Berwick Rangers 4

Vale of Leithen 0

David Knox

at Shielfield Park

IMPROVING Berwick made sure Chris Anderson’s return to Shielfied Park on Saturday was a miserable one.

The former Wee Gers striker was hoping his Vale of Leithen could turn around a recent poor run on Saturday to climb away from the bottom of the table.

But the trip south of the border proved to be yet another reminder of the plight the Innerleithen team is facing this season.

Berwick controlled play for long periods of a one-sided match, and the only real surprise was that the deficit wasn’t even greater.

Home boss Ian Little was delighted with his team’s performance.

He said: “We needed to start winning games at home and I’m pleased with the way we played.

“We had a lot of chances today and could have maybe finished a few more of them off and not had to rely on penalties, but I’m happy enough with the performance.

“We’ve been working on the movement of our strikers and I thought that showed with the way we created the chances.”

Vale did start brightest with Paul Thomson’s glancing header from a Liam Ireland angled freekick flashing past the far post.

But it wasn’t long unto Berwick began to take control.

Kieran Chalmers headed inches wide before being denied by Josh Wishart’s block a few minutes later.

Thomson also made a goal-saving tackle to deny Joao Balde as the home team continued to search for the opener.

Vale were relying on long balls for Anderson to flick towards Robel Dent, but the Berwick back four mopped up any danger with relative ease.

Kevin Waugh, Yaw Osei and Euan Smith all smashed shots just wide of the target before Berwick finally made the breakthrough.

Although it looked a little harsh, referee Alex Shepherd had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot after Balde nipped in front of Alex Imlah to be knocked to the ground as they raced for a loose ball.

Ricky Miller stepped up to slot the 44th minute spot kick.

The points were secured just six minutes into the second half as Osei nodded home Ali Forster’s deep angled cross at the far post.

The impressive Dan Purves twice went close to adding to the home tally before Chalmers slotted in the third from close range during a corner.

Vale’s only real chance of the second half came from good work by Dent, but Calum O’Neil’s back post header was blocked in front of goal.

The Innerleithen side were struck a further blow in the 87th minute as substitute Ally Smith was sent off after being shown a second yellow for comments to the referee.

And Berwick compounded a dismal afternoon for the visitors by adding a fourth from the penalty spot in injury time, this time for pushing offences during a corner.

Miller again scored from the spot.

Berwick Rangers. M Walters, C Brian, K Waugh, G Donald, R Miller, E Smith, D Purves (L Barr 65), A Forster, D Healy (Y Osei 8), C Chalmers (A Smith 76) & J Balde.

Vale of Leithen. R Gilpin, C Hall (C O’Neil 65), A Imlah, J Wishart, P Thomson (A Smith 46), G Rossi, R Dent, L Hall, C Anderson (L Smith 63), L Ireland, B Rixon.