Last updated at 14:39, Thursday, 26 January 2012

LANGHOLM Legion attacked a struggling Kelso Thistle at will in this first round of the Waddell Cup on the Scholars’ Field last Saturday.

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Langholm Legion 5 Kelso Thistle 1

Some hard work had gone into preparing the pitch to get the game on but it was still a very soggy playing surface.

Langholm kicked off playing towards the school and probably had the advantage of a strong swirling wind. Attack was always going to be on the agenda and Legion took the lead after only six minutes through an unexpected source when Bob Lamb bundled the ball home from a yard. His brother Steve made it 2-0 when he swung a corner directly into the net from the left.

Chris Gardner went close when his powerful shot hit the post and Ben Maxwell headed over from six yards. The home side went three ahead in the 21st minute when Ali Little broke down the right and squared the ball to Josh Haldane. The young winger fired crisply home from 12 yards.

Kelso showed little in any form of attack and Legion keeper Derek Johnson was a spectator most of the time.

Langholm forced a string of corners and went close on a number of occasions. A fourth goal was almost a formality and it came when a long throw from the right was knocked down for Gardner to rifle home from the edge of the box.

Little was coming more and more into the game and another strong run down the right took him into the Kelso box where his powerful shot could only be parried by the Kelso keeper into the path of Maxwell who hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the empty net.

At this point, Langholm looked like they could score at will and Kelso struggled to get out of their own half but in the 40th minute they forced a cross into the box and after Johnson punched the ball out, a Kelso midfield player looped a shot back into the net.

The second half was a bit of a non-event as far as the home team was concerned. The pitch was cutting up and the heavy conditions caused fatigue on both sides. Little, Gardner and Lamb all came close and Kelso hit the top of the bar but really the final whistle could not come quickly enough for the band of spectators.

Langholm now go into the second round for a home tie against Winton. This weekend the Legion play league leaders Gala Rovers at home.

Team: D Johnson, C Cuthbert, B Henderson , M Thomlinson, B Lamb, A Little, L Irving, J Haldane, S Lamb, B Maxwell, C Gardner. Subs: R Davidson, C Ireland, G Irving.

First published at 21:35, Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk