We make the 92 mile journey inland to play Stenny today, a game with nothing riding on it. get ready for a classic š š š
We’ve had a couple of games for the support teams – The U18’s winning 3-1 away at Lochar Thistle U18’s (18yo STC Paul McCarthy & two triallists, Euan East & Grant Rose, with the goals) and our ressies won 2-1 away at Burntisland Shipyard Res – 19yo AMR Jamie Johnson & 16yo MC MotM Spencer Bennett, all 5ft 4in of him, with the goals.
Both Stenny & Berwick have moved on this season – with 4 games left Stenny have 5 points more than what they ended with last season (53 now v 48 last), Berwick 25!! (73 v 48). 72 points won the league last season. 52 points got the last playoff-spot.
Back to the 4-3-3 wingplay – Balde & MacIver in, Slaven up top as an AF, Barr partnering Turner & Cornelius in Centre mid with Gardiner having a rest. Faulds back in at left-back, furthering his match experience. We go Positive. Stenny go with a 5-2-3 WB Wide formation – should be an interesting clash of styles!!!
HT Stenhousemuir 0 Berwick 1 (Slaven 15)
We start well on a tiny little postage-stamp of a pitch, very congested. 1-0 Berwick in the 15th minute, a deep cross by Dunsmore finding Slaven in space, who tapped in for his 26th of the season. getting some good chances – last-ditching defending stopping the 2nd. Barr is looking a bit lightweight in centre-mid – he’s lost the ball a fair bit today, might swap him & Turner at HT. 1-0 Berwick at the half.
FT Stenhousemuir 0 Berwick 1 (Slaven 15) Att 417 (65 Away)
We start the second half in the pouring April rain after a few little tweaks, trying to find a way through a morass of claret shirts. 4-4-2 Narrow Diamond for the last 30 mins – McLaughlin, Gardiner & McGrath on for Balde, MacIver and Barr. Very quiet overall. Stenny really pressed towards the end but couldn’t break us down. 1-0 it finished.
19 points clear with 3 games left, Cowdenbeath pull 1 more point clear of Stenny in 2nd with a 2-2 v Elgin. Stranraer now 8 points clear of Annan in 5th with 9 to play for, so it looks like the play-off places are (almost) set. The same at the bottom, Peterhead 7 points off of 9th. At the moment there are a few teams in with a shout of promotion from non-league, Queen’s Park, Gretna 2008 & BSC Glasgow in the Lowland League, Lossiemouth, Keith & Fraserburgh in the Highland League. Arbroth have already been relegated to League 2 from League 1, 9th looks to be between Buckie Thistle & Edinburgh City. Morton are favourites to be relegated to League 1 from the Championship, Dunfermline favourites for the play-off v either Forfar, Alloa or Dumbarton (St. Johnstone look set to be promoted from League 1).
Next up we play Elgin City in our run of 3 celebratory home games to round off the season. See you then.