Today it’s a biggie, 1st v 2nd as we travel to Fife to play a Cowdenbeath team on a strange run of form – WLLLLLWWDD in the last 10 – who are relatively safe in a play-off place, 11 points clear of East Fife in 5th put will want to try and get a win.
Before then our U18’s won 3-0 away at Bonnyrigg Rose U18’s, 17yo DR Gregor Malcolm, 19yo STC Duncan Johnson and Andy Turner, coming back to full fitness after his nasty ankle ligament injury, with the goals.
Our Reserves won away at Sauchie Reserves 4-1, 18yo AMR Jamie Johnson, 19yo AMC Ross Gilmour, 16yo STC James Doolan and 17yo STC Alex Gourlay with the goals
3 players in the team of the week from the Stranraer game.
I noticed we had a gap in the U18’s staff – no Assistant Manager – I’m pretty sure I’ve tried to fill that before but have been turned down due to money, but now that isn’t an issue. And we’ve signed Ryan Broadhurst. 9’s and 10’s for most things means he’s very good quality for this level.
So to Central Park, Cowdenbeath. 10 games played between the 2 teams in this save, Cowdenbeath are 5-2 up with 3 Draws. Hamish Morrison has also become their starting right-back after leaving us a few weeks back.
Bringing Gardiner back in for McIntosh today – I quite like the CM-DLP(D)-CM setup of a 3 man midfield. McGrath & Turner are back fit and are on the bench. Cowdenbeath are using a 4-1-3-2 DM – will attempt to attack them down the middle where they only have the 1 centre mid.
HT Cowdenbeath 1 (Allen 31) Berwick 2 (Barr 15, Gardiner 43)
After the tunnel interview we step foot onto a rainy Central Park, and in the 4th minute Dean Cornelius gets sent off – it looks really innocuous in the 3D engine….. Looks like its going to be one of those ones. We should have scored in the 11th minute however, a great break, Slaven tapping it to the keeper 1-on-1. And it was 1-0 in the 15th – A Lewis Barr direct FK again!!!! 1-0 Berwick. A bit early to time-waste I think 🙂 We lasted until the 31st minute, Allison pulling off 2 beautiful saves , but Allen was on hand to put in the 3rd. 1-1. But we were keeping in the game, and it was 2-1 in the 43rd, a wonderful run and shot from Archie Gardiner – 2-1 Berwick. And that’s how the half ended. 2-1 up, 10 men since the 4th minute!!! Might think about going 3-5-1 with Wingbacks not too long into the 2nd half.
FT Cowdenbeath 3 (Allen 31, Cunningham 53, Allison OG 60) Berwick 2 (Barr 15, Gardiner 43) Att 637 (165 Away)
It will be a famous victory if we can hold on! Cowdenbeath coming on strong from the off though, and they scored in the 53rd – A Cunningham header close in from a header-back from the back post from a corner. Turner & McIntosh on for Balde & MacIver. Turner as a Half-Back, McIntosh as a BWM. Calamity in the 60th minute though – a Hamish Morrison free kick came off the inside of the post, off of Allison and in for an OG. Fuck! 3-2 Cowdenbeath. Time to attack. McGrath on for Slaven as an AF. Still feels like we are in this. And we are getting chances, Cowdenbeath are just lumping it forward. But it finished 3-2, a superb performance 10 v 11 for 86 minutes. I will be appealing Cornelius’ Red Card.
14 points clear with 9 games left – Stenhousemuir 17 points back after their draw with a decent Stirling side, who we play next. getting tighter at the bottom, Brechin & Peterhead both winning, 6 points between 5th & 10th.
Next time as I mention above its a trip to Stirling for our 4th away game in a row, finishing a mixed February 2021 off. Stirling are 6th, but haven’t lost since 9th January (WWWDDD since then) so I’m expecting a tough one, even though we’re 7-1 up on aggregate against them this season. See you then.