Cowdenbeath 4-0 Berwick Rangers – Match Report

Berwick were unceremoniously dumped out of the Scottish Cup by a rampant Cowdenbeath at Central Park.

Martin Scott’s first game in the ‘Gers dugout turned into a nightmare as three second half goals finished off a limp Berwick display.

The first half was largely uneventful until, with basically the last kick of the half, Rhys Walker was allowed time in the box from a corner to chest the ball down and bounce an effort into the corner.

That seemed to shock Berwick and the hosts sensed the game was there for the taking after the break with the lively Bryan Mwangi turning home Walker’s cross to double Cowdenbeath’s lead.

From there the hosts turned the screw and Nat Wedderburn found Newman marauding forward who had all the time in the world to control the ball in the area, turn and find a finish beyond Owen Hayward.

With time running out, a long ball released substitute Mark Ferrie who hit the post but the ball fell right to the feet of fellow sub Dylan Mauchin, who dispatched it into the top corner to give Cowdenbeath a deserved fourth.

Long road ahead

There was positivity and optimism at Central Park pre-match for Martin Scott’s first game with reports from training through the week indicating there was real pep in the step of the squad.

Up until the first goal, there were some hallmarks of what the new boss wants from his side. There was a clear focus on trying to control more possession and some early breaks from midfield that worried the Cowdenbeath backline.

The second half performance was what will really concern Scott, who himself said post-match that he felt the squad lacked ‘character’.

“I need more intensity from our players” was the most resounding point of his first interview as Berwick boss and, with six more games to go this month, he will be hoping that the players respond.

Up Next

It’s back to MKM Shielfield Park next week when we welcome Edinburgh University in South Challenge Cup action.