MATCH PREVIEW - BERWICK RANGERS (H)

We open our 2017 fixtures on Saturday afternoon when bottom of the table Berwick Rangers are our first visitors of the year to Central Park as we revert back to the usual 3 p.m. kick off.

Back in September on their last visit a first half brace from Steven Thomson gave John Couglin's side a 2-0 win in what was their first success at Central Park since March 2008 in a Second Division fixture.

The return game at Shielfield Park in November proved to be an eventful one with Greg Rutherford getting his first goal for the Borderers to give them a first half lead. Thomson was then sent off on the hour after stopping a goalbound Kris Renton header, but Dean Brett's resultant spot kick came off the underside of the crossbar.

Then in a dramatic injury time period Berwick were reduced to nine men after the long serving Steven Notman was sent off for a tackle on Kyle Miller seconds before sub Cameron Muirhead grabbed a deserved equaliser with his first goal for the first team.

Berwick's September win saw them move into third place in the table with ten points from their opening six games but since then they have only seen one further win, 3-2 at home to Stirling Albion in mid December, which coupled with our win over Stirling saw them fall to the foot of the table with eight points from their last 12 league outings.

The Scottish Cup also brought little joy as they went down 3-2 at home to Lowland League new boys Hawick Royal Albert with former Borderer Josh Morris bagging a hat trick in the opening 38 minutes against his old side.

The last month has seen manager Couglin bring in four new faces to bolster his side. Samuel Perez older brother of Newcastle's Ayoze, who played for Blyth Spartans against us in a pre season game a few seasons back, was recruited from Team Northumbria, whilst former Central Parker Pat Scullion was signed last month on loan from Alloa and has played in their last three games scoring on his debut at Annan in a 3-1 defeat.

Ahead of the game he also signed two players released from Arbroath. Defenders Gary Phillips and Michael Dunlop both make a quick return to Central Park having been in the Arbroath squad for our last home game. Phillips played the 90 minutes of Arbroath's 2-0 win while Dunlop, the son of former Central Parker Russell, was an unused sub against his hometown side.

Two players to depart Shielfield this week were Graeme Beveridge and Barry Hogg.

After losing three successive games in December we of course brought that run to a halt last Saturday afternoon with our 2-0 win over Stirling with Goals from Renton and Lewis Moore, however head coach Liam Fox will be forced to make one change to his line up as Fraser Mullen serves a suspension after picking up his sixth yellow card of the season against Arbroath on Christmas Eve.

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE: Ryan Milne ASSISTANT REFEREE'S: Garry Hilland & Tony Fullerton.

ADMISSION

ADULTS: £12

CONCESSIONS: £6 (65 and over, 16 and under, students). ID maybe asked for concession admissions.

FAMILY: £14 (1 adult and one child aged 12 or under) £15 (1 adult with 2 children 12 or under).

SEASON TICKET: Voucher 10.

PROGRAMME: £2.50 (full colour 48 page edition).

Previewer: Andrew Mullen.