6th April 2015

Albion Rovers 2-0 Berwick Rangers

Berwick’s play-off hopes were all but ended on Saturday as table-topping Albion Rovers ran out 2-0 winners in a comfortable win.

Chris Cadden opened the scoring in the 2nd half, with Mark McGuigan swiftly doubling the lead and ending any hope of a Rangers comeback.

Despite going into the game unbeaten in four, Saturday’s result saw Berwick slide down to 9th, and though they look certain to avoid the relegation play-offs, it now looks too tough a task to claw themselves back in to the promotion play-off race.

Berwick made one change from the side that drew with Elgin City in midweek, goalscorer David Gold brought into replace Ross Gray on the Berwick left. The switch appeared to be working early on with the ‘Gers dominating possession. Paul Willis was the first to test Rovers ‘keeper Neil Parry, but the stopper was equal to the in-form wingers’ drive.

Berwick’s best chance of the match came after just twenty minutes, when freescoring Blair Henderson headed just over.

As Berwick continued to have the best of the play, Kerr Young shot over before David Gold was denied by Parry.

Michael Andrews was brought into action after thirty minutes, and he did very well to ensure Mark McGuigan didn’t open the scoring for the home side.

The stopper then had to be alert to deny Albion captain Michael Dunlop, who’s headed effort looked goalbound.

Albion continued to grow into the game following the half-time break, and Ross Davidson was next to go close. However, Andrews’ sheets would be dirtied after 62 minutes when on-loan Motherwell full back Chris Cadden fired past him from 20 yards after a clever run.

Colin Cameron reacted by handing Chris Dillon his debut, the striker arriving from Partick Thistle in midweek, however his introduction was to be in vein as Albion doubled their lead just ten minutes later, McGuigan meeting the crossof Marc McKenzie at the back post to nod home.

Neil Martyniuk then made his senior debut as he and Ross Gray were introduced, but Berwick failed to create anything of real note as Albion appeared to strengthen their claim forthe league title.

 

Berwick: Andrews; Jacobs, Young (Martyniuk 77), Fairbairn, Maxwell; Gold (Gray 77), Wilkie’ Willis, Currie; Russell (Dillon 68), Henderson.