Berwick v Hill of Beath Match Report
Berwick v Hill of Beath Match Report
Berwick suffered a 2-0 loss to Hill of Beath at Shielfield Park as the Gers remain winless in the new Lowland League East season.
Jake Mitchell converted from the penalty spot around the half-hour mark before Daniel Watt couldn’t follow shortly after as he missed his penalty. However, Samuel Featherstone doubled the visitors lead midway through the second half as Hill of Beath took the points.
Hill of Beath created the first chance of the game in under two minutes as Scott Reekie’s cross found Watt. His shot inside the box was brilliantly saved by Calum Antell before the rebound by Watt was headed over to spurn a great chance of an early goal.
The game was a scrappy one at the beginning as neither side could create many clearcut chances. James Linton nearly found the net from a free-kick but Antell executed a fine save to keep the game goalless.
On the half-hour mark, Mark McConnell was caught on the ball which allowed Watt to be sent in on goal. The ex-Berwick striker was brought down by Antell and a penalty was given. Mitchell stepped up to the spot and sent Antell the wrong way as the penalty went into the bottom left corner to give Hill of Beath the lead.
The visitors continued their momentum as Watt led another attack down the right before pulling the ball back to Reekie on the edge of the box. His shot struck the arm of McConnell, and the ref gave Hill of Beath a second penalty in a matter of minutes. Watt was the man to step up this time, but his effort aimed left was saved by Antell to keep the deficit at one.
Hill of Beath continued to look the more likely to score as Watt continued to be at the heart of each attack. He managed to slip Jay Bridgeford down the left before his shot across goal rolled just wide.
Berwick were managing to stay in the game, and they created their first real chance five minutes before half-time. Josh O’Connor’s corner found Jamie Pyper who knocked the ball down for Greg Binnie to pounce. His shot was deflected over as the Gers continued to trail.
The visitors had the last chance of the first half as Reekie got ahead of Pyper to receive a long ball. He tried to round Antell, but the Berwick goalkeeper got a hand on the ball, with Liam Middleton ready for the rebound. His shot beat Antell, but Pyper cleared the ball off the line to keep the Dream Team just one behind at half-time.
Hill of Beath continued to look the better side in the second half as Watt managed to pick out Bridgford on the edge of the box. His shot looked to be on target but was deflected over by McConnell.
Berwick responded with a chance of their own as Binnie held up the ball nicely before finding O’Connor on the right-hand side. However, his shot failed to threaten as the ball flew comfortably over the bar.
Just after the hour mark, Brodie Gray found Samuel Featherstone who used his pace to drive towards goal as Pyper struggled to keep up. Featherstone’s shot beat Antell at the near post to find the back of the net and double the visitors’ lead.
Hill of Beath began to control the game with ease as Berwick struggled to create chances. Featherstone nearly had his second as he cut inside before his whipped shot went just wide of the goal.
It would take until second half stoppage time before the Gers registered their first shot on target. Ben McCrystal did well to find space as he drove towards goal before passing to Binnie. He swivelled before unleashing a low shot that forced a save from Blair Penman’s right-hand side.
Hill of Beath secured a 2-0 win in what is their first win of the Lowland League East season to see them climb to 11th. Berwick remain winless after their first two games and drop to 13thin the table. The Gers return to action on Tuesday night as they play Linton Hotspur in Round 2 of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup at Shielfield Park.