bit better and got stuck in, which they really didn't like."

Playing against a spirited Stow side on Tuesday evening, Selkirk managed to apply early pressure only to be deprived by two fine saves by visiting keeper Barry Scott.

The Souters got the breakthrough from a Michael Romanes spot kick.

The visitors continued to battle and were rewarded when Scott Hunter followed up to head home his shot which Dodds could only parry.

Selkirk pressed to restore their lead but a resolute Stow defence kept them at bay.

Players in: Chris Monaghan, Tony Craggs, Darren Munro (all Hawick Waverley); Gary McShane; Euan Pritchard (both Selkirk Victoria); Craig Wilson (Leithen Rovers).

Players out: Craig Livingston (Dunbar); Craig Tyson (Coldstream); Craig Lothian (Earlston); Gary Lothian (retired); Stuart Anderson (not known); Andrew Brown (long-term injured). Alan Jackson (Kelso)