Coldstream stepped up their promotion charge by leapfrogging their opponents into fourth place as a result of this hard-fought victory at a windy St Mark's Park.

Michael Allan was the hero with the game's only goal on the hour mark, the teenage midfielder measuring his right-foot shot low into the corner from the edge of the box. The goal came at the end of a slick move involving John Crawford and Robbie Armstrong, whose pass set up Allan for the precise finish.

Crawford started the match up front despite breaking his nose the previous week, but bravely played his part in what was an impressive all-round team performance.

Craigroyston's Johnny Herd forced Streamers goalkeeper Mark Walters into a scrambling save early in the first half, but at the other end a good run by Kristian Neill ended with him being crowded out before he could get his shot in.

The home side’s best chance of the opening half saw Martyn Wallace shoot over when well placed, then Streamers winger Robbie Armstrong headed straight at Craigroyston’s trialist keeper at the other end as the first half ended goalless.

The deadlock was broken just after the hour and Coldstream almost added a second soon after, but Craig Heugh shot narrowly over.

With only one defeat in 10 matches, Streamers are now just three points behind second-placed Heriot-Watt University.

DESPITE being without top scorer John Crawford, who has bagged 30 goals this season, Coldstream recorded a win which puts them level on points with their opponents and moves them onto the fringes of the promotion race for the first time.

The Streamers have now won four of their past five league games to match last season’s points total with 11 games still to go.

Heriot-Watt University had plenty of possession in this game, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third and were unable to penetrate a solid home defence. The Streamers, on the other hand, were  always dangerous on the break.

Coldstream made a bright start, with Robbie Armstrong threatening on the right. He went close with a header before the home side broke the deadlock in the 15th minute through an unlikely source.

When Josh McLeod’s long throw into the box was headed back to him by a Heriot-Watt defender the Coldstream right-back immediately returned it into the danger zone with a first-time volley which swerved and dipped to beat the goalkeeper at his near post. What was perhaps intended as a cross became McLeod’s first goal of the season.

Heriot-Watt responded by dominating possession and pushing Coldstream back. Their failure to score when on top proved costly when Streamers doubled their lead on the stroke of half time. Armstrong’s free-kick struck team-mate Johnson, but Craig Tyson reacted first to the loose ball, firing into the roof of the net from eight yards.

The second half continued was similar to the first, with Heriot-Watt keeping possession well but struggling to break down Coldstream’s disciplined midfield and defence.

Michael Allan, the 18 year-old midfielder moved to centre-back to replace the injured Paul Cowe, was outstanding.
Seam Muhsin pulled one back for the students from distance. The goal came from when a Coldstream free-kick taken by goalkeeper Mark Walters from outisde his box was headed clear and fell kindly to Muhsin. With Walters out of position and the Streamers defence caught cold, Muhsin took on the shot from 35 yards and saw it creep into the bottom corner.

Coldstream restored their advantage when Stewart Wright’s cut-back from the byline was turned into his own net by  defender Andy Forbes. Protests from the visitors, who contested that goalkeeper Craig Saunders had been impeded when throwing the ball out in the lead up to the goal, were waved aside by referee Paul Hanlon.

Kristian Neill almost made it four for Coldstream when he went through one-on-one, but his attempted lob was well saved by Saunders.

Click to enlarge

It was windy at Home Park last Saturday for this match against keen rivals Kelso United, even the crows were walking home. The Coldstream Secretary's wig flew off and was last seen at St.Abbs Head. This fixture has been keenly fought over the years, since about the Battle of Hastings time to be precise, and this sortie proved to be no exception. The East Stand cynics had to share the East Stand with the Kelsae Eaststanders and the banter was good, especially trying to avoid the dog poohs. All credit to both teams, they tried to play football and the Streamers had large tranches of play where they dominated. Essentially Coldstream 'keeper Walters had few saves to make during the match and a couple of times was chatting to a passing-by Pit Bull Terrier. After 15 minutes, it looked as if nae bugger would have a shot at goal, the ball was being tossed around by the swirling wind. Enter Coldstream's Lionel Messi, the one and only (thank goodness) John Crawford (cousin to Michael Crawford (alias Frank Spencer)), Coldstream's 26 goal shooter. He must have cut his toenails on Friday, curling a shot over the Kelso keeper and in off the underside of the bar. 1-0. The Coldstream midfield of Spike Allan, Marky Bolton, Christine Neil and Martyn Tait were doing rather nicely and a splendid cross-field from Spikey found the big man up front and the rest was history. 2-0. This match reporter apologises for the third Coldstream goal before half-time (again by Crawford) but he was away in the school hoose garden hunting a Paul Cowe pass and the goal was missed. The egg and cheese sandwiches at half-time were scrumptious, as were the tasty pies, enjoyed fully by the players. Kelso came into the match in the second half but it was the homesters who scored next, Adam Turner (a brilliant painter) volleying in a Neil corner. Kelso replied, not by e-mail, but by a close range conversion from Steven Tait from a corner. Coldstream were controlling the wind quite fabulously, as well as a Jersey cow in a juicy, grassy field, and scored again through Crawford, notching his 30th goal of the season. Kelso were not beaten yet and Sharkey made it 5-2. Wee Craig Heugh wriggled clear and slapped a rasper against the Kelso crossbar. All in all, a very satisfactory Saturday for the Streamers with Manager Guy Gibson signing autographs for Japanese tourists all Saturday evening. Of course, the MOM should have been John Crawford for his four goals and Heugh, Allan and Turner were high-octane performers too but the adjudicators gave the MOM award to the Coldstream committee for, with the help of Air Traffic Control, erecting and dismantling the goal posts in such high winds.

Good Luck at Peebles next Saturday. They usually have good pies?

East Stand Cynics 

Two months ago, Coldstream would have withered under the intense heat supplied by Preston's forward line. It was like a severe bollicking from the Badger in the first 10 minutes. But not now, RAF Chief Marshall Andrew Gibson has the boys toughened up. Preston are good, make no mistake and their forwards, if not sharp, are severely nippy. Coldstream's defence, marshalled by the ageless Paul Cowe (how old is this little bugger?), survivied the first 10 minute onslaught ably aided by Josh McLeod and the two Cornish's (these two lads aren't pasties). And then stepped up the gladiator, Cocoa Crawford, all hairy-chested and full of goals to rasp a free-kick past the Preston wall which wouldn't pass section 2 of the Building Standards. 1-0 to the boys. Preston responded with a spell that would have tested Montgomery in North Afriaca and equalised with a rasping shot. It was 1-1 at half-time and the East Stand faithful could enjoy their sumptious pizzas supplied by sponsor and multi-millionaire Sir Davie Lauder. For most of the early parts of the second half, it was even-steven but that dastardly Preston centre spoiled the game with a great goal. Worse was to follow, when the Coldstream defence was caught Christmas shopping, and the score went to 4-1.  Coldstream fought back and Crawford brought the score back to respectability, notching his 26th goal of the season. Last season, he was released at this stage, what a mockery of goalscoring!. If he keeps going, Spuddy McElwraith's, Keith Haigh's' and Ian Short's goalscoring records willi inevitably go. But this current Coldstream side is not about one man (a point well-accepted by the big man up front). There are many good performers with Walters, the whole of the back four and Neil probably the pick of the bunch. The east standing area, often filled by cynical gits, is filling up with enthusiasts, travelling as far ar Leitholm and Somalia, as the Streamers continue to compete. Keep going Gipper and Co! Remember to sell yer raffle tickets at Barrels tonight. 

East Stand Cynics

This is now 6 games unbeaten for the Streamers (two draws and four wins) in the past period and the Home Park fans are in raptures, Sales of pies are up, sponsors are queuing up like women at the January sales and it's looking good. Yesterday, the blues clearly deserved to win despite the homesters having a good spell in the first half. It was the Streamers who struck first when Craig 'Baigie' Heugh hit a 'swede' shot into the corner of the net. Just before half-time, John Crawford scored when he ripped in a low shot which took a couple of deflections but found the net.The score stood at 2-0 at half-time as the travelling fans discussed knitting, what they were having for their tea and why Allan Wilson was smiling. The second half largely belonged to the Streamers and they went 3 up when new and valuable signing Neil showed the pace of a rat up a drainpipe, rounded the 'keeper end found the net. Coldstream's fans were now on valium. Later on, Crawford got another goal to take his tally to 24 for the season (he really needs to step up a gear!) and Coldstream finished worthy winners. Despite great performances right through the team, the learned and perceptive East Standers gave the MOM award to Martyn Tait, the man with a week of the year named after him ('Taity Week').

East Stand Supporter

More news coming next week.