Berwick Rangers 0-1 E Stirling
Monday 14th December 2009
We lost our six match unbeaten run in a 1-0 defeat to Shire on Saturday. David Cook reports from Shielfield Park...
On a damp and foggy afternoon,fit only for the Hound of the Baskervilles and christmas tree thieves, Shire left Shielfield with a narrow win under their belts to leapfrog Rangers into second spot. Ironically, leaders Livingston lost their first home game of the season at home to Forfar, narrowing the gap at the top of the league. Unfortunately for a Rangers side heavily handicapped by the absence of their first choice strike force,they were unable to take advantage despite a late rally which almost brought them an equaliser. Whether it would have been deserved is another question. In an evenly-contested match,it always looked as if a mistake or a moment of brilliance would decide the destiny of the points, and, unfortunately for Stuart Callaghan, he was the man responsible for the former. That said, though Rangers looked the better footballing side, their tendency to play one pass too many and lack of directness suffered in comparison to Shire's potency on the break and their all-round commitment to winning the 50-50 balls.
After a nondescript opening, Rangers were given a huge let-off in the 6th minute, a lack of communication between the defence and midfield allowing Rodgers to break through. The striker took the ball round Peat but was unable to finish from a pretty favourable angle 12 yards out. Disaster struck Rangers two minutes later, Brazil going down in the corner under a heavy challenge from Richardson. He soldiered on for a couple of minutes but had to be helped from the field, Ian Little coming on as sub. With Damon Gary also missing out due to injury, it left Rangers looking threadbare up front, and it has to be hoped that Brazil makes a speedy recovery from his twisted knee, because he is an invaluable member of this team. Rangers finally stirred themselves with 12 minutes gone, McLaren's excellent volley well held by Barclay, who was bizarrely wearing a Rangers' goalkeeping top. Maybe he'd just forgotten his employment at Shielfield ended some time ago.Paul Currie was having a good half, getting forward in support of Radzynksi and Little at every opportunity, but he should have made more of the chance presented to him in the 25th minute, shooting tamely at Barclay after good work from Greenhill and Radzynski. As the half petered out, Rodgers shot over in the 41st minute after Rangers made a hash of clearing a Shire attack.
Shire stepped up a gear after the break, Rangers looking sluggish and unable to create any meaningful pressure on an impressive Shire rearguard featuring rock solid performances from ex-Gers centre backs Forrest and Bolochoweckj. It was the latter who almost gave Shire the lead in the 50th minute, Currie clearing Bolo's header off the line.Seven minutes later, Peat saved brilliantly from Rodgers but the big striker was called offside in any event.The defining moment arrived in the 62nd minute,Callaghan getting caught in possession when he had umpteen options to move the ball on safely. The hitherto invisible Lynch robbed the Rangers skipper and ran on to ram a peach of a shot past Peat for the winner.With fifteen minutes remaining, Shire passed up the opportunity to kill the game off, sub McGuire sending his diving header wide when it looked easier to score. The let off sparked Rangers into a late onslaught. Radzynski headed on to the bar in the 77th minute with Barclay beaten, before the keeper made an absolutely stunning save in the 88th minute, fingertipping McLaren's fierce drive inches over. Throwing caution to the wind, Jimmy Crease sent Mark Peat forward for a brace of late corners, and the big keeper almost set up the equaliser, heading down to McLaren whose shot was cleared off the line.
Despite the defeat, Rangers are still well placed in the league and remain on course to achieve their ambition of a play off position. They do face a difficult festive period however, and their resources will be stretched to the limit for what promise to be tough matches against Forfar and Annan in the next fortnight. Callaghan and Smith start two-match suspensions, whilst Gray and Brazil remain inury doubts. This will test the squad to its limits, and now is the time for those players not getting aregular start to make their case.A couple of additions to the squad in the January window would also be welcome, but as ever, that comes down to money, and like everywhere else, it's tight.
Peat 9; Notman 8; Ewart 7; McLean 7; Smith 7; McLaren 7; Currie 7; Callaghan 6; Radzynski 6; Brazil (n/a) Little 6; Greenhill 6
Crowd 428
LINK : League Table
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