21/22 Match Report – 25th January

Coldstream came back from the loss of an early goal to complete a League double over their Tweedside neighbours in front of a good Tuesday evening crowd at Home Park.

Some home players thought the ball was in the net following a fourth minute corner but there was no confusion two minutes later. Rangers smartly moved the ball across to the unmarked Regan Graham to put the visitors ahead with a fine finish.

Coldstream levelled seven minutes later through Jamie Whitehead’s inswinging corner. Not long after, Sean Campbell’s carefully struck lob was heading the right way but keeper Elliott Turnbull’s save prevented him from restoring the away team’s lead.

Instead, it was Coldstream who went in front on 28 minutes. Tom Angus stopped one shot before Whitehead headed over the bar but the next time the 17 year old goalie made a save Jonny Simpson was on hand to knock the free ball into the net.

Five minutes later, Whitehead hit the post with another corner. In the other direction, both Drew Cummings and Campbell were frustrated by home defenders getting in the way of balls fired towards Turnbull’s goal.

Momentarily, the Berwickshire team increased their lead a few minutes from the break. Gary Windram, making his first start after a long injury lay off, was challenged by Jack Forster playing in an unfamiliar, primarily defensive role. Both ended up on the ground but the referee adjudged Forster caused the collision. Buster Briggs was spot on with the penalty kick.

Rangers’ retort was immediate. The ball was quickly relayed up the left and, after making more yards, Michael Robinson’s strike gave Turnbull no chance. Robinson took the same route as he tried to link with Craig Bell but the front man was crowded out.

A first half which Coldstream just edged concluded with Rangers kicking away Whitehead’s attempt to double his haul and Simpson heading a corner ball on to the perimeter fence.

The second half could roughly be divided into three segments. The first featured end to end stuff. The tireless Cummings beat his marker to set up Bell whose turn to hit the ball was better than the end product. Likewise, Robinson was unable to complete further good work with an accurate hit. Angus saved an angled shot from Buster Briggs whose captain, Michael Allan, snuffed out Bell as he encroached on a long ball up the middle.

Tweedmouth pressed strongly in the middle period of the half with Turnbull racing out of his territory to boot the ball into touch as Andy Wilson chased Robinson’s 25 yard pass down the right flank. On several occasions, Coldstream’s attacking efforts fell foul of the offside flag. They were back in the driving seat in the final stages. Craig McBride was ecstatic with his reward for a solid performance at centre back, a 76th minute goal after Windram played the ball in behind the visiting defence.