CS Strollers 1-2 Berwick Rangers
Monday 26th October 2009
We made it through to the Third Round of the Scottish Cup with a more comfortable victory than the narrow scoreline would suggest against a fired up Strollers outfit, though it took a glaring last minute miss by home sub Reid to avoid the unneccesary hurdle of a replay.
This was one of those matches that the pundits describe as a "potential banana skin", and so it proved on an occasion which evoked memories of a time when football was a more innocent,less cynical sport. Readers of Irvine Welsh's literary tributes to the dark underbelly of Edinburgh's sink estates will be familiar with the area which Strollers call home,but such is the unstoppable momentum of progress that even Granton has been gentrified. Strollers' pitch however, is an uncomplicated affair, little more than an open field upgraded for the day by having a rope strung around the perimeter to keep the 387 strong crowd at bay.
Jimmy Crease had weightier matters to worry about, and resisted the temptation to meddle with the team that performed so well at Livingston a week earlier.Blessed by an unexpected break in the filthy weather that had preceded the game, Strollers started aggressively and Mark Peat found himself called into action sooner than he might have expected,diving to collect Sommerville's 2nd minute shot on the turn. Ian Little should have given Rangers the lead three minutes later, sliding an 18 yard shot inches wide from Stuart Callaghan's slide-rule pass.With Rangers on top in the early stages,Jamie Ewart sliced a Callaghan corner wide in the 7th minute before Strollers replied with Campbell's header two minutes later. By now, it was becoming apparent that Rangers' usual short passing game was not going to work on a tight pitch with a pronounced slope and a bumpy surface and that the best way to test Strollers would be to get the ball forward more quickly, but Rangers' midfield, with the exception of Paul Currie, persisted with square balls that inevitably resulted in forfeiting possession. Despite the scrappy nature of the play,Rangers continued to create a series of half chances,Currie volleying wide in the 19th minute before Burgess gave Strollers a dserved lead in the 32nd minute, bulleting home Barbirou's free kick after Forbes had skinned Elliot Smith down Rangers' left flank. Rangers responded by forcing a barrage of corners but with Barbirou and Jack dominant in the air, Strollers made sure they were first to every set piece.Seven minutes before the break, Paul Currie cracked in a low cross which eluded the incoming Brazil and Radzynski by inches.
Rangers had the slope in their favour in the second half and Jimmy Crease's half-time introduction of Fraser McLaren in place of the ineffectual Radzynski made the crucial difference, the ex-Gretna man's movement and pace pulling the previously composed Strollers defence all over the place.Within two minutes of the restart, Brazil broke through but allowed the ball to run away from him with only Ramsey to beat,before Crease added to Rangers' firepower by introducing the more direct Paul McMullan for Greenhill. Once again,the move worked a treat, McMullan's trickery and ability to hit the byline giving Rangers a stream of chances as they encamped in the Strollers half. The pressure was evident in the length of time Ramsey was taking on his goal kicks. The only surprise was that he did'nt break out the cigars and kick back in his slippers and smoking jacket.Cometh the hour,cometh the man, and with 60 minutes gone McLaren pounced on Ewart's long clearance to outpace a tiring home defence and crack a low shot under Ramsey.Graham Guy should have given Rangers the lead a minute later,bulleting Callaghan's corner over when he should have hit the target. Rangers were not denied a lead for long. On 65 minutes McLaren finished expertly again after latching on to Brazil's through ball and shooting across Ramsey into the far corner for a another excellent strike. The black and gold had hit their stride by now and McMullan set up McLaren for his hattrick header in the 69th minute but the Gers striker sent the easiest chance of his afternoon inches over after getting to the cross ahead of Ramsey. Just in case they got carried away,Barbirou sent a raking volley inches wide of Peat's post in the 71st minute as Rangers took their foot off the gas. With ten minutes left sub Andy McLean should have killed the game off with Rangers' third,but Jamie Ewart stole the ball off his forehead to inadvertently deny his fellow centre back. Two minutes later Ramsey superbly blocked Brazil's low shot after the Rangers striker had bulldozed his way through.The last dramatic act fell to Strollers sub Reid, who found himself in space t the back post with a minute remaining,but somehow managed to sent his diving header wide from 2 yards out, allowing Rangers to avoid the embarrassment of a midweek replay at Shielfield.With pelnty of non-league opposition left in the cup, Rangers will need to ensure that they avoid the complacency which dogged their first half display on Saturday,though their quality came through in the end.
The most important objective on Saturday was to get through to the Third Round,with the financial rewards that brings. Rangers did that with some room to spare despite a patchy performance. The impact of McLaren and McMullan will give their manager food for thought and increases Rangers' offensive options ahead of their top of the table clash with Albion Rovers on Saturday, where a win could see the Gers reclaim top spot if other results fall their way.
Peat 7; Notman 7; Smith 6; Ewart 7 (McLean 7); Guy 7; Little 7; Currie 8; Callaghan 7; Greenhill 6 (McMullan 8); Radzynski 5 (McLaren 9); Brazil 6
Crowd - 387
LINK : Scottish Cup Homepage
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