Berwick Rangers 0 Accies 2: Saturday, 8 September 2001

Scottish League Division 2, Shielfield Stadium, Berwick

Saturday, 8 September 2001

Accies coasted to victory against an appalling Berwick team, which had easily beaten Morton the previous week.

FIRST HALF

ItsAcademical.com made its first ever visit to Shielfield for this game. If you have never been there, it's like going through a time warp and visiting a cross between the old Douglas Park and Shawfield. It's like DP in that the shed, terracing and floodlights could have been transplanted from Douglas Park in, say, 1980. It's like Shawfield in that it has a speedway track round the edge of the pitch. The general opinion seemed to be that it was better than Firs Park but not quite of Cliftonhill standard.

Accies manager Ally Dawson had made a couple of changes to the team that drew with Forfar two weeks ago. With Colin Stewart warming the Killie bench at Aberdeen, regular 'keeper Ian Macfarlane was back between the sticks. (Ironically, he only lasted about 15 action-free minutes before limping off to be replaced by youngster Graham Potter.)

Sean Sweeney continued his trial in the centre of defence, with Mark Nelson missing because of his suspension. Martin Bonnar made a surprise return in midfield at Allan Russell's expense and Michael Moore replaced the ineffective Wale Kwick Ajet up front.

Accies seemed to be in the mood for this game from the start. Unfortunately, the quality of the football was severely restricted by the blustery wind which made accurate passing and good close control something we could only hope for. While I wouldn't go as far as to say that Accies were great in the first half, they were clearly much better than their English opponents.

After half an hour of fairly scrappy stuff, Accies took the lead with a jammy goal by Stuart Callaghan. A superb cross from Alisdair Graham on the left was just asking to be converted and it was Callaghan whose shot bounced into the turf and over the Berwick 'keeper's head. Not a classic, but very welcome in any event.

Just ten minutes later, Accies extended their lead and made the game safe. Not being a professional journalist (honest), I was more intent on gabbing to my mate than concentrating on the finer nuances of this game. What I did see was the ball break loose to Michael Moore about 20 yards out and he lofted it over the goalie and into the net.

This certainly cheered up the Accies fans and had the opposite effect on the Berwick fans, who had been taunting the Accies support with songs about our two countries varying performances in the World Cup games this week.

SECOND HALF

Given that Accies had felt the benefit of playing with the wind in the first half, I fully expected the second period to be much more difficult for the team.

Not a bit of it. Although they didn't manage to increase their lead, Accies were always in control of this game. They did create a few good chances, with David McFarlane and Steven Renicks denied by fine saves from O'Connor in the home goal.

Berwick did manage a couple of sporadic attacks, but Graham Potter was always in control in goal and a reduction in the margin of victory never looked likely.

Manager Ally Dawson made a couple of substitutions near the end, with Wale Kwick Ajet replacing David McFarlane and Allan Russell coming on for Martin Bonnar. The game petered out towards the end and the Accies fans went home happy.

IN CONCLUSION

This was a really easy win for Accies. Berwick Rangers were the worst team we have faced so far this season and I'm really surprised that they beat Morton last week.

Graham Potter was untroubled in goal and his confidence will have been restored by this game. Steven Renicks was much better at full back while Sean Sweeney and Paul Gaughan were superb in the middle.

Jim Sherry did his usual job in midfield although I thought Alisdair Graham didn't have a happy game. Michael Moore was always a handful for the Berwick defence and David McFarlane will score soon.

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