It was a tight, competitive game against two good sides looking to get themselves back up to the Second Division. Harry Fowler had the game’s first opportunity in the 2nd minute for Hawick after getting onto a defence-splitting pass from Hewitson to send a low shot across goal.

It the 7th minute it was Man of the Match Ewan Coutts’ turn to replicate a beautiful long ball through the heart of the Hawick defence for Mitchell Sharp to run onto. Sharp appeared to have been brought down by the onrushing keeper Shiel but the referee was unimpressed and waved play on.

Shiel was riding his lucky stars again in the 26th minute when his clearance was charged down by Logan Whyte, with a defender able to get back to clear Hawick’s lines before Whyte could run onto the loose ball. The Burgh no.7 then had a low shot saved by Shiel after good work by Sharp moments later.

On 31 minutes Anderson was played through on the left wing by Ford but Joe Russell was out well to block.

In the 41st minute CJ Thomson went close with a shot on the turn from about 10 yards out after a Callum Roughead throw was flicked on into the Hawick box. A moment later Russell was on hand to pounce on the ball after a corner deep into the Burgh six yard box.

With the game heading into the break goalless there was a change of events when the visitors took the lead in stoppage time. A long ball into the Burgh area was held up by Harry Fowler and then laid off to Anderson who fired home.

With the second half barely started Burgh were back on level terms when a ball forward towards the edge of the Hawick area caught two defenders in confusion as the ball pinballed off each of them. Whyte was in quickest to get a foot in to the loose ball and send a low shot into the corner of the net from about 20 yards out to make it 1-1.

The goal gave the home side a boost and Kyle Tracey went close with an effort laid off by Adam Wilson that flew just over the bar. Mackenzie Williamson then had a good chance in the 49th minute when his shot at the second attempt just beat the bar.

Hawick’s only serious chance of the second half came in the 59th minute when Tom Fowler’s header from a corner from the right hit the base of the post.

In the 70th minute a ball forward by Coutts put Sharp through on goal on the left side of the penalty area. The Burgh top scorer looped the advancing keeper but the ball fell just wide of the far post.

Sharp again was given a good chance in the 79th minute when put through but his effort was blocked by Shiel. Sharp picked up possession again and played a ball across the area which found Williamson who narrowly fired over.

It was a good, close game between two hard-working sides and provided an entertaining spectacle for watching crowd.