HAWICK ROYAL ALBERT (Albert Park)

LOWLAND LEAGUE, HAWICK ROYAL ALBERT 2-4 EAST STIRLINGSHIRE, ATTENDANCE: 287

From Musselburgh it was a trip down the winding, but very scenic, A68 to the borders town of Hawick. Built around the River Teviot which flows through the town, Hawick is more famous for it's Rugby (legendary commentator Bill McLaren was born, and died, in Hawick) but I was here for purely for the round ball game.

Hawick's Albert Park is adjacent to the Rugby ground and has a large old wooden seated stand, with the other three sides of ground grass banked. The stand was constructed using steel remnants left over from a fire at the Wilson & Glenny wool factory in 1959.

 photo courtesy of Lee Vaughan 

At the top of the stand there is the social club, which was absolutely rammed this evening, and the snack bar were selling absolutely superb Haggis pies. I know I shouldn't have, but...

Hawick Royal Albert were founded in 1947, after separating from Hawick Railway FC, and get their name from Larkhall based Royal Albert FC, Larkhall being the home of Hawick RA co-founder William Bunton.

The club have spent most of their history in the East of Scotland League but in 2016 they were one of the successful applicants for promotion to the expanded Lowland League, though they are currently near the foot of the table.

Hawick's opponents tonight were East Stirlingshire, who dropped into the Lowland League last year after losing the relegation play-off final to Edinburgh City. The Shire are up near the top of table but still well adrift of runaway leaders East Kilbride. A victory tonight will, mathematically anyway, keep the title race alive for another week.

It was a tremendous game to watch as both teams went on the attack from the off. Given the respective league positions of the teams, a Shire walkover was expected but it was The Royalists who took the lead after 13 minutes. A free kick was parried into the path of Hamish Hunter, who was on the spot to turn the ball home.

Andy Rodgers headed home East Stirlingshire level after 33 minutes, and it was scenes behind the goal as the dozen or so Shire fans celebrated. Shire had chances to take the lead but it was all square at the break.

After 58 minutes Kris Mitchell latched onto a through ball and just about generated enough power to prod the ball home to restore Hawick's lead. Shire applied the pressure but they couldn't find a way past Andy Jack in the Hawick goal, who pulled off a string of fine stops. However in the 76th minute substitute Jamie Glasgow finally found the net when he headed home an equaliser.

Shire finally got themselves in front for the first time with 10 minutes remaining when Hawick failed to clear their lines after a corner and the ball eventually found it's way to Rodgers whose shot nestled in the bottom corner of the net for his second of the night.

There was then an amusing moment when Hawick goalkeeper Jack went from hero to villain. Clearly feeling there was a foul in the build up to the goal, he was shown a yellow card for protesting to the referee and continued to vent his spleen, so was promptly shown a second yellow. He then had an almighty wobble as he walked off the pitch which involved kicking the post, hurling his shirt to floor and tossing his gloves away.

This obviously handed the initiative to Shire but it wasn't until stoppage time that they finally secured the points when Paul Sludden fired home their fourth goal.

A fine evenings entertainment and, as this was a "groundhop" game there were plenty of familiar faces amongst the crowd, so it was also good to have a catch up and a chat with those who had travelled from far and wide to be here. Until next time!!