Selkirk's friendly date with Hibs a casualty of injury spate
SELKIRK'S much-anticipated clash against Hibs on Monday has been postponed after the Edinburgh side suffered a raft of injuries.
The friendly will now take place on Monday, August 23, at Yarrow Park - just a day after the Easter Road men host Rangers, Selkirk's visitors on Wednesday, in a Scottish Premier League match.
But assistant boss Bryan Templeton insists his players are still up for their clash with the SPL champions.
He said: "The lads are looking forward to the game against Rangers and the club has done well to get three SPL teams and two SFL teams this summer."
Templeton and manager Paul Brownlee expect to welcome back Ryan McManus from holiday for the game, but Paul Hossack and Craig Pinnons are struggling to be fit.
Missing the midfield trio, the Souters put up a much- improved showing in their 1-0 defeat to Albion Rovers last Saturday.
Indeed, had the normally reliable Grant Gass converted an 85th-minute penalty, Selkirk would likely have claimed a draw.The midfielder saw his spot-kick well saved by Rovers stopper Derek Gaston, with Michael Romanes firing the rebound well over the bar.
After Jason Inglis was subbed following a head knock on five minutes, Albion threatened first through Kevin Watt, an ex-Airdrie striker, who was denied by a last-gasp Steven Sharkey tackle.
Callum Hope looked lively once more and his 30-yard effort was well stopped by Gaston.
But it was Darren Dalrymple, a new signing from Kilsyth Rangers, who opened the scoring in first- half injury time for the visitors.
Barry Milven needed to intercept Dalrymple's shot at the start of the second period, but at the other end Selkirk created chances of their own. Firstly Shaun Hardie directed his free header from a Romanes corner straight at Gaston before sub Lee Stephen's bustling run through the heart of Rovers' defence ended with the defender firing just wide.
Albion sub Paul McLeod headed a Chris Hamilton cross against Selkirk's left-hand post on 83 minutes, two minutes before Gass saw his penalty saved. However, the Coatbridge outfit missed a penalty of their own in injury time when Hamilton smashed his spot-kick against John Dodds' bar after Steven Noble had fouled Steven Greenlees.
Templeton said: "The Albion Rovers game gave me and Paul a headache as no one played badly. If we keep this squad together we will most likely stay up this season."
The Rangers match kicks off at 7pm.
Kenny Paterson
kennypaterson@tweeddalepress.co.uk
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Weather for Selkirk
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
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Wind direction: West
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