Duns Amateurs begin defence of Border Cup with 5-0 first-round knockout of Hawick United
Duns Amateurs began their defence of the Border Amateur Football Association’s Border Cup with a 5-0 first-round knockout of Hawick United on the road on Saturday.
The A division table-toppers’ 6-3 victory against Greenlaw in last May’s final in Eyemouth saw them claim that silverware for the fifth time after prior wins in 1989, 1993, 1999 and 2023, and they’ll be up against 2025’s beaten finalists on the road next as they bid to hit the half-dozen mark.
On target for manager James Brydon’s side at Hawick’s Wilton Lodge Park as they booked their place in this season’s quarter-finals were Jordan Yardley and Kieran Burns at the double and Danny Simpson.
Greenlaw set up their forthcoming reunion with the Dingers by beating Langholm Legion 7-2 at home, with Ally Dickson, Craig Smith and William Smillie all netting at the double and Kai Robertson also scoring and Brian Mattinson getting two back for their visitors.
Saturday’s other round-one ties yielded home wins by 3-2 for Gala Fairydean Rovers Amateurs against Chirnside United and 1-0 for Tweeddale Rovers versus Berwick’s Highfields United.
Lee Macrae, Shayne Bell and Gary Cleghorn scored for Fairydean’s ammies; Scott Wood and Sean Lackenby for Chirnside; and Jamie Clark for Tweeddale.
Besides Greenlaw hosting Duns, this year’s quarter-finals will take Langlee Amateurs to Earlston Rhymers, Fairydean to Eyemouth United Amateurs and Kelso Thistle to Tweeddale on dates yet to be fixed.
Three other first-round trophy ties were played on Saturday, in the Beveridge Cup, and they saw Gala Hotspur win 10-1 away to St Boswells, Hawick Legion knocked out 4-2 away to Leithen Rovers and Stow win 2-1 at home to Tweedmouth Amateurs.
One league fixture was also played, a 3-0 A division win for defending champions Langlee at home to Earlston Rhymers.