And he had every reason to be as he had seen his side gain a victory that took them to joint top spot in the league alongside Kelso Thistle.

Talking of his team's showing, Shepherd told us: " I thought we were the better side, but we made it hard for ourselves. However, I was very pleased with the result. We got the win we set out for and that's what it's all about."

It was Tweedmouth, however, who opened the brighter of the two teams, and Andrew Tait came near to scoring in the opening minutes, but he blazed a David Blackhall pass over the bar. United then showed what they had to offer and the visitors' keeper Ian Poulson had to be at his best to tip away a raging Ross Wallace drive, following good play by William Cooper. Minutes later, William Cooper squandered a good chance.

With 36 minutes gone, Tweedmouth broke the deadlock. Taking advantage of some poor marking, Nicky Clark latched onto a Blackhall cross and fired home.



The visitors' joy was shortlived, though, for within a minute, United got back on level terms. Following a good move down the left, Steven Shields beat Poulson with a header and his effort appeared goalbound. Paul Cooper, however, made absolutely certain by darting in to ram a shot into the back of the net.

Early in the second period, Shields then had an opportunity to put the homesters in front when he broke clear down the flank, only to slice his shot well wide.

In the 54th minute, though, United did go ahead through a well taken goal from Scott Storrie, who beat Poulson with a clever back-header. An excellent stop by Poulson from William Cooper then prevented United from adding to their tally, and just after this Matthew Moor came to Tweedmouth's aid by clearing a Warren Law header off the line.

An injury to United keeper Finlayson, then saw central defender Dean Fry going in goal. And the deputy number one soon showed his mettle in pulling off tip-top saves from Clark and Blackwell.

In the closing stages, David Strathdee almost got his name on the scoresheet with a well struck free-kick that Poulson did well to keep out.

United: Finlayson, Richardson, Shields, Strathdee, Fry, Ellins, Shepherd, Wallace, W. Cooper, Storrie, P. Cooper. Subs: Lavery, Law, Lowe and Gracie.