Berwick v University of Stirling Match Report
Berwick snatched a 3-2 win over ten-man University of Stirling thanks to Kyle Somers’ stoppage time winner at Shielfield Park.
The Gers stormed into a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Ben McCrystal and Callum Mackay. However, the visitors fought back to 2-2 through Liam Trotter and Archie Gibson. Lewis Blane was sent off for the visitors with under twenty minutes remaining for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Somers won it for Berwick in the 91st minute as the Gers achieve their first Lowland League East win of the season
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors as Jay Burns took advantage of some space in midfield to drive forward. He then opted for a shot that forced a strong save from Owen Hayward.
Berwick struggled in the early stages to push up the pitch, but their first chance arrived midway through the first half. Some tidy play by Struan Mair allowed the pass into McCrystal in midfield. He drove towards goal before his shot beat Alex Sutherland despite the keeper getting a touch on the ball as it nestled into the bottom right corner to give Berwick the lead against the run of play.
Not long later, Berwick had a corner as Ryan Turner played short to Somers. His wicked cross was met by the header of Mackay which flew into the top left corner to double the Gers’ lead in a matter of minutes.
University of Stirling were shellshocked to be 2-0 down, after their strong start to the game. Just over ten minutes before half-time, Finlay Millar gathered a long ball before picking out Trotter who was unmarked on the edge of the box. His shot found the bottom right corner to halve the deficit. Berwick held a 2-1 lead at half-time.
Berwick had the brighter start to the second half as Mair’s quick throw-in found Greg Binnie in the box. His poked shot was tipped onto the side netting by Sutherland.
Just before the hour mark, Alex Jeanes sprinted down the right for the visitors before his cross was met by Gibson. His header was nodded into the bottom left corner to level the game at 2-2. Berwick letting another two-goal lead slip.
University of Stirling had all the momentum once again as they searched for the lead for the first time in the game. Gibson used his pace to fly through the midfield before finding Millar. He cut inside before his shot found the hands of Hayward.
A few minutes later, Mair lost the ball to Sam Martin. His curled effort from just outside the box was wide.
The momentum of the game looked to have swung with just under twenty minutes remaining. A long ball was pounced on by Danny Handling who was then brought down by Blane. The University of Stirling captain was subsequently sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Turner’s resulting free-kick from just outside the box was way over.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Uni of Stirling still looked a threat when they went forward. Gibson’s good run pushed the visitors up the pitch before he found Millar. He would then cut inside before striking a shot just wide.
The game turned into a frenetic one as the game entered stoppage time. The Dream Team struggled to make their man advantage count, but Liam Gregory had time and space to deliver a cross from the right-hand side. His cross was begging for a touch, and Somers tapped the ball into the net at the back post to put the Gers back in the lead in stoppage time.
University of Stirling still had one more chance to draw the game, in which they perhaps deserved. Euan Walker’s free-kick into the box found an unmarked Trotter but he could only direct his header wide to spurn a great chance at the end.
Berwick held on to a 3-2 win in what is their first league win of the season. The Gers climb to 11th in the table while University of Stirling remain pointless and sit 15th. Berwick are next in action next Saturday in the Lowland League East against Bonnyrigg Rose at Shielfield Park.