Berwick v Hearts B Match Report 24-25

Berwick were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Hearts B in the Lowland League in what was a tale of two halves at Shielfield Park.

MacKenzie Ross and Dominic Plank scored for the visitors in the first half before Jamie McCormack pulled one back for Berwick in a resolute second half display, but the Gers ultimately fell to defeat.

The visitors began the game the better as a long ball from the right was misjudged by Jamie McCormack. His poor flick of a header fell nicely for Macaulay Tait to volley which was stopped by the strong save of Calum Antell.

Berwick created their first chance of the match from a corner. The inswinger from Ben McCrystal was cleared out but only to Cai MacNamara. He swivelled and shot but his effort was comfortable for Jamie MacDonald in goal.

A couple minutes later and Hearts B responded in terrific fashion. Bobby McLuckie needed no luck at all to use his pace to find plenty of green space to run into. He picked out Ross with a slick through ball and the forward had plenty of time to slot the ball into the top left corner of the net.

Midway through the first half and Hearts B had their second. Callum Sandilands did well to beat the Berwick press to find space in the midfield. Sandilands slipped in Plank who beat the offside trap to find himself in on goal. Plank managed to round the onrushing Antell, and he eased the ball into the bottom corner despite the late challenge from Alfie Robinson. Hearts B with a two-goal lead.

The game had a very similar story to the last meeting between the two. Berwick couldn’t deal with the pace of the young Hearts B team that saw them suffer a heavy defeat to the same opposition back in August.

Just after the half-hour mark and the high line of Berwick’s defence was getting exposed once again as Ryan Duncan beat the offside trap to get in on goal. He spotted Antell running out his goal and his dinked effort was tipped onto the bar and over by the fingers of the Gers shot-stopper.

Plank was causing more havoc for the Gers as he pounced on a loose pass just outside the Berwick box. His fierce shot was saved at Antell’s near post, but the rebound fell perfectly for Ross, but his effort was brilliantly cleared off the line by Max McGinley to keep Berwick in the game.

The Dream Team’s best chance of the half came just before added time as a misplaced pass in the Hearts B defence was capitalised on by Jamie Watson. He sprinted towards goal, but his shot lacked finesse and was saved by MacDonald’s feet.

The second half began with a Hearts B change in goal as Jack Lyon was subbed on for MacDonald.

It was the Gers who started the second 45 the better team and their biggest threat was coming from set-pieces, particularly the corner kicks from Ben McCrystal. His outswinger bounced off several Hearts B defenders and the ball was forced off the line before a player in black and gold could tap home.

Niall Kemp was brought on for Cai MacNamara and made an instant impact as he used his pace down the right-hand side. His cutback was perfect for Rayan Mohammed, but he got under the ball and the ball flew way over the bar to scupper a huge chance for Berwick to halve the deficit.

Hearts B continued their threat on the counter-attack. Plank led the breakaway, and he played the ball into Sandilands just inside the box. The Hearts B skipper shot across goal that rolled just wide.

Kemp continued his bright start as he received the ball on the right before his shot across goal flew inches past the post with many in Shielfield anticipating the net to bulge.

The clock ticked towards 70 minutes as Berwick had another corner. McCrystal’s cross to the front post was flicked on by McCormack and the ball squeezed through the crowd and into the net to give Berwick hope. A much-deserved goal that merited the Dream Team’s second half performance.

It was well and truly a tale of two halves with Berwick continuing to dominate the second half as Hearts B struggled to get out of their defensive third. Another set-piece was causing the visitors problems. McCrystal picked out Robinson who got his head to the ball, but his effort was well saved by Lyon.

Minutes later and Watson picked out Mohammed with a through ball and his shot was saved superbly by Lyon at his near post.

The visitors managed to hold out for the win as Berwick will feel they deserved at least a point after their excellent second half display. However, two counter-attack goals in the first half were the difference as Hearts B completed the league double over the Gers. Berwick return to action next Saturday as they take on East Stirlingshire at Shielfield Park.