Welcome back to another Berwick Rangers post, which sees us moving into a quiet October (Just the 4 games) still in 2nd place in the Championship after a very good start indeed.
They’re all tough games at this level for a team like ours – That said ate least we have 3 home games after a run of 5 away out of the last 6.
We go straight into the Dunfermline match today – we need a bit of momentum so a win would be amazing.
1st October 2022 – Dunfermline (H) – Ladbrokes Championship
We welcome a Dunfermline side currently in 8th, but unbeaten in the league in 4 games such is the topsy-turvy everybody-beating-everybody nature of the games this season so far.
Playing to our strengths with the 4-1-3-2 – Countering, very good midfield and 2 good strikers… Hoping that this can really progress as a tactic. Macbeath is a good F9, working with Slaven as a Poacher I’m hoping he can link with McLay and Palmer well. Dunfermline go with a 4-2-3-1 Wide. Again , expecting a clash of styles.
FT Berwick 1 (McKay 16) Dunfermline 0 Att 1,586 (493 Away)
A rainy Northumberland afternoon – used to playing in slick conditions here. A quiet first 10. Then one of those really long highlights, back and forth before we move up the pitch with some nice passing. The ball finally falls to McKay, who unleashed an absolute fizzer from 22 yards-or-so. Boom. Our Old friend Chris Barras is playing for Dunfermline, and has picked up a knock early on. Berwick on top – we’ve got to finish out games though. The Dunfermline midfield looking tired already. Macbeath has had a couple of really good chances so far, he needs to be putting them away. It’s pandemonium in the Dunfermline box, but they just seem to be able to block everything currently. 41st minute, Slaven slams the post from just inside the area – feels like another one of those games… 1-0 at the break, 18 shots to 3 to Berwick…
Dunfermline always look dangerous going forwards, we need that 2nd goal. So many chances!!! Carrick on for Macbeath just before 60. TM(S). Almost straight away Cammy Palmer picks up a knock – Sutherland on as the DLP, Turner to Half Back. Potential Thigh Injury – Hammie most probably. Just coming up to 80, Slaven off, Sutherland to AP(S) at AM, Dempsie on in midfield as a Mezzala (left side). Time running down… and there are highlights, but mainly for Berwick. And it’s all over – 1-0 Berwick, should have been 5-0, dominant even if the scoreline doesn’t show it.
Back level with Dundee at the top as Falkirk gets another really good point. Hamilton looking good in 3rd, then a gap back to QotS. Clyde next for us in 2 weeks.
CAMERON PALMER – TORN HAMSTRING – 3 MONTHS. Fuck. A chance for Kristi Marku to step up.
Our U18’s beat Montrose U18’s 8-0 – Goals from James Christie, Roger Scott, James Doolan, Paul McKernon and braces from Kristi Marku and Tom Sutherland. However Paul McKernon sprained knee ligaments and is out for 6 weeks…
Our Ressies lost 1-0 to Arbroath Res.
Aaron Dunsmore in the Championship Team of the Week.
Really awaiting how this takeover has progressed as well – A triallist (Manny Perez) was rated at 5* CA at right-back… he would need a work permit however (USA, was with Celtic, lots of youth caps but no senior, 23 yo)
Our U18’s beat Dumfries Res 2-1, goals from Calum Waters and Cammy Dow.
Our Ressies beat Brechin Res 2-0, goals from Ross MacIver & Connor McManus.
15th October 2022 – Clyde (H) – Ladbrokes Championship
We welcome 8th-place Clyde after a 2 week break – They had a terrible August but have won 2 and drawn 2 of their last 5 games so this will be another tough one no doubt.
Trying out a Carrick & Macbeath front line today, trying to find something that gets the best from Macbeath, who should be a class act up top. Marku gets a chance after Palmer’s injury, going with the Mezzala for him and Mackie gets a start in place of Livingstone, who does look class. Clyde go with a 4-5-1 – no newgens at all.
FT Berwick 2 (Carrick 15, Mackie pen 39) Clyde 1 (Dow 34) Att 1,157 (36 Away)
Wow, its not raining!! Backwards and forwards early doors, Clyde with a good chance, McKay hitting the crossbar with a header from a Mackie Corner. Berwick take the lead in the 15th minute – a Mackie free kick near the corner of the area headed home by Carrick from the edge of the 6-yard box. Our height giving them all kinds of problems. Play for Set Pieces on. Clyde look dangerous on the attack here, wonder if 4-5-1 will be a bit too deep for them? We are winning nearly all headers today. But again, we need that 2nd goal. And it was 1-1 in the 34rd, a deep cross finding Dow on his own to tap in. Poor defending. Only a few minutes later and Berwick win a penalty, Gallagher all over the back of Macbeath from a looped Mackie Corner. Mackie steps up to take it… a beautiful penalty, showing the Keeper the wrong way. 2-1 Berwick. And that’s how it stays at the half-time whistle.
McManus on for Marku at half time – on a yellow and a bit out of his depth. Also trying Carrick as a TM(S), Macbeath as an AF. Over 1,100 Berwick fans in attendance today š 60 minutes comes and goes with no highlights, will leave it until 70 I think for the 2nd sub. Macbeath off, Slaven on as a Poacher. Last 15, Mackie off for Livingstone. And we are in injury time again, just 1 goal up…But we’ve seen another one out!! 2-1 Berwick, yet another win š
Top of the table with a third of the season gone š Dundee pegged back by Patrick Thistle. Hamilton also pegged back by Livingston, We’re now 9 points clear of 5th; play-offs are maybe most likely now…
Another decent break – 11 days until we go to Partick on a Wednesday evening before hosting Dundee on the Saturday – 2 huge games.
And we’ve had the Scottish Cup 3rd Round Draw.
Not quite as far north as playing Wick Academy, but we make the trip to Brora Rangers, currently 15th in the Highland League. Ayr v Livingston is the only all-Championship clash. 5 wins from the final š The tie takes place on 19th November.
Our U18’s beat Burntisland Res 2-0, goals from Cammy Dow & Thomas Dempsie.
Looks like Len’s getting cold feet again. He obviously loves the Rangers so much š
Our reserves lost 2-1 to Ayr Res, James Christie with the goal.
Right – lets have a look at Manny Perez… He wants Ā£900/wk, max is Ā£575…. Bugger š
Our U18’s drew 0-0 with St Andrews U18’s
And Livi beat Dunfermline – Dunfermline in 9th with 9 points meaning we are 17 points clear of the relegation places with 24 games left. I think we are about 4 wins from safety TBH – You would have needed 42 points to stay in 8th last season, but before that 37 was the highest needed for 8th – indeed in 18/19 33 points would have been enough!
Berwick looking to tie me in!! Ā£100 more per week. Looking at Ā£100k compensation if I were to go to another club now, Ā£50k at the end of the season. I’ve signed.
And our Reserves beat Stranraer Res 1-0, James Christie with the goal again! Now rated better than Sean Slaven at TM! 16 strength at 18yo, 5ft 11in.
Games on the Tuesday evening – Dundee go back top with a win at Dunfermline. Falkirk picking up more points with a good win over QotS. Hamilton one point behind us after beating Clyde.
26th October 2022 – Partick Thistle (A) – Ladbrokes Championship
We make the 105 mile journey to Northern Glasgow to face a Partick side languishing a bit in 7th, 12 points from 12 games, no wins in the last 4.
Going with a Carrick/Slaven front 2 as Macbeath hasn’t been setting the world on fire. McManus comes in as the 3rd centre-mid. Livingstone back at left back. Partick start with a 4-2-3-1 Wide.
FT Partick Thistle 4 (Rose pen 45+1, pen 75, Coulibaly 54, Cammy Macbeath 67) Berwick 1 (Joel Macbeath 90) Att 3,959 (125 Away)
Berwick are the All-Whites this evening versus the Partick Yellow-and-Red. 6th Minute, MacPherson sent straight off for a scything lunge. Come on guys!!!! FFS. Bow on for Carrick, Wingbacks up, 3 at the back, try and play compact, slow everything down, that kind of thing. We get to 25 minutes with no real issues, a couple of good saves from Sinclair but not looking too bad. And we are getting chances, Slaven missing a 1-on-1 in the 34th minute. Partick have the ball in the net in the 38th minute, Bannigan well offside. Last minute of the half, Penalty Partick, for absolutely nothing – Looks like FM wants to fuck me today – Dunsmore too forceful with Coulibaly apparently. Rose hammers the Penalty home. 1-0 Partick. 1-0 at the break.
2-0 in the 54th minute – Dunsmore’s poor header straight to Coulibaly, who scores easily. 60th minute, Macbeath on for Slaven. 3-0 in the 66th minute – Cammy Macbeath with a thunderbolt volley from a Spittal free-kick. 1st of the season. Fuck. Off. Game. Mackie on for Livingstone. AND ANOTHER FUCKING PENALTY FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! Certainly did look harsh. Rose scores, 4-0. We get one back in the last minute – Joel Macbeath with a nice header from a Dunsmore cross. That’s how it finished, an absolute shitshow.
Dundee next up.
29th October 2022 – Dundee (H) – Ladbrokes Championship
A really tough one today, without 2 of our best midfielders (MacPherson and Palmer) – I think 4-2-3-1 might be the best plan? Maybe not… Cammy Dow is owned by Dundee so we’d not have a left winger…
Slightly more defensive, McManus as the DLP(D) in Centre Mid, Archie Gardiner starts as a CM(A) with McKay, Turner plays as a HB. Macbeath starts as an AF to Carrick’s TM(S). Mackie starts as DL-WB(S). Dundee start with a 4-2-3-1 Wide.
FT Berwick 0 Dundee 2 (Forrest 55, pen 74) Att 1,946 (864 Away)
Back to the rain this afternoon š A quite first 25, 2 highlights, Dundee with a long shot and McKay clipping the bar from 25 yards. But in the 34th minute we get a penalty this time!! McKay tripped by Ralston. Mackie steps up… and Ridgers saves brilliantly low to his left. And from the clearance Dundee break and Turner gets sent off for what looked like a perfectly good tackle. Fuck this game! Only thing I’m changing is Get Stuck In is now off, this is a joke. Still getting chances near the end of the half. 0-0 at the break.
Nearly 2,000 people in the ground today!! Dundee bringing 864. A decent start to the half, but Dundee open the scoring in the 55th minute – Mackie missing a header, Forrest scoring well at the back post. Livingstone on for Mackie. Quiet until the 73rd minute, when a good Berwick attack is broken on, and a penalty given to Dundee again for a beautiful tackle by Nicolson. What the Actual Fuck. Forrest steps up and scores well. 2-0 Dundee, completely undeserved. Marku on as AP(A) at AM for Macbeath, who’s had another poor game. Last 8 or so, Sutherland on for Gardiner, who has looked pretty good. Fucked by the Ref yet again, 2-0 it finished.
Three draws means the loss wasn’t too hurtful, but Get Stuck On needs to come off now, the Match Engine has fucked me twice in two games now.
That’s it for games, just a few more days to get through.
Our U18’s beath Bonnyton Res 5-0, goals from James Doolan, James Christie and a hat-trick from non-player Allan McKenna.
Our Reserves lost 1-0 to Morton Res.
And that’s that – 2 great wins, 2 terrible results, 1 caused by a justified sending off, but 2 unjustified penalties, the 2nd caused by an unjustified sending off and an unjustified penalty.
Just the 4 games next month – All the league games will be tough. See you soon.