It’s a tough one today, at Home to a Stenhousemuir side second in the pile. That said its a lovely position to be in – they’ve got to come at us, and we will get some gaps at some point.
Before we get to the game the usual few bits.
Our U18’s beat Tranent U18’s 2-0, 16yo James Doolan and triallist Jamie Dishington with the goals.
We are also coming up to the end of the transfer window – I doubt we will be doing anything though, unless a 4*+ CA becomes as available.
Our Ressies also won, 4-1 v Broxburn Ath Res, Jamie Dishington again from midfield and a hat-trick from Cameron McGinn.
Stenhousemuir – They arrive at Shielfield Park with very similar form over the last 5 games, W4 L1, beating Elgin last time out 3-1. Squad-wise our scouts see them as a fair bit weaker than us but they are 2nd, and all that that entails.
So a few changes. McGrath gets a game up top after his brace v Brechin, as an AF. New boys MacIver & McIntosh also come in, it will be fascinating to see how they get on in what beacomes a slightly more attacking tactic. Stenny go with a 5-2-3 WB Wide formation – could be a good clash-of-styles.
HT Berwick 2 (McGrath 4, 15) Stenhousemuir 0
Quite similar strips today in the rain, and Stenny started off well. But Berwick opened the scoring in the 4th minute, another Big Rod long bomb, misread by the Stenny keeper, McGrath controlling, rounding the keeper and defender, tapping in from an acute angle. 1-0 Berwick. A great start. And it was 2 in the 15th, some lovely play on the edge of the area, MacIver to Dunsmore, who’s whipped cross was volleyed home by McGrath for his second of the game. Then not a single highlight until the 44th minute (We’re on Comprehensive!!!) as Stenny go more cautious. We go in 2-0 up 🙂
FT Berwick 2 (McGrath 4, 15) Stenhousemuir 0 Att 483 (45 Away)
It looks like the early rain has stopped. A decent start fron Berwick, McIntosh looks like he’s controlling play as the BWM(D). Very quiet. But in the 67th minute Stenny get a penalty – apparently a McIntosh push on McBride. Hurst steps up and fires it straight down the middle. And the god that is Allison/Alisson doesn’t move, making the save :). McIntosh off for Gardiner in the 76th, Gardiner in as a CM(S). Tom Sutherland on for Cornelius, Barr to CM(A) as he goes DLP(D). So quiet!! McLaughlin on for MacIver for the last few minutes. And that’s that!! 2-0 win, so very very professional, stopping a good Stenhousemuir team from getting a sniff. New boys MacIver & McIntosh with solid 6.8’s 🙂
A quiet week all around, games going pretty much to form. 15 points clear with 12 games left 🙂
So another month bites the dust. We’ve won 10 of the last 11 league games, have 12 left and have a 5 game-and-goal-difference buffer on the rest. And now we have 5 away games on the spin, we don’t play at home again until 13th March 🙂 But I don’t expect that to be an issue for the lads, they are doing a bang-up professional job of getting us up. See you next time for a review of January and a trip to Moray to face Elgin City. See you soon.