Talbot's heroics in vain as Borderers rally for late win

Vale, who have been on the receiving end of some heavy defeats this season, led at the interval of a compelling contest, but contrived to surrender their lead early in the second half, despite posting a commendable display against their Berwick-based opponents.

Tweedmouth, who now sit third in the table following their win, arrived in the Capital as favourites and duly heaped relentless pressure on the Vale goal early on.

Their efforts of the opening half-hour, however, were in vain as Vale goalkeeper Phillip Talbot pulled off a string of impressive saves, most notably from the visitors' Josh Gibson on two occasions, and Tweedmouth failed to find the target with many of their opportunities.

On 30 minutes, Vale took the lead in freak circumstances - but then, they didn't care how the ball crossed the line so long as they could experience that rare sensation of assuming the lead.

Tweedmouth's Kyle Walker conceded a free-kick on Vale's right flank, and Kenny Gibson swung in a cross which was met by the clearing boot of defender Ewan Sherry, but the ball flew at the head of Vale forward Max Rowell and pinged back goalwards and into the net.

Talbot in the Ford's Road outfit's goal pulled off another superlative save five minutes later, tipping Michael Moran's strike from the edge of the box wide of the post. Seconds later, he dropped low to his left to palm away Gibson's drilled strike following a clever cutback by Luke Dickson.

Dickson himself shot narrowly over the bar after bamboozling Talbot on the edge of the box, and Vale held on until half-time.

Within seconds of the restart, however, the hosts were thrust back to square one. Tweedmouth, the stern half-time words of coach Mick Reid still ringing in their ears, kicked off and instantly rampaged towards the home side's goal with six players making a beeline for the box. Moran picked up a long pass forward and thrashed the ball into the net from six yards out.

Five minutes later, Vale's promising start evaporated as Tweedmouth struck the game's third goal and took a 2-1 lead, with Dickson netting from an acute angle after breaking inside from the right wing.

A matter of minutes afterwards, Vale were dealt a second stroke of luck as Tweedmouth defender Jake Birkett clumsily felled Rowell in the box. Rowell himself dispatched the penalty past goalkeeper Aaron Grieve to level the score at 2-2.

Vale's No.?1 Talbot continued to defy an increasingly frustrated visiting strikeforce, holding well after Gibson's strike fizzed towards goal, then bravely smothering the ball at the feet of the threatening Daniel Tindle.

The goalkeeper's sterling effort was to be undone in the final 15 minutes, though, as Tweedmouth struck twice to take the points.

A floated cross deep into the Vale penalty box from the right on 65 minutes was only tentatively attacked by the home rearguard, and the ball fell to Moran at the far post, who netted easily from close range.

Rowell's glancing header at the other end almost pulled Vale level a second time, but instead, with three minutes left on the clock, Tweedmouth conjured an unassailable two-goal lead as Caine Laidlaw scored from close range after his header had been cleared off the line by home defender Kieran Scott.

Phil Smith, the Hutchison Vale 95 coach, said after the match: "We have a lot of skilful players, but we lack physical presence across the park, unlike Tweedmouth, who have been a good side for a couple of years now."

Hutchison Vale 95: Phillip Talbot, Joshua Low, Max Rowell, Kieran Scott, Scott Smith, Craig Robertson, Matthew Blaikie, Scott Begbie, Kennith Gibson, Johnathon Watson, Calum Wylie.

Tweedmouth: Aaron Grieve, Andrew Williams, Kyle Walker, Matthew Tait, Sean Dixon, Ewan Sherry, Luke Dickson, Daniel Tindle, Josh Gibson, Cameron Laidlaw, Michael Moran, Caine Laidlaw, Ryan Tait, Jake Birkett..