Peeblesshire News | Sport | Berwick dash Peebles' championship dreams

Monday, 8th September, 2008

Published: Friday, 16th May, 2008 12:00

Berwick dash Peebles' championship dreams

By George Wilson at Old Shielfield

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Berwick Rangers Reserves 3 v 1 Peebles FC

PEEBLES’ championship hopes were dashed by Berwick Rangers Reserves, who scored two late goals in a hectic Tyreman East of Scotland League First Division match at Old Shielfield Park last Saturday.

After a scrappy first half, Peebles came much more into the game after half time with an amazing goal from Peebles keeper Darren Walker. But just when it seemed that Peebles were about to get on top and snatch a win, it was Berwick who put in a grandstand finish.

Early in the game, clear-cut scoring chances were few and far between at both ends until Berwick broke the deadlock in the 20th minute. After a neat Rangers build up, Daniel Cornish raced into the Peebles box on the left and coolly chipped the ball over a diving Walker from 14 yards. The ball found the net in spite of a desperate attempted goal line clearance by Paul Greenhill.

Peebles replied with a Kerr Dodds right wing cross that found Chris Graham who missed the target with a flashing angular header from 10 yards.

Back again came Peebles as, from a Dodds free kick on the left, Aaron Paterson fired the ball well over the Berwick crossbar with a long range effort.

Peebles continued to press as, from a Dodds pass, Paul Devlin lashed the ball narrowly over the Berwick crossbar with a blistering shot on the turn from 20 yards.

Berwick posed another threat after 34 minutes. Andrew McLean collected a pass from Aaron Punton and sent over an inviting right wing cross to Sean Simpson before he sent in a snap shot from 12 yards that brought out an excellent two handed diving save from Walker.

Then just before the interval, from a Punton right wing cross, Dougie Brydon was on target with a cracking shot from 20 yards until Walker pulled off another fine diving save.

Peebles came back onto level terms five minutes after half time with a spectacular goal from at least 70 yards from Peebles keeper Walker. From a free kick just outside the Peebles box, Walker launched the ball up field with a hefty kick. The ball landed inside the Berwick box, bounced up and over a surprised Rangers keeper Mark Walters and into the net.

Peebles came much more into the game after that. From a Mark Brown corner kick on the right, Devlin headed the ball just inches wide of the Rangers near post from just eight yards out. Then after a neat Peebles build up, Michael Osbourne came close to finding the Berwick net with a good effort from long range.

But then at the other end, after pouncing onto a loose ball in midfield, McLean let go with a rasping angular shot from 20 yards that was well saved by the diving Walker.

Berwick put their noses in front once again when the scored a second goal after 82 minutes. After the Peebles defence had failed to clear a McLean corner kick, Berwick substitute Chris Anderson sent over a left wing cross to Sean Simpson, who found the far top corner of the Peebles net with a well placed shot on the volley from eight yards.

Then Berwick added a third goal just three minutes later when, from a Chris Moffat left wing cross, Jason Inglis coolly lobbed the ball over an exposed Walker from 12 yards.

One minuet from full time, from a Gareth Thom throw in on the left, Paul Russell was on target with a header from ten yards until Walters tipped the ball over his crossbar with a splendid one-handed save, but it was just a case of too little too late for Peebles.

Berwick Rangers Reserves: M.Walters, A.McLean, D.Cornish (C.Moffat, 74 minutes), A.Punton, J.Ainslie, K.Ainslie, S.Spoors (C.Anderson, 65 mins), D.Brydon, M.Stevenson, J.Inglis, S.Simpson (R.Armstrong, 87 mins).

Peebles FC: D.Walker, G.Tainsh, A.Paterson, P.Greenhill, P.Lee, K.Dodds, M.Osbourne, A.Martin (J.Robertson, 77 mins), C.Graham (P.Russell, 83 mins), P.Devlin, M.Brown (G.Thom, 77 mins). Substitutes: G.Georgeson, D.McGinley.

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