Football: Hawick Royal Albert 0-1 Leith Athletic

Near however was all that the Albert Park men got as a last gasp goal earned table topping Leith Athletic a dramatic victory.

Hawick began brightly and came near to breaking the deadlock during the opening exchanges when Blake Wales fired in an angled drive that appeared destined for the corner of the net, until Leith keeper Ian Gordon launched himself full length to tip the ball round he post.

The Albert continued to look the part and Josh Morris was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet in beating Gordon with a free kick only to see his effort hit the post.

After Gordon had pulled off impressive saves from Morris and Stewart Crozier, Scott Wilson stabbed home a Lewis Morton pass at the other end, only for a goal to be chalked off for offside.

After Wilson had came near to opening the scoring at the beginning of the second half, Hawick replied with a raid that ended in Morris chipping a shot over Gordon.

A goal looked on the cards until Neil Lawson came to Athletic’s aid with a headed clearance.

From here on the pattern of the game began to change.

Showing more drive and purpose than they had done in the first, Leith were pushing forward and stretching the Albert defence to the full.

Four minutes from time however Andy Laidlaw almost did the business for Hawick in heading a Morris cross just wide of the target.

With a minute remaining the sun shone for Leith.

In a crowded goalmouth, Lewis Martin hit a shot against the post.

Chris Beaton then did the same on meeting the rebound.

Hawick failed to clear and Lawson stepped in to rattle a shot into the net.

And it was game over.

Expressing his thoughts on the game, Hawick assistant manager Dean Robertson said, “We were very unlucky not to get something out of the game as we played well against a good side.

“Our guys couldn’t be faulted as they gave their all and it’s very frustrating that they had nothing to show for it.”