Match Report: Edinburgh City 1-2 Berwick Rangers – Friendly (Match Abandoned)
With their League 2 match at Arbroath postponed because of the home side’s Scottish Cup commitment, Berwick Rangers arranged a friendly against current Lowland League leaders Edinburgh City on the artificial surface at the Peffermill sports complex. It turned out to be something of a disappointment in more ways than one.
Berwick’s new loan signing from Hibs, Callum Crane, started just in front of the back three. Former Berwick player
Robert Wilson departed early with an injury
Dean Carse came on as a 25th minute substitute for the capital side.
In the 11th minute, Rangers lost Robert Wilson with a large swelling above the eye following a clash with a home player. Stevie Notman replaced him with Ross Graham moving to fill Wilson’s role in the back line.
In the extremely windy and wet conditions, Berwick sensibly opted to keep the ball on the ground, enjoying a glut of first half possession and plenty of corners. However, it took them 37 minutes to open the scoring with a 25 yard volley from Ewan McNeil. Seconds later, Andy Russell should have made it two but he lobbed the ball way too high.
Keeper Kevin Walker was only called into serious action on the stroke of half time, diving to punch away a City free kick.
Berwick boss John Coughlin made wholesale changes during the short interval bringing on Mark Walters in goal and a handful of outfield men. He got little chance to learn anything new about them though Darren Lavery confirmed he can score from the spot. He extended Rangers’ lead in the 51st minute after Dwayne Coultress was brought down.
Just after Ross Allum pulled one back for City on the hour, referee Paul Hanlon called a halt to proceedings. The ball was blowing about a bit more now but the consensus amongst the small group of spectators was that conditions were no worse than at the start of the match. The curtailment also meant Barry Hogg was left out in the cold, the only member of Berwick’s squad who didn’t get the chance of a run out.
Berwick Rangers (starting XI): Walker, McNeil, Ross Graham, Finn Graham, Wilson, Fairbairn, Morris, Beveridge, A.Russell, Drummond, Crane
Match report courtesy of Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust.
