MATCH REPORT
Date : 6th September 2023
Opposition : Easthouses Lily
Venue : Home
Scorers : None
Booked : Rhys Dixon, Sam Straughan, Jack Forster, Rhys Bloomfield
Sent Off : None
Attendance : 87
Referee : Jack Leslie
Team Lineup :
Euan Robertson
Calum Riddell (T)
Kieran Cromarty (T)
Craig Heath
Rhys Dixon
Ciaran Hatsell
Ross Aitchison
Jack Cummings
Jay Atkinson
Rhys Bloomfield (c)
Craig Bell
Subs :
Leighton Robertson
Ryan Dunn
Joao Vieira on for Calum Riddell 45 mins
Brad Smith on for Rhys Bloomfield 74 mins
Sam Straughan on for Jay Atkinson 45 mins
Jake Gibson
Jack Forster on for Ciaran Hatsell 57 mins
Match Report :
This was Tweedmouth’s third night game in a row and, as BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘News and Sport for the Borders’ aptly described it, they suffered ‘a bruising defeat’ at the hands of visiting Easthouses Lily.
Neither Michael Robinson nor Christian Temple could play due to injuries, whilst regular centre back Evan Smith was unavailable.
Despite a finely poised opening 35 minutes, Easthouses were two goals up before half time and quickly consolidated their lead with another when the second half got underway.
Lily striker Shaun Hill, once a regular with Berwick Rangers Reserves, was busy early on with a shot over the bar and then a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to connect with Leo Watson’s cross to the far post. Rangers came close with Craig Bell’s glancing header off Rhys Bloomfield’s 11th minute corner, the first of the match.
A long free kick set up Lee Smith for a hook shot which Euan Robertson double fisted over the bar. Headers from Ross Aitchison and Bell ensured the resulting corner caused no damage.
There followed a ‘you couldn’t make it up moment’. Robertson could only stand and watch as a tantalising lob from Neil Janczyk, who was with Berwick Rangers in the Scottish League, hit one post before slowly travelling across goal to hit the other before dropping back into play.
Easthouses keeper Daniel Simpson looked uncomfortable the next time Bloomfield delivered a corner and just managed to weakly slap away the ball but no home player had read the situation correctly to be on hand to return it towards the net.
The team in red regained the ball after two powder puff Tweedmouth attempts to get it away. In fact, more power came from Robertson’s block with his feet when his alertness took him to the edge of his box to again frustrate the opposition.
The Midlothian men went on to hit the woodwork again whilst Simpson saved from Jay Atkinson after Aitchison and Bell again worked in tandem.
A second long free kick led to the opening goal six minutes from half time, Lewis Sives the scorer. The next one, seconds from the break, came directly from a set piece. At the near post, centre half Michael Hunter was given a free header from a corner.
A minute into the second period, Hill was left unmarked as he gathered a cross from the left giving him time and space to make Rangers’ hopes of getting back into the game even more arduous as a consequence of this, Lily’s third goal.
On occasions, both Bloomfield and Sam Straughan got away on the wings but Tweedmouth’s best chance came from Jack Cummings’ pass well infield. Aitchison, who had moved up to lead the attack, had time to turn before shooting outside the post. His change of position had also left a glaring gap in the home midfield which Easthouses exploited as they went in search of further goals.
With the home defence back peddling, Hill was again able to pick his spot firing low to make it 4-0 in the 73rd minute. He also had a hand in the final goal six minutes from the end. By diving, Robertson managed to push away his angled shot from the right only for the perfectly located Watson to send back the ball over the line.
With the visitors pressing once more, a double clearance from Joao Vieira prevented Easthouses making it a half dozen just before the referee blew for time.
It’s derby time for both teams next up, Saturday, September 9th. Easthouses visit the team next door, Dalkeith Thistle. Tweedmouth are at home to nearest neighbours, Coldstream.