Berwick v Caledonian Braves Match Report

Berwick suffered a fifth straight loss as Caledonian Braves secured a 3-0 victory at Shielfield Park in which both teams had a player sent off.

Braves had Daniel Martins sent off before Ross McNeil opened the scoring. Cameron Breadner added two more, including one from the penalty spot following Max McGinley’s red card for the Gers.

Caledonian Braves had the first chance of the game as Kristian Gkekga’s cross from the right was flicked on by Regan McLaren. The other McLaren brother Connor received the ball, but his shot was straight at Calum Antell.

Berwick fought back from a set piece as Jamie Stevenson’s cross was met by Liam Buchanan, but his shot was blocked. A scramble in the box saw the ball fall to Alfie Robinson as his effort was also blocked by the Braves defence.

A couple minutes later, Braves’ Ross McNeil’s clever flick on to Regan McLaren created space in the Berwick backline. McLaren’s pass to Cameron Breadner was met with a terrific curling shot that clipped the top of the bar.

It was the visitors who continued to hold the upper hand, but the game completely changed just before the half-hour mark. As Caledonian prepared for an attacking free-kick, Braves’ Daniel Martins clashed with Jamie McCormack and was shown a straight red card for an apparent headbutt on the Gers skipper, much to the disbelief of the Braves defender.

Despite the boost to Berwick’s chances, it was Braves who opened the scoring. Grant Nelson gave the ball away in midfield to Connor McLaren whose long ball found McNeil.The Braves striker fought the challenge of Robinson to get a shot off that beat Antell from close range.

Berwick looked to fight back as Max McGinley played in McCormack on the overlap on the left-hand side. McCormack’s low cross found Cai MacNamara, but he could only slice the ball wide of the goal.

Five minutes before the break and things got worse for the Dream Team. McGinley got caught on the ball by Cameron Breadner who broke into the box. McGinley who was desperate to recover could only bring down Breadner and a penalty kick was awarded. To make matters worse, McGinley was sent off for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

The player fouled for the penalty, Breadner, stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle to double the lead for Caledonian Braves. Two goals down and Berwick no longer with an extra man on the field.

The two dismissed players created extra space which the Braves looked to be exploiting more often than Berwick. Regan McLaren found Connor McLaren down the left before he looked up and played in an unmarked Breadner on the other side. Breadner had time and space, but his first-time strike was thunderous as the ball nestled into the corner at the near post to put the visitors 3-0 up before half-time. A mad 15 minutes for Berwick allowed the Braves to hold a flattering lead.

Thomas Scobbie opted to change things at half-time. Arran Laidlaw was forced off with a shoulder injury and Robinson was also subbed. Matty Collins and new signing Jamie Watson were the replacements for the Dream Team as they looked to get back in the contest.

It was Berwick who started the second half the stronger. Jamie Stevenson almost scored a freak goal from his corner kick as the wind helped the ball onto the post before Caledonian could clear.

The Gers would need a bit of luck to get a result, and they got it when Braves keeper Bernie White played a pass straight to Watson, but he snatched at his shot that went wide of the post.

Minutes later and Berwick had another terrific chance as a long ball was taken down superbly by Buchanan, but his fierce shot on the edge of the box flashed just wide of the left-hand post.

The chances for Caledonian Braves seemed to dry up as they looked to hold what they have after their three goals in the first half. Martin McCarthur managed to pick out Regan McLaren on the edge of the box. McLaren’s shot was blocked by the Berwick defence to keep the scoreline at 3-0.

Despite the scoreline, there were promising signs from MacNamara as he put together multiple solo runs. The young Gers winger managed to skip past several Braves players before unleashing a powerful shot just outside the box that went inches wide.

However, it was Caledonian Braves who secured the clean sheet and all three points as Berwick’s poor run of form continued. The result sees Berwick drop to 9th in the Lowland League table, while Caledonian Braves maintain their unbeaten start as they remain in 3rd place. The Dream Team are back in action on Tuesday night at Shielfield Park as they play Fauldhouse United in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.