Berwick Rangers 2 Accies 1: Saturday, 9 November 2002

Scottish League Division 2, Shielfield, Berwick

Saturday, 9 November 2002

Report by "Albert Trumpten"

Accies really depress me. A second defeat of the season to Berwick Rangers was inflicted upon them on Saturday at Shielfield Park. Yes, Berwick Rangers.

Don't believe all you've read about Accies domination in this match, the truth is the result was never in doubt. Yes, Chris Hillcoat's side had more of the ball and put Berwick 'keeper Ross Godfrey under more pressure than Ian MacFarlane and Graham Potter were ever under, but you just know Accies will always struggle to score. I mean, exactly who is going to put the ball in the net? With Gareth Armstrong dropped - presumably as punishment for being the worst striker on the face of the planet - Hillcoat paired Brian McPhee with the awful Ally Graham, who if we're being honest really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a hooped jersey.

The outcome was predictably miserable. Although McPhee manages to cause opponents problems he lacks the firepower required to fulfil Accies' needs in this wretched division and once again we had to look further

back to determine where a goal would come from. Stuart Callaghan, it was, who finally got the better of Godfrey albeit from the penalty spot. I could rely on hearsay to report why the eighty-eigth minute spot kick was awarded but I'll be honest and say I have no idea. Something to do with an elbow apparently.

By that time of course, the game was outwith Accies reach. They had fallen behind right on the stroke of half time after a comical piece of defending. Ian Dobbins, on the edge of his own penalty area, attempted

to hoof the ball to safety but succeeded only in hoofing the ball off Sean Sweeney's backside. It dropped kindly for Martin Neil who crossed for Gary Wood who in turn flicked it on to Alex Burke who gleefully volleyed past Potter. Ian MacFarlane had of course gone off injured by this time. Well it was nearly half time.

Of course Accies had plenty of chances in the first forty-five minutes to have led at the interval, but I've touched on that already. Most notable efforts came from Alisdair Graham who was unlucky with a fine eighteen yard volley and everyone's favourite playmaker Martin Bonnar who failed to find the pokey despite having a clear run on goal. Touch of an elephant, you see.

Chris Hillcoat seemed to realise the game was slipping away as the second half wore on and replaced Wee Stan with Allan Russell, changing to a 4-3-3 formation for the final twenty minutes. This seemed to turn up the heat on the home team and Brian McPhee was unlucky not to equalise in the seventy sixth minute when his netbound drive was blocked on the line by David Murie. However that lack of firepower was to prove

fatal once more.

With six minutes left Berwick won a free kick on the eighteen yard line. If anyone was present the last time Accies travelled to Shielfield, this turned out to be a carbon copy of the second goal the home team scored that night. Alex Burke, it was this time, who stepped up to fire a low shot into Potter's bottom left hand corner to seal the game.

Accies fans can be as optimistic as they like but as far as I can see, the fourth division beckons for this shower. The team has no goal scoring ability, a sickeningly inept central midfield and a rookie defence. And Mark Nelson. If Ian Macfarlane ever gets to start another game, I'm going to my lawyer. Defeat at home to Stenhousemuir on Saturday would almost certainly see us occupy bottom slot and with successive trips to Raith and Stranraer the future would not be rosy.

Ah well, maybe Gareth Armstrong will find his shooting boots...

Macfarlane (Potter) , Nelson, Cunnington, Dobbins, Sweeney, Graham, Bonnar (Russell), Sherry (Walker), Graham, McPhee, Callaghan

© Accies World 2002

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