Today we make the 99 mile trip to Cumbernauld to face Clyde FC of the Championship (Finished 8th last season, season preview of 10th) just 65 hours after finishing our game with Stranraer, knowing a win may not be enough to get us to the second round and another possibly-lucrative journey to a big Premiership club. We’ve not faced Clyde but I’ve been to the stadium with Civil Service as Cumbernauld Colts groundshare with Clyde there.
A few bits before the game to go through.
NEW SIGNING (Youth)
Iain MacKenzie
- 19yo GK
- 6ft 4in
- Started his career at Dundee Utd
We have a real lack of goalkeepers at the club with Ross Kostromin on loan at Cumbernauld Colts for the season, and Tom Warburton and Mark Burke having gone to pastures new, so we welcome Iain on a 3 year deal at £40/wk. really good potential on this one, and already better than Kyle Allison in a good few areas, especially the mentals which is interesting. Welcome Iain!
NEW SIGNING (Youth)
Martin McStay
- 20yo DR (Cover for Aaron Dunsmore)
- 5ft 10in
- Comes in on a free – Started his career at Hamilton and played a full season for Rothes in the Highland League in 19/20
Martin McStay comes in as backup to Aaron Dunsmore as Marky Munro kicked up a stink about game-time and will most probably going out on loan. Good potential and impressive physically.
So to the Clyde match. They’ve won 2 of the 3 games in this group by penalty shootout, and lost to Falkirk 1-0 so they won’t be a pushover. We will need a good win (3 goals plus) to be in with a shot of qualification IMO. The head-to-head shows Berwick playing Clyde 4 times this save (2018/19 before I managed them, in League 2), Clyde winning 3, 1 Draw.
Leitch & Turner the central-midfield pairing today, Big Rod in for Morgyn Neill at the back. Swapped out Sinclair for Allison in goal. Clyde go with a 4-5-1. Again, I just want a good performance showing progression for the league campaign ahead.
FT Clyde 1 (Herron 80) Berwick 3 (Slaven 17, 47, 90+2) Att 448 (86 Away)
Welcome to Cumbernauld. A quiet start, pretty even. Berwick slightly more involved, by Clyde dangerous when they have the ball. And the deadlock was broken in the 17th minute. MacIver, who’s started the season running, moved diagonally right to centre unchallenged for 30 yards or so, shot left footed from 15 yards out, hit the inside of the right-hand post and Seany Boy was on hand to tap in for his first of the season 🙂 1-0 Berwick. Clyde scored almost straight after, but it was ruled out for offside. Clyde trying the long ball over the top to lone-man Tierney, who keeps going offside. Clyde definitely upping their attacking intent towards the end of the half. But it finished 1-0, quite evn, though Berwick had 58% possession.
A superb start to the 2nd half, 2-0 90 seconds in, a gorgeous Mackie cross (Turned on Overlaps at half time) flicked in by Sean Slaven, in-off the left hand post and keeper’s back (Though it was over the line by then). Pinpoint. However looking at the current standing we will need another couple of goals to go through (Currently 5th best 2nd placed side, Raith are a goal ahead). Keep it going lads!!! 58 gone, Tom Sutherland on for Davidson. Clyde looking dangerous now as we try to get the 3rd, Allison keeping it 2-0. Going into the last 20 we look like we’re the 4th best 2nd placed team…We need to score again at least i think. McIntosh on for Turner with 17 left. And it was 2-1 in the 80th, a 20 yarder from Herron. We’re looking tired. McGinn on up top as a PF(S), MacIver off, Sutherland out to the left wing, 4-2-4, twin BWM(S) in midfield. 84 minutes, Slaven hits the post from 18 yards, so close!! 5 minutes added on… and then calamity for Clyde, a terrible attempt at a passed clearance by keeper Mackay, straight to Slaven, who completes his hat-trick. #Scenes. Think we need Forfar to equalise versus Stirling though…. And that’s the final whistle – a brilliant win versus higher-division opponents, regardless of qualification or no.
Just over £30k for finishing 2nd in the group, but not quite enough to get in the top 4 2nd placed team. East Fife & us were join 6th best 2nd place team. Interestingly Hearts failed to qualify!!! They finished 4th in the Premiership last season.
Next up is the start of our League 1 season – away to favourites for the league Morton… See you soon.