Berwick v Caledonian Braves Match Report
Berwick suffered a 4-1 loss to Caledonian Braves in the Lowland League at Shielfield Park with the visitors’ Lennon Walker scoring a hat-trick.
Aiden Clocherty opened the scoring for Braves before a mix-up in Berwick’s defence allowed Walker to score just before half-time. Walker would add two more for his hat-trick and Braves’ fourth before Alfie Robinson headed in a consolation goal for Berwick.
The Gers had the first chance of the game. A cheeky nutmeg by Harry Wright created space for a pass to Scott-Taylor MacKenzie in the middle. His long shot went just wide of the post.
Berwick had another chance in unusual circumstances minutes later. A poor back pass by Braves’ Daniel Martins caused goalkeeper Bernard White to handle the ball. However, the Gers couldn’t make the most of the indirect free-kick inside the box.
Just before the quarter-hour mark and the opening goal arrived. John Guthrie delivered a terrific long ball over the Berwick defence to find Clocherty. The pacey winger rounded the onrushing Liam Campbell and slotted the ball into the empty net to give Caledonian Braves the lead.
The Braves goal seemed to knock any momentum the Dream Team had in the opening stages. Chances were few and far between for Berwick until around five minutes before half-time. Mikey Mbewe’s cross from the left made its way to MacKenzie just outside the box. He had time and space to control the ball before his shot was parried clear by White.
Less than a minute later and Robinson was caught on the ball in his own half by Guthrie and Walker picked up the ball with only Campbell ahead of him. Berwick’s keeper ran out again but Walker skipped his challenge and passed the ball into the net to double Braves’ lead in a goal very similar to the first.
Another Berwick mistake nearly led to a third Caledonian goal on the stroke of half-time. This time it was Joe Ellison who picked out Braves’ Clocherty perfectly. His fierce shot forced Campbell to push the ball over. The Gers trailed 2-0 at half-time.
Fifteen minutes into the second half and Caledonian Braves scored their third. A long ball by Robbie Stewart beat the Berwick defensive line to find Walker once again. He gave Campbell the eyes and slotted the ball past him to make it 3-0.
A few minutes later and Dom McMahon picked out Walker who showed his pace once again to sprint clear of Ellison to give the Braves forward another chance. Once again it was Walker who got the upper hand of Campbell as he cooly slotted the ball into the net to score his hat-trick and Caledonian’s fourth.
Braves had no doubt been clinical with their chances and their strong defence prevented Berwick from building any momentum in attack.
As the game entered its final ten minutes Mbewe done well to skip past a couple of challenges before finding MacKenzie on the edge of the box. His shot was struck nicely to force White to tip the ball over.
The resulting corner by MacKenzie was headed home by Robinson at the near post to give the Dream Team a consolation goal.
Braves nearly restored their four-goal lead through a counter-attack. Cameron Breadner led the charge and his low cross from the left picked out Bright Prince, but he poked his shot wide.
Caledonian Braves secured a 4-1 win as Berwick missed the opportunity to climb above Braves in the Lowland League table. The Gers slip to 11th in the standings with Braves remaining in 7th. Berwick’s next game is away to University of Stirling this Saturday as they look to bounce back from a disappointing result.