Peebles Rovers 1
Berwick Rangers Reserves 4
EoS FIRST DIVISION
BERWICK RANGERS RESERVES maintained their promotion challenge with a fourth successive away victory in a match played on Rovers’ alternative Kerfield pitch, their traditional Whitestone Park home still unplayable.
The Reserves have played better this season, but still packed too big a punch for a Peebles side who beat them at Shielfield in November and upset the form book the previous week with a good home win over another side in the promotion mix, Craigroyston.
Rovers’ manager Jason Girdwood admitted his team had no one to blame but themselves for the heavy defeat.
He told TheSouthern: “Berwick are a young fit side, but we have a good team, too, and my only complaint has to be that some of our own individual performances were not up to scratch. Berwick took their chances and we failed to take ours.
“On a more positive note, we performed better in the second half and shared the plaudits from that. That will give us something to build on in the coming weeks.”
Leading Berwick scorer Josh Morris opened their account with a 25th-minute penalty after former Berwick Under-19 player Darren Linton tripped Phil Addison in the box.
The Reserves went on to build a four-goal lead. Addison got the second from a couple of yards out after a Morris shot was blocked and in the 38th minute, Greig Smith’s chip from outside the penalty area beat outrushing keeper Kris Lennie.
Peebles’ best first-half chance came in between Berwick’s opening goals but Duncan Muir hit the post after winning a one-on-one with the opposing defender.
Six minutes beyond the break, Callum Wyllie went past Linton and sent in a low cross meant for Greig Smith.
Defender Greg Shortreed got in the way, only to end up putting the ball into his own net.
The home side’s consolation goal came late on.
Rangers’ substitute Nick Rendall, on the field barely a minute, was penalised for bundling over Gareth Manson. Craig Edgar was on target from the spot to finally give the fair-sized home crowd something to cheer.
Peebles Rovers: K. Lennie, D. Linton, P. Hunter, G. Shortreed, G. Young, N. Cairns, J. Adamson, J. Manson, C. Edgar, M. McKenzie, D. Muir. Subs used: G. Manson, D. O’Donnell.