Berwick v East Stirlingshire Match Report
Berwick squandered a two-goal lead to lose 5-2 to East Stirlingshire in the Lowland League East at Shielfield Park.
The Gers took an early 2-0 lead with a first goal in black and gold for Blair MacDonald, followed by Bayley Klimionek’s strike. East Stirlingshire levelled the game up with a double from Michael Weir. Sonny Aluko turned the game around early in the second half before Weir completed his hattrick. Chris Ogilvie scored the visitors’ fifth to succumb Berwick to defeat.
The first chance of the game arrived in less than two minutes. A long ball was misjudged by Alfie Robinson which saw Weir take advantage. He drove towards goal, but his shot was straight at Calum Antell.
East Stirlingshire continued their early pressure as another long ball brought them success as Stephen O’Neill gathered. He managed to lay off Aluko on the edge of the box, but his shot was tame and straight at Antell.
Berwick responded as Caelan McCrone drifted to the right to find some space. His cross was brilliant as it picked out MacDonald at the back post who fired into the net to give the Gers the lead perhaps against the run of play.
The opening goal sparked confidence into the Dream Team as they began to put pressure on the visitors. Liam Gregory stepped over a corner and his inswinger caused chaos in the box. Lewis Barr almost got on the end of the cross before the ball fell to Klimionek. He managed to smash the ball into the net from close range to double the Gers’ lead with less than twenty minutes played.
East Stirlingshire will feel aggrieved to be two goals down following their positive start to the game. They continued to create chances as Alexander Walker’s clearance was flicked on by Kai Wilson to send Weir in on goal. Antell rushed out but Weir’s shot flew past the Berwick goalkeeper and into the net to reduce the visitors’ deficit.
Just over five minutes from half-time, Ryan Stevenson found space for a cross on the right-hand side. His delivery was met by the glancing header of Weir who guided the ball into the top left corner to bring East Stirlingshire back level. The sides went in 2-2 at half-time.
Berwick had the first big chance of the second half as a long ball was flicked on by MacDonald which sent Josh O’Connor in on goal. His shot was struck with velocity but was well saved by Jay Cantley.
The visitors continued to show their threat. Weir received the ball on the left before picking out Wilson in space inside the box. He cut the ball back to Aluko whose shot found the net despite Antell getting a touch on it.
The Gers nearly responded instantly as Michael Barfoot’s header found Mark McConnell unmarked in the box. However, his header from close range went over.
A few minutes later, another Barfoot free-kick caused problems as McCrone was brought down in the box by Wilson and the referee awarded the Dream Team a penalty. O’Connor stepped up for the spotkick, but his effort towards the bottom right corner was saved by Cantley to keep the visitors in front.
East Stirlingshire looked to put the game out of sight. Ben Lamont’s cross from the left was a terrific one as it found Weir who guided the ball into the bottom left corner to complete his hattrick.
Berwick continued to create chances but weren’t taking them. O’Connor sent a free-kick into the box that was flicked on by Barr to MacDonald. However, he guided his shot over the bar as the Gers’ lack of clinical finishing was costing them.
Matters were made worse five minutes from the end as a long ball found O’Neill before he crossed to the back post. The delivery beat McConnell and Ogilvie headed in to make it 5-2 to the visitors to complete a rampant display.
East Stirlingshire completed a 5-2 win that sees them remain 10th in the Lowland League East table. Berwick’s winless league run stretches to nine games, as they remain 14th in the table. The Gers are next in action on Tuesday as they travel to Stenhousemuir in the Round of 32 in the KDM Evolution Trophy.