Winning start for The Burgh

Wigtown and Bladnoch 0 Lochmaben 3 LOCHMABEN began their 2025/26 South of Scotland League journey with a 3-0 win against Wigtown and Bladnoch at Trammondford Park. The Burgh started fast with a goal from Lee Taylor in the first five minutes. Kieran Brown then stepped up to slot home a penalty after Denver Milligan was brought down in the box around the half hour mark. Wigtown battled hard and made it a physical battle before the break. In the second 45, Lochmaben once again started strongly, seeing plenty of the ball and playing the game in Wigtown’s half. A couple of good moves from a short goal kick give the home side their best chance of the game. Connor Graham scored in the last two minutes from an Adam White cross to seal the three points for Lochmaben. Three points and a debut clean sheet for goalkeeper Sam Henderson sets The Burgh up nicely for a home fixture against reigning league champions Lochar Thistle tomorrow afternoon. Mid Annandale 3 Abbey Vale 3 A SUNNY day at Lockerbie’s New King Edward Park on Saturday saw the Mids open their league campaign with a thrilling six goal draw against Abbey Vale in front of a sizeable, expectant crowd. A youthful Mids started with five regulars missing from their line up, due to injuries and holidays. And they were up against it for the first half hour, with the Vale well on top but failing to take any of their many chances. As football fortunes would have it, however, it was the home side who pounced just before half time to turn around two goals to the good. Both goals were well taken by left winger Jordan Harley and both were expertly created by attacking midfielder Luke Hammond. After the break it was the turn of the New Abbey travelling support to cheer as the Vale came storming back with two quick strikes just after Harley missed a chance for his hat trick. Play then swung from end to end and the stand erupted when once again, after 62 minutes, Hammond set up Thomas Crooks with a terrific through ball for the youngster to belie his years and chip the advancing keeper with a wonderful lob. The Mids made a valiant effort to hang on to their slender lead but with ten minutes remaining a cracking 20 yarder brought Abbey Vale level and, despite late chances for both sides, it finished 3-3, probably the fairest result all round. Harley was adjudged the Mids man of the match following his two goals. The team are back at Lockerbie tomorrow for a home league fixture against Wigtown.