Today we face a tough trip to Stranraer (Stranraer!!! Get me Zantac Kenny!), and after last weeks horror-show in the 2nd half we need a good result, a la Brechin to get up back on the title match.
Before then our U18’s drew 0-0 with Gala Fairydean U18’s and our Reserves lost a tight one v Airdrie Res 4-3, goals from Tom, Sutherland and a brace from Ross Gilmour.
Nicolson & Cornelius in the League 2 team of the week after their crackers versus Elgin.
Ross goes to Cumbernauld (mid-table in the Lowland League) until the end of next season. He’s got decent potential (3.5*/4.5*) and is 6ft 5in so he may have a future with Berwick, but it will be good for him to be getting game time at a decent level before that point to help with his development.
So to Stranraer – 4th, decent squad (Season Preview has them 3rd, we are back at the top following our transfer dealings – Dean Cornelius now in the Media Dream 11!!) and they’ve been on amn up-and-down run, W2 D3 L1 since the turn of the year.
McLaughlin gets a start on the right wing, Slaven back for the injured McGrath. Barr goes to DLP(S), we go a bit more cautious. Got the feeling of one of those form slumps, I hope I’m wrong. Stranraer go with a 5-1-2-2 DM WB style – Might try for an overload out wide.
HT Stranraer 0 Berwick 2 (Slaven 35, 43)
Berwick start off on the front foot but Stranraer look dangerous going forward. And then the rain starts to pour down – I noticed the Brechin v Annan game had been postponed so its obviously a bit of a damp spell. It’s quite even, Stranraer hitting the post and Berwick having a lot of decent chances. And it was that man Sean Slaven who made it 1-0 Berwick. 35 gone. A towering header from a corner that the keeper should have come for. And he made it 2 in the 43rd minute, pouncing on the loose ball after a Balde shot was well saved low to the keeper’s right. And its tayed that way until half time – feeling very lucky to be 2-0 to the good TBH,
FT Stranraer 1 (Ball 61) Berwick 2 (Slaven 35, 43) Att 430 (58 Away)
Stranraer out of the blocks well as we sit back a little, looking to Counter. We need to be a bit more solid comapred to last week. But it was 2-1 in the 61st – a Lewis Bell header direct from a corner. MacIver on for McLaughlin, Gardiner for McIntosh. Stranraer themsslves are trying to Counter more. Think we need to press on a bit? Currie in the Stranraer goal keeping them in this. McIlduff on for Faulds for the last 10. Somehow it’s not 3-1, a succession of corners all scrambled away. And this time we successfully shut down shop. It finished 2-1, a huge win. Just the 22 goals in the league for Seany-Boy so far 🙂
17 points lads & lasses!! 10 games left. Stenny rescue a point late on v Cowdenbeath. We should be securing a play-off spot at some point in the next 3 games. Peterhead close on Brechin at the bottom, trying to avoid the dreaded relegation playoff.
Next up is the last of the 3rd round of fixtures out of 4 – Away at Cowdenbeath, knowing a win would put us 20 points above them, and at least 18 above Stenhousemuir with just 9 games left. See you then.