Today we make the 153 mile journey over the Forth and the Tay to play 5th-placed Brechin City, just under halfway between Dundee & Aberdeen in the Angus countryside. Before then the usual few bits.
Our very-young Reserves lost 3-0 to Civil Service Res, and on the same day our more-aged U18 beat Threave Rovers Res 3-0, Orru (23), Allan (24) and Healy (23) with the goals.
Dunsmore & Slaven made the League 2 Team of the Week, as did 3 Peterhead players, including their GK…..
Ross Meechan is unhappy about not getting game time after my ‘promise’ – I offered a Mutual termination which he turned down, but I have noticed he can play as a DM (He won’t get anywhere near WB(R) with Dunsmore & Munro in the team) so I’ve started training him and will try and get him a few games.
I’ve had a play-around with formations and who we have and this is what I’m going to try.
A 3-5-1-1 Press, using Defensive Wingers whilst allowing 3 at the back, sacrificing the 2nd attacker, but having both CM’s on Attack and underlaps. Other than that pretty simple, I may go to Standard passing, we will see. This means no place for Balde or Faulds, i will have a look at other options as we have a free week after the Brechin game, and a friendly scheduled v Tweedmouth, of the East of Scotland Conference.
So to Brechin we go ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brechin_City_F.C. ), IRL in League 2 after relegation after the 2018/19 season, they were in the Championship for the 2017/18 season so have fallen from grace somewhat, after 11 seasons before that in League 1. In game they are 5th, the scout report is slightly weaker than our squad and they haven’t won in the league since the start of September v Annan, but we know that currently means absolutely nothing at all.
Slaven gets a chance up top – I’ve had a word with McGrath re. his poor form. Watt gets a chance as that left DW, and Hussain comes in as the Cover at the middle of the defensive 3. Just hoping to see some positives today. Brechin go with a 4-1-4-1 DM, sitting back a bit. Lets do this.
HT Brechin 1 (Malcolm Pen 23) Berwick 2 (Slaven 39,41)
A good attacking start from Berwick, but again no output. And yet again FM plays a blinder, 23rd minute, a non-existent penalty against Dunsmore – Malcolm puts it away for Brechin. And Brechin very much had the better of it, but Slaven put us back to 1-1 in the 39th minute with a tap-in of the loose ball at the back post. Defensive Wingers back to Wingbacks, Turner up into centre mid as a DLP. And just 2 minutes later Slaven made it 2, rising above everybody to head in a Watt far post corner. It could have been 3 just before half time when Dunsmore rattled the post. The half ended 2-1, a brilliant turn-around.
FT Brechin 1 (Malcolm Pen 23) Berwick 3 (Slaven 39,41,78) Att 581 (63 Away)
This had the feeling it could very well finish 3-2 Brechin, very nervy. McGrath on for Sutherland on 56, 2 up top, Slaven to TM. Gardiner on for Turner on 73. And success!! A beautiful long ball over found McGrath, who slid the ball across to an unmarked Slaven for his Hattrick, repaying my faith in him in spades. 3-1, 78 minutes gone. Brechin didn’t really offer anything after that, spirits crushed. 3-1 it finished, 3-5-2 formation looks like the winner at the moment.
Cowdenbeath are matching us blow-for-blow beating Peterhead. Stenny drop points against Elgin (Our next opponents). I’d have taken our position after 14 games if you’d offered it to me at the start of the season!
Next up as mentioned we are at Home to Elgin after a friendly v Tweedmouth where I’ll be trying out a 4-2-4. See you then.