Well it’s been a tough week and I wasn’t planning on attending the game. I was scheduled to be cameraman for today but due to family issues it was up in the air. I might still be cameraman but I’ll see when I get to Shielfield.
My optimism is high again for this game, I don’t know why. We have a couple of new signings but I don’t know what they are like. The signing of ex Berwick player Dougie Brydon in defence has given me a bit of belief that the defence will pull together. Dougie even managed a goal in the reserve game against Livingston during the week, the game finished 1-1. But of course my hope and expectations may be misplaced. I do have £5 on a Berwick win/draw, William Hill were offering odds of 5/1 at the start of the week.

Pea passed away during the week, a club legend who will be missed. The guy done a lot for the club and i don’t even know if the club realise just how much he done. All the little jobs that you don’t even think about but you will notice when they haven’t been taken care of. Always willing to chat and respected throughout the game. St Andrews Berwick Rangers Supporters offer their condolences to Pea’s family.

I arrived early as usual and went to find out if any jobs were needing attention. It turns out somebody was required to run the wee bar. I put my pint pulling skills to good use although the bar wasn’t busy. Still it’s nice to help out. After my bar shift I went to the stand to check that Andrew was getting on ok with the camera. He was doing a grand job.

the game started off brightly enough, we didn’t seem to be under constant attack as we have been in previous weeks. But then giving away a penalty (which came as a bit of a shock to me as I didn’t see anything) and Stirling slotting it home put us on the back foot. Turns out the penalty was for handball. Still we didn’t get hammered so that’s progress, we didn’t look like we had a goal in us though. Lewis Barr scored a cracker late on in the game but it wasn’t enough. I was hoping to secure s point but it wasn’t to be. Albion Rovers lost again so that’s something but we still need to play them twice this season and we are 7 points in front, not a huge gap. Still it’s a gap in our favour.

i won’t be making the trip to Peterhead for the game. My leg is quite sore and bothersome at the minute and it’s a fair drive up. It’s also going to be chuffing freezing and I really don’t expect a particularly good game. It may even be postponed due to the weather but the forecast seems ok. I have placed my money on aberwick win though, a whole £2. Berwick are 22-1 at Ladbrokes to win this game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen odds so long for s football match. I’ve also stuck £2 on a draw.......Anyway here’s hoping for a result but the odds are very much against us. Safe travels to all the fans heading to the game.
Edit, I’ve just notice East Fife are at home in the Scottish cup to Greenock Morton so I’ll take my dad to that. Better dig out the long johns though......

Keeping it short as I can’t quite find the motivation.....

well the highlight of the day was the sausage supper from the van! We were outclassed and the gulf in the teams was quite stark. When the first goal went in off the keepers face I pretty much resigned myself to a thumping. Beaten 3-0 wasn’t actually as bad as it could have been. Poor short passing from the keeper, defence, midfield. Slow to every ball. It was like the team switched off. Even when we had a break and a decent cross the ball was met by nobody. The strikers didn’t seem to expect the cross into the box? Did they think the player on the wing was going to lose the ball so no point pushing forward? We did have a 15 minute spell where we seemed competent but overall it was a poor show. I still can’t believe some of the passing. It’s tough times and tough to watch, the basics seem to have been forgotten. We were now back to punting the ball up the park to lose it straight away (if the ball hasn't gone out of play that is) Clyde had 26 shots to our 4 and of our 4 none were on target. Let’s hope we can get it together and move on. It’s Peterhead next week so I’m under no illusions for that game. I’m still looking at Albion Rovers and they seem to be improving every week so we need to get our act together. I’m not travelling to Peterhead, I’ve other things on but I will go to the Queens Park game. As soon as the 3rd goal went in we left, a very rare thing for my Dad and I to do but the final whistle was imminent. We narrowly avoided an accident on the A1 that had the road blocked for over an hour. 3 cars had crashed and it must have been minutes in front of us as we had to weave betweeen them across the carriage way. Police, ambulance and fire crews flying past us a few minutes later. Let’s hope everybody was ok.

well let’s kick off with the result. 2-2 against the league leaders. It wasn’t a vintage performance by any means but a valuable point nonetheless, especially as Albion Rovers below us managed a draw too. I arrived at the ground early to offer my services if required. I was tasked with selling raffle tickets and then match programs. My dad stayed at home for this one as my wife and I are down in Berwick for the week. Such a pity for him, he’s been to all but one home game this season (the Cowdenbeath game where were beaten and had 3 red cards) and quite a few away games and it’s been pretty miserable result wise. I’ll take him to the away game against Cowdenbeath next week though and I’ll be hoping for a result against them.

Well as I said it wasn’t a vintage performance and we were under pressure from the start. We didn’t concede a goal in the first few minutes so a bit of improvement there then. This season is a season of survival, let’s not beat around the bush with that. Today was a valuable point and another step in that direction but it was left to the death to get it. That said I as well as many others had written off this game. Edinburgh City flying high this season and I was expecting a thumping but Berwick held on and although it was left late a point was secured with the last kick of the ball. A good show from the team to keep going. Ouzy See’s contribution was certainly worthy. Subbed on for his first game in 9 months after his injury and he lifted the whole team. It was pleasing to see such an impact, the pressure on him must have been incredible but he put in a good performance. It was still a draw against the odds, Berwick had 32% possession to Edinburgh’s 68% and 7 shots to Edinburgh’s 21. But it was still 2-2 at the end of the day and Edinburgh will leave Shielfield disappointed. Still credit to Berwick for the result and it was a great feeling to secure that point especially after the recent run of results.

We’re doomed! Doomed I tell ya! But were not though are we? It was a dreadful result and the team had a dreadful day. Everything went wrong and it seemed like one of those days where nearly everybody’s off day came on the Saturday. The day started off well for me, a drive down to Berwick with no stops, roadworks, massive lorry convoys halting progress. We arrived in Ample time and had lunch. Off to Shielfield and pottered around handing out Quality... there was talk around the ground of a Berwick resurgence and how we could win this one. I was hopeful too but I’ve been here before and will be here again. Sadly Berwick are skint and it shows. It’s no coincidence we are at the bottom and Edinburgh and Peterhead are at the top end of the table. I’ve also written before about this so there’s no point in raking over the ashes, but we are what we are. There’s no massive investment looming and the town isn’t full of rich people. There’s also plenty of other causes that people invest their time and money in and there is only so much to go around.

Anyway we (myself, my dad and Gordon) had a quick chat with Sean Brennan and Shea Dowie before the game to organise the keeper sponsorship/support we are going to offer Shea. A great attitude from both the keepers and we are more than happy to help. I m hoping to catch up with them next week and nand over the donation and get the questions answered that we have for them.

well most fans had barely managed to get their bum in the seat before Peterhead scored. Ereick were just not on the ball. Wayward passes and event pass and tackle seemed to be a stretch. Brennan didn’t have the best of time in goals but the defence didn’t seem to help him. Back passes were bobbling, short, too long, making him constantly scramble under pressure. We just fell apart. The stats show 48% possession for Berwick which isn’t bad, but Peterhead let us have possession because they knew we were going to do nothing with it. By the 36th minute it was 3-0 and the game was over. Berwick were no real threat. 5 shots and 1 on target. Peterhead had 19 shots and 11 on target. We just never managed to get into gear and were always on the back foot. Next weeks game is against Queens Park at Shielfield. This is a game I now fully expect to win, they are not too far off us in the table and I’m hoping that Johnny will have Berwick raring to go. Let’s hope the team bounce back and get better organised and concentrate more on their passing and timing. It’s still very early days for a new manager and he’s trying to to get away from the long ball game and it will take time but hopefully we will get there.

well it was Ewan’s first Berwick game and it had everything in it! We were 3 up at halftime. An incredible performance. We seemed to take the chances that we would usually miss, Clyde however missed the chances I think they would usually score. Clyde had 3 off the woodwork in the first half. Berwick rode their luck a bit but still going in at halftime 3 up was some achievement. The second half however saw Berwick lose the lead. Clyde pulled it back. Berwick did have their chances and had shots off the woodwork. It was a oddly disappointing and satisfying game. I would have happily have left with a point but 3 up at halftime had all the fans expecting a win. Still 7 points out of the last 3 games is quite the achievement. The trialists are turning out to be a real find for Berwick, really turning the team around. Brennan pulled off another few good saves, had a bit of a dodgy looking kick out at one point but overall another very good performance from the young keeper. Then it was the customary detour and wrong turn on the way home. Peterhead at Shielfield next week. I think we could win that game if we can hold it together.

Well the day started early as it seems to these days. Still it’s nice to take the dog for a walk on the beach and pop into BearClaw brewery in Spittal to let my dad have a look around and taste a couple of samples. Then we were off to Shielfield to see what was on the cards. I volunteered my services and 50/50 draw tickets was the job needing done. So off to the stand we went to get early access to the chipvan for lunch before the hungry hungry fans arrived. Fish and chips for me so Pippa (dog) could have a bit of fish and then off to sell tickets.

i barely got my bum in the seat before East Fife scored and then five minutes later another one! It looked like we were in for a proper hiding, East Fife had a few decent chances but we held on to half time. The second half was a different game, Berwick were confident, winning tackles and had several good chances, we scored one eleven minutes after the second half started and we really should have scored again. Chance after chance went begging, some overthought, some not though out at all. It was frustrating to watch but satisfying too. It turned into a decent game and I know a couple of East Fife fans were uneasy for the remainder of the second half. East Fife had their chances too but Berwick looked a threat. Unfortunately we never managed to convert any of the chances we had and we are now out of the Scottish cup. Still a good performance in the second half and a team with desire and putting in the effort.

well the day started out early, I left the house at 7:30am to pick up my dad and get down to Berwick in time for the Supporters Trust AGM at 11am. We arrived just after 10am giving us a bit of time to potter around before the meeting. The usual trust stuff at the meeting, accounts, memberships etc and a few interesting points. The club have cut their deficit from £80k last year to £40k and are looking at plans to turn the club from a plc to a community club. Johnny Havery gave a good talk about his direction for the club and what he expects. Former Berwick Rangers goalkeeper Gary O’Connor was the guest speaker and gave a great account of his time at Berwick and other clubs. His time at Doncaster Rovers was short lived though as the chairman was jailed after paying somebody to burn down the main stand to claim the insurance.....

AGM done it was now a time killing exercise for my dad and I. We shuffled around the club before heading out to the park, essentially to keep an eye for the chip van opening.... sausage and chips for my dad today, no curry! Food consumed I was off to the black and gold to sell some 50/50 draw tickets. before returning to the stand for the game.

Albion Rovers looked a decent enough team and put Berwick under a lot of pressure, we managed to soak it up with a bit of luck thrown in. Healey scored in the 33rd minute, a shot off the bar landed favourably in a congested box and he slotted the ball home. 1=0 and a great relief. Albion Rovers still looked dangerous though but a penalty in the 66th minute was enough to keep them at bay. Sean Brennan had a couple of great saves to keep a clean sheet and we secured e valuable points. Results elsewhere saw us move up a place in the table to 8th. A long way to go but steps in the right direction.

well it’s an away trip to Stirling, rain and gales forecast so fun for all. Gordon’s bailed on this one, something about rain, can’t be bothered etc. I’ll go and pick up my dad and attend this one. It is more a sense of duty rather than enjoyment. I have no confidence in a win here, not with the state the team is in with injuries and last weeks 3 red cards. Still it’s nice to spend some time with my dad so that’s something. I have my new thick gloves at the ready and thermals to put on for this one. Last week was freezing at Shielfield and the last time I was at Forthbank it was one of the coldest football games I had ever been at.
The match preview for this one mentions that two players from the development team are stepping up into the main team. Jack Murray and Matthew O’Connor step up into the squad having shown good form with the Reserves this season. Jack Murray is sponsored by St Andrews Berwick Rangers Supporters and we wish him all the best and hope he gets an opportunity to show the new boss he’s worthy of a place.

we arrived in plenty of time as usual despite the roadworks. The turnstiles were open so we went in. A bit of pre match chat before the game where I found out our assistant manager would be the central defender. Desperate times at Berwick Rangers...
We had our chances again but cannot convert them, passing where we should have a shot and a shot where we should be passing. Sean Brennan had a great game pulling off some fantastic saves, without him the score would have been far greater. A fantastic double save and a penalty save has him as my man of the match for sure. The penalty save did result in him “bringing down the striker” who ran in to attack the loose ball and the referee awarding a penalty against Brennan for it which was bizarre. The penalty this time was off the bar. But Brennan wasn’t booked for the challenge which I thought he was going to be, last man red card? Thankfully that never happened. A reasonable travelling support despite the weather and recent run of results. We eventually made it back home after a few detours because of the roadworks and missing a couple of turns I should have taken but still an enjoyable day out despite the results. There’s alway drama at a Berwick game. Elgin City next week but I’ll pass on that one. A bit too far for me at the minute.