MATCH REVIEW - BERWICK RANGERS (A)

BERWICK RANGERS 1 COWDENBEATH 3

Saturday 11th March, Ladbrokes League Two Match No 26, Att 408.

Our winless run came to an end at the eighth time of asking at Shielfield Park last Saturday afternoon, with the result putting us five points behind Clyde who fell back to second bottom.

With the departure of Liam Fox earlier in the week Neil Hastings and Burton O’Brien took charge of the side, with the new management team viewing from the stand, and made one change with Mullen coming in for Moore.

Berwick were first to attack and in the opening minute Laverty sent a cross into the box from the right but the danger was cleared, while Carrick broke through at the other end but his shot was held by Brennan.

Soon after Carrick was fouled by Spark but Mullen’s free kick was eventually cleared for a corner.

The lively Carrick then beat Scullion to send the ball into the home six yard box but Renton just failed to connect.

The breakthrough however came with 16 minutes gone when a kick from Sneddon reached Renton who played the ball to Robbie BUCHANAN who slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs from six yards.

Berwick’s reply saw both Rutherford and Notman send shots over the bar as we went in at the interval with a narrow lead.

The second half was just 60 seconds old when we doubled our advantage. Henderson whipped the ball into the Berwick box, with Brennan pulling off a great one handed save from Renton’s header but Brian ROSS was on hand to nod home the subsequent rebound.

On the hour mark the home side had a good opportunity to pull a goal back when Laverty sent the ball across the face of the goal but McKirdy just failed to connect at the back post.

A minute later a Pyper cross reached Buchanan but his shot was saved by the keeper but with 67 minutes gone we got a deserved third goal when Kris RENTON latched onto a through ball from Carrick and beat both central defenders before lobbing the ball over Brennan.

Further chances saw a Buchanan shot blocked while a Henderson effort was parried for a corner, but it was the Borderers who were to pull a goal back with 11 minutes to go when Murrell sent in a cross which was slotted home at the near post by Greg RUTHERFORD from what was their only shot on target during the game.

TEAM: Sneddon, Pyper, Rumsby, McLauchlan, Rutherford, Mullen, B Ross, Buchanan (Johnston 76), Henderson, Carrick (Moore 82) & Renton (Glen 90+2). Subs not used – McGurn, O’Brien & Muirhead.

Goals: Buchanan (16), B Ross (46), Renton (67).

BERWICK RANGERS: Brennan, Hamilton, Philips (Varlaque 68), Notman, Scullion (Fairbairn 68),Spark, Thomson, Lavery, Rutherford, McKirdy & Kessells (Murrell 68). Subs not used – Goodfellow, Donker, Watt & Orru.

Goal: Rutherford (79).

Booked: McKirdy (42), Fairbairn (86).

REFEREE: Steven Reid.