Today we entertain Stenhousemuir in Match Day 13 of the 2021/22 season. Stenny are bottom, we’re in 3rd but really need to start winning games rather than drawing.
As there are 2 weeks between this game and the previous outing at Alloa there are a few bit to go through.
The day after the Alloa game both our other team played – the Ressies losing 1-0 to Morton Res, the U18’s beating Montrose U18’s 3-1 in a friendly (Goals from Lewis Barr, Conor McLaughlin & George Mitchell).
NEW SIGNING
Barry Maguire
- 23yo DC
- 6ft 2in
- Started his career at Motherwell, had some championship experience
- IRL still with Motherwell
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Maguire_(footballer,_born_1998)
Barry Maguire comes in after a successful trial, having been released by Morton at the end of last season. really surprised no one had picked him up. He comes in as our 2nd best owned player by CA and should be a starting CD, or at least rotating with Bow, Neill & Armstrong. Decent in the air and quick, he will be ideal at the centre of a 3. A steal at just £130/wk.
As we have a Saturday off I decided to try out a Control Possession 4-2-3-1 – Maybe wingers are the answer – versus Musselburgh Athletic in a friendly.
FT Berwick 5 (Mackie pen 12, 61, Palmer 48, McLaughlin 57, Dow 58) Musselburgh Athletic 0 Att 169 (4 Away)
Considering we played 75 minutes with 10 men (Dunsmore with a ludicrous doble-footer getting a straight Red) that was pretty good. Dow looked fearsome on the left. Maguire didn’t put a foot wrong, all very good.
Our U18’s and Ressies have had more games – The U18’s beating St. Andrews U18’s 3-0 (Goals from 17yo DL Tom Grant, 17yo STC Alex Gourlay & 18yo DL John Graham), the Ressies beating Alloa 7-0 (Goals from Thomas Dempsie, Tom Sutherland, 2 from Lewis Barr & a hat-trick of penalties for centre back Jordan Armstrong!!!)
And we get to match day. Stenhousemuir have nobody above 2.5* CA according to our scouts. These are always the hardest games.
Back to the 4-2-3-1 Wide – We welcome back wingers Cammy Dow and Ross MacIver. Slaven up top as the TM(A), Martin as the playmaker at No.10. Palmer & McIntosh as the Central Midfield. Mackie & Dunsmore doing what they do, new signing Maguire partnering Bow in central defence and Sinclair in goal. We are going for possession, try and choke the life out of the opposition, and I think we have the quality to unlock defences at this level. Stenny go with a 5-2-3 WB formation, should be an interesting one.
HT Berwick 0 Stenhousemuir 1 (Johnson 35)
A flurry of Berwick chances early on, by lacking quality, and Stenhousemuir take the lead in the 35th minute, Kyle Johnson’s initial header saved by Sinclair, but parried straight back at him for a tap in. Come on Lads, this is poor. 1-0 at Half Time.
FT Berwick 0 Stenhousemuir 2 (Johnson 35, Murray 62) Att 596 (45 Away)
OK, Wingers ditched – Armstrong on to go on the left of the back 3, Turner on as a DLP(S) in DM, slightly withdrawn. A bit better at the start of the half, Slaven heading just over from a Dunsmore cross. But out of nowhere in the 62nd minute Stenny go 2-0 up, Murray from 15 yards for his 1st of the season(!). Davidson on for Maguire, Turner to Half Back, centre mids to Carillero, Davidson as an AM(S). That was absolute toss, 2-0 at FT, first loss since the 2nd game of the season. Maybe my fault for trying the wingers again, confused their tiny little minds? Lots to by thought about.
Everybody beating everybody else still, so still just 4 points off the lead even though we’re 5th. Nobody has lost less than us, nor drawn more…
Next up in another 2 weeks is our last game of October, at home to an in-form Edinburgh City. See you then.