Berwick 2-2 East Stirling
Monday 12th April 2010
Berwick Rangers 2 v East Stirling 2, Saturday 10th April 2010
A gutsy second half performance saw Rangers rewarded with a deserved point after they appeared on the verge of being swamped during an initial Barcelona-style onslaught from a very good Shire team at Shielfield on Saturday.
Few punters would have backed a second half revival, but, led by a superb goalkeeping performance from Mark Peat, another hustling masterclass from Jay Shields and an effective sequence of substitutions by Jimmy Crease, Rangers dug themselves out of a deep looking hole to take their first point of the season from play-off favourites Shire. Whilst it may not prove to be enough to salvage a play-off spot for the Gers, at least it had the effect of heading off mounting criticism from the terracing.
Shire exploded into the game from the off and Donaldson put them ahead from close range in the 4th minute after Stuart Callaghan lost possession. Peat made two excellent saves before Dunlop added a second in the 12th minute, chipping Peat with a beauty from 22 yards out. At this stage Rangers looked well off the pace and a real hiding looked in prospect, but Rangers rallied and began to wrest the lion's share of possession from the visitors, without ever testing Barclay in the away goal.
Rangers started the second half more brightly, but with Alan Brazil still looking some distance from full fitness, Rangers found it difficult to create any clear cut chances despite Ian Little's excellent work up top.The introduction of Currie, Gray and Greenhill sparked new life into Rangers and the former carved open the Shire defence in the 66th minute with a brilliant through ball to McMullan, who outstripped the visiting defence to shoot past Barclay. Rangers drew level thirteen minutes later, Callaghan slamming home the penalty after a handball was spotted by the ref. Peat still had time to pull off a wonder save from Lynch, but Rangers deserved their point for sticking at it. Thst same spirit will serve them well when Livingston come visiting on Tuesday night.
Peat 9; Smith 7; Ewart 5; Kerr 6; Callaghan 5; McLaren 4; Notman 5; Shields 7; McMullan 7; Little 7; Brazil 5
Crowd - 429
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