Report: Stirling Albion 2-1 Berwick Rangers – SPFL Ladbrokes League 2

A 2-1 defeat, after having played 75 minutes with a man short may be classed as a brave performance but that will be little comfort to those with Black and Gold hearts given this result sees the club standing on the relegation trapdoor.

Blair Henderson netted early to open the scoring.

It all started so well when, after only 8 minutes, a surging run my Callum Crane from his new central midfield roll caused havoc in the home defence which saw the ball break to Blair Henderson who side stepped the defender and fired the ball home at the near post. The lead only lasted 4 minutes when a quick free kick caught out the defence leaving Ross Smith a free header at the back post to equalise.

Two minutes later came the incident on which the game pivoted. Darren Smith burst through the visiting defence, firing the ball narrowly passed the right hand post. Referee Kirkland then brought the play back to award a penalty to Albion and produced a red card for centre back Jordan McGregor. The penalty was duly dispatched by Sean Dickson.

Berwick’s responded to this set back by going on the offensive. Both McKenna and Graham produced good saves from home keeper, Chris Smith, while on two occasions the keeper went at the feet of Blair Henderson in the six yard area. However the keeper’s best moment came when he reacted to a Stevenson effort from 12 yards, pushing the ball onto the bar.

On the restart it was the home team who had the better of the play with Kevin Walker producing a number of fine saves although McLear was only denied by the post on 70 minutes. Berwick threatened occasionally, Finn Graham coming closest but even the introduction of Darren Lavery couldn’t produce an equaliser as Albion became dominant as Berwick’s ten men tired.

Report courtesy of Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust.