Today we start our 4th season in Management with a trip to Falkirk in Group E of the Betfred Cup – the competition that led to us playing Rangers at Ibrox, with all that lovely money that has helped us so much since.
Our game v Ayr will be televised, so another £5k into the coffers for that.
NEW SIGNING (STAFF)
Gary Stopforth arrives as a first team coach – his first staff job after a playing career starting at Blackburn in the Premier League. 15 Att, 13 Men, amazing Mentals & 11 Fitness, a cut above what we have currently – We now have the best staff in League 2 apart from Goalkeeping & Sports Science. Solid.
3rd July – FRIENDLY – Berwick 6 (Davidson 10, 15, McIntosh 18, Slaven 39, 45+2, Sutherland 80) Tweedmouth 1 (Moffat 73) Att 260 (100 Away)
A satisfactory first run-out. new boy Davidson looked very sharp, and Sean Slaven got a brace as well.
A tough draw in the IRN-BRU Cup – Our Senior Affiliates Dundee (Championship) Away. They tend to get 5/6,000 attendances so we should get a bit of gate cash from it at the very least.
PLAYER LEAVING
Kieran McGrath has gone to Partick Thistle in the Championship in a deal worth about £10k. I didn’t see him getting much playing time with Seany-Boy up top, and couldn’t stand in the way of Kieran’s career progression. We wish him well.
7th July – FRIENDLY – Forres Mechanics 0 Berwick 2 (Barr 21, Christie 61) Att 101 (18 Away)
Quite a tough friendly versus a good Highland League opponent, who finished 4th last year. No injuries which is always good. Lewis Barr and James Christie (16yo Pressing Forward, 2* CA already) with the goals.
LOANEE SIGNING
George Mitchell
- 18yo STC
- 6ft
- On loan from Rangers – scored 16 in 29 league games last season in league 2 for Annan, scoring against us in the March league game
George Mitchell arrives for the season as a really good back-up/foil to Sean Slaven up top. He has pedigree, 16 in 29 league games for an Annan side that finished 7th in League 2. Problem is I’ve just noticed he’s recovering from a Sports Hernia received after I bid for him for Loan……We should have him back in 3 weeks.
10th July – Betfred Cup Group E – Falkirk (A)
We make the 85 mile journey along the Firth of Forth to play Championship Falkirk – Season preview has them finishing 5th – for our first competitive game of the season. It would be lovely to get out of this group and into the 2nd round as you never know, Rangers or Celtic Away could happen again 🙂
Before we start I’d usually produce a video of the comprehensive highlights of both halves – going forward I’m going to go to a key Highlights single video after the game as I’m finding it takes a while to put the Comprehensive Highlights together.
We go tried and tested, 4-2-3-1, Slaven up top, Sutherland and MacIver on the wings, though Tom will drift in as an AP. Leitch & Turner in the middle, Mackie and Dunsmore bombing on as the wingbacks and new centre-back partnership Morgyn Neill & Jordan Bow get their first starts. Lastly Ross Sinclair starts in goal; 6 new players compared to the end of last season. Falkirk go with a 4-1-2-3, so the mirror to ours, so we go man-for-man. Should be interesting but I’m not expecting anything today.
FT Falkirk 2 (Murdoch 15, Reynolds 63) Berwick 0 Att 2,876 (108 Away)
We start in a blindingly white kit today, and its a good start from the boys. Falkirk look dangerous though, moving really well and went 1-0 up in the 15th minute – Murdoch with a 20-yarder past new boy Sinclair. We did really well for the rest of the half, playing the ball around well but with no end product. 1-0 Falkirk at half time. 65% Possession to Berwick!!
A few tweaks at half time, Sutherland to IF(A), Davidson as the AP(S) in the middle of the park. Falkirk looking to go longer, this will test the back 2. Leitch & Davidson off on 60, Archie Gardiner & Sean McIntosh on, Gardiner as a CM(A), McIntosh as a CM(D) and Turner back to DM as a DLP(S). Almost straight away it was 2-0, Reynolds with a free header from a free kick. Again, we are still getting chances and having a lot of the ball, just pulling the trigger isn’t happening yet. Daryl healy on for Sutherland for the last 15 as an IF(S), Mackie asked to go WB(A). It finished 2-0, a fiar result but lots of positives for us as well.
In the other game in our group Clyde beat Stranraer on pens after a 0-0, meaning a 2-point win in this competition.
On the same day our U18’s beat BSC Glasgow U18’s 1-0 – 17yo STC Alex Gourlay with the goal.
Next up in 4 days is our second group game, at home to Championship side Ayr (Season Preview 6th) – See you then.