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On a glorious Sunday morning at Pilton Park visitors Peebles FC ran out 4-2 victors against Spartans Blues in the Persevere Cup, exacting revenge for their 6-1 defeat to the Blues in Division 3 earlier this season.  

Peebles established a three goal lead by half time with goals from Sean Carruthers, Jamie Falconer and Thomas Hayes, but the Blues produced valiant second half performance, pulling one back through Angus O'Connor, before Hayes made it 4-1, and Johnathon Devers grabbed a late consolation for Spartans.  

From the outset both teams tried to play the ball along the ground, the first chance of the game was for the Blues in the fifth minute after Devers controlled a falling ball well on the edge of the 18 yard box, before slipping through Matthew Patrizio who shot wide.

A minute later Peebles broke the deadlock, Falconer got a tad fortunate when a deflection in the box broke to him on the run, however he gathered the ball and shot, which was saved by Hamish Styles but only as far as Carruthers who tapped in.

To their credit, Spartans were trying to play from the back, with Styles looking to play the ball to feet, but they were being caught in possession in their own third, time and again, and from such an instance Peebles doubled their lead on the 19th minute.

Fraser Anderson was played through after Peebles dispossessed Spartans though his shot was saved by Style for a corner, Falconer hit an excellent strike from the resulting corner.  

Two minutes later Peebles made it three, Falconer playing through Hayes with an excellent through pass, before Hayes shot underneath Styles.  

Peebles sensed blood and continued to press high up the pitch, but Spartans were producing some neat football, and were unfortunate when a vicious shot-cum cross from O'Connor did not end up in the back of the net, although it could have been four, when a volley by Hayes on the 33rd minute was saved.

Half Time: Spartans Blues 0-3 Peebles FC

Spartans started the second half much the brighter of the two sides, with efforts from Patrizio and O'Connor both coming close, before their best chance of the game on the 46th minute.  

Talented midfielder Devers, picked the ball up in his own half and cruised down Peebles left-hand side to the byline, but Patrizio was unable to get a toe on his tantalising pass across goal.

The midfield three of Christian Oroz Storm, Charlie Robertson, and Devers in particular, were dominating the game but Spartans were unable to get the goal their play merited, until O'Connor's powerful low drive from 20 yards made it 3-1 on 56 minutes.  

Kevin Landa and Devers exchanged passes, before the latter hit a wicked dipping volley that Luke Birrell was equal to on the hour mark, while Robertson had another decent chance a minute later.

Forays forward by Peebles were conspicuous by their absence in the second half, but as the match reached the final 10 minutes the team from the Borders threatened more.

Donald Tait saw his shot from an acute angle go wide, and Carruthers hit the side netting after good work to engineer the shooting opportunity for himself.  

With five minute to go Hayes sealed Peebles place in the next round, the sprightly attacker latched on to Styles's goal kick and lashed the ball into the net.

There was still time for a Spartans second, Devers getting the goal his performance deserved after being played in by Landa.

Full Time: Spartans Blues 2-4 Peebles FC