21/22 Match Report – 26th February

Tweedmouth were in this game against table topping Leith Athletic right up to the 80th minute. That’s when Kayne Paterson, scorer of Leith’s first half goal, combined with Ben Wardlaw. It would be unfair to say this second goal, the best of the three, was against the run of play as there were several spells in the second half when Rangers were involved in some do or die defending. With little time left on the clock, home keeper Mark Walters couldn’t get down to stop Craig Ferrier’s low drive into the corner of the net, a goal which, it would be fair to say, conspired to paint a distorted picture of the afternoon’s events.

Once again, Tweedmouth were left to mull over their failings in front of goal. In the fourth minute, they exploited a big gap in the Leith midfield after visiting players were sucked in towards a series of short, quick Tweedmouth passes. It left Regan Graham free to supply Michael Robinson but keeper Campbell McLellan stopped the striker’s shot with his foot.

Robinson had two other good first half chances after Leith opened the scoring. Whilst the first lacked punch the next one was a ferocious half volley which McLellan did very well to stop before rising to punch away the resulting loose ball.

That first goal came after quarter of an hour. Paterson’s momentum took him past last outfield man Craig Heath before slipping the ball beyond Walters. Craig Hume came close to adding a second with a header following a corner.

As the half hour approached, Rangers were out of luck again. Jamie Heath picked out Sean Campbell to line up a shot but it hit the shoulder of a Leith man for a corner.

Robinson continued to graft hard winning possession in the tackle near touch to send a promising high ball into the Leith box but nothing came of it. A bigger threat was posed as Jamie Heath drove forward but was halted by a great tackle from Kerr Allan.

For a spell towards half time, the Edinburgh side’s preferred method of counter attack was to pump long balls downfield, Jack Forster in particular, kept busy successfully dealing with them.

Straight from the second half kick off, Robinson ran through the visitors’ lines with ease but McLellan was first to his pass intended for Campbell.

Missed chances were not the sole preserve of the hosts. Leith really should have scored again after cutting in from the right. Coming in the same direction, they did not repeat the mistake as Wardlaw made it 2-0. Before this, Campbell hit the outside of the net. McLellan slapped away the ball to ensure Craig Colquhoun would not claim a goal whilst Forster’s blocking of Paterson brought an end to one of those Leith sieges within the home penalty area.

So, in many ways, entertaining fare for the spectators but it left Tweedmouth goalless after their two League meetings with Leith this season.