29/08/2026
The Reivers return from their trip to Tweedmouth with a well earned point after a showing of real discipline and character on the road.
With a record breaking 21 players unavailable for a plethora of reasons, The Reivers were grateful to secure emergency signings of Lewis Young, Euan Armstrong, Jayden Reilly and Kieran McKillop in order to get this game on at all as they travelled to top of the league Tweedmouth.
Tweedmouth started on the front foot and looked to get in behind The Reivers full backs but Hogg and Jack were quick to s***f out any danger as the visitors looked to release Young up top with the big striker causing havoc in the home defence with his pace and physicality.
Young was unlucky not to get a debut goal midway through the first half before Turnbull was denied by a last ditch tackle, Kelly hit the bar on 35 minutes and Lyall couldn’t quite get the right connection on a loose ball in the box just before half time with the Tweedmouth keeper getting down well to deny the visitors a deserved lead.
At the other end, Ahmadi was only called upon to fetch the ball for bye kicks, such was the rigour of the defensive cover from The Reivers players in front of him.
HT: 0-0
The hosts would spend the next 45 minutes huffing and puffing and continually finding The makeshift Reivers squad more than up to the task. Hayes and Page were rocks in the centre back pairing whilst McKillop, replacing the injured Jack, and Hogg would smother any promising attacks before they became a serious threat. Brown, Lyall and Kelly covered every blade of grass with dogged determination and Ferguson and Turnbull would run themselves into the ground doubling up to help out their full backs when needed.
With the visitors shape denying any clear opportunities, Tweedmouth dominated possession but struggled to cause any real danger and Ahmadi had only one save to make coming in the 75th minute. The hosts only shot on target of the afternoon required the keeper to dive low to his right before Hayes cleared the danger.
At the other end Kelly fired inches wide, Hayes cantered up the park from centre back and was denied by the keeper and Ferguson blazed over after some good build up play as the game opened up in the final 15 minutes. Armstrong came on and bolstered the visitors midfield as the clocked ticked down into ‘Fergie Time’.
With only seconds remaining, Young got the better of his man on the left and his ball across the box struck the arm of the Tweedmouth centre back with the referee awarding a penalty to the visitors. Lyall’s strike was good but the keeper’s save was better and Tweedmouth would breathe a sigh of relief as the ball was cleared away from danger.
FT 0-0
The Reivers defended with absolute commitment and Ferguson and Turnbull in particular will sleep well after today’s shift. This was a showing of real commitment from the boys who were able to make it and a statement performance that they can all be proud of.
MoTM: Hogg. Every single player would have a shout for this award today. Young almost had a memorable debut and looks to have wasted some real footballing talent by playing rugby for Jed Forest for so many years and Page in particular deserves huge credit for a commanding performance whilst playing through injury. However, 5’6” Hogg takes it; not just for winning every header at left and right back over the 90 minutes but for his reading of the game and breaking every single promising attack before it turned into anything.
With no B Division side able to put together any consistency yet, The Reivers find themselves in 8th place in the league but only 3 points off top of the table so it’s another big game on Saturday when we host unbeaten Selkirk to Elliot Park.
