Hawick Royal Albert ended their pre-season friendly programme with a 2-0 defeat to junior side Dunbar United at Albert Park on Saturday.
Following a blank first half, Dunbar nettled twice in a three-minute spell during the early stages of the second period.
Albert manager Kenny Aitchison, pictured, told The Hawick Paper: “Dunbar are a very decent side and were a big test for us. Two rapid goals in a mad spell just after half time cost us the game. One came from a goalkeeping mistake and the other should have been avoided as well, so they were both bad goals to lose. We had chances after this, but couldn’t put them away.”
With their friendly matches now over, Royalists kick o their Lowland League campaign tomorrow with a tough trip to face Spartans in Edinburgh, before hosting Selkirk in a Borders derby on Wednesday (7.45pm).
Apart from Shaun Spence, who has re-signed, Albert have a completely new squad from last season. Young Albert manager Aitchison, just 23, faces a baptism of fire against Spartans.
The Ainslie Park side have a strong squad and are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.
But Aitchison is undaunted. “We couldn’t have asked for a much harder opening game than Spartans, but it doesn’t bother meas we have to meet the big teams sometime so why not at the start,” he said.
“We have been working on our defensive shape and will be going into the match with a game plan. I am certainly motivated for the game and so are the players.”
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