Berwick vs Tranent Match Report 24-25

Berwick suffered a 2-1 defeat to Tranent in the Lowland League at Shielfield Park despite a late fightback.

Goals from Euan Greig and Danny Handling had put the visitors two goals ahead. Ben McCrystal pulled one back for the Gers but couldn’t find an equaliser as Berwick’s winless league run extended to nine games.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors. Handling received the ball on the right-hand side before delivering a low cross towards Joe Viola. However the Tranent forward could only direct his side-volley wide of the Berwick goal.

Less than a minute later, the Dream Team created their first chance of the game. Liam Buchanan managed to beat the offside trap as he sprinted into the box on the right-hand side. The Berwick striker chopped inside Nicholas Aitchison before unleashing a shot, but it was tame as the ball rolled into the hands of Kelby Mason.

The Gers continued their momentum as they searched for their first goal in four league games. Blair Sneddon beat the challenges of three Tranent players before delivering a cross. The ball was semi-cleared before falling to Buchanan who laid the ball on a plate for Scott-Taylor MacKenzie. However, like Buchanan’s earlier effort, the connection of the strike was poor as Mason gathered the ball with ease.

Midway through the first half and Tranent were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal on the left. Ben Millar whipped a cross in that was flicked on by Handling onto the crossbar and over as Berwick survived the best chance of the game.

On the half-hour mark, some nice interplay on the edge of the box by Tranent created space for Greig on the left-hand side of the box. His shot across Antell was a great one as it nestled in the bottom right corner to give the visitors the lead. Berwick were left with the task of needing to score their first goal in four league games to have a chance of salvaging a result from the game.

Tranent began the second half the stronger side. Scott Gray used his pace to find space down the right before a whipped cross found Viola. He managed to get to the ball ahead of Robinson and his effort hit Calum Antell more than anything as the ball somehow bounced an inch or two wide.

It was the ever-impressive Gray who was once again leadingthe Tranent offensive as a swift counter-attack saw him slip in Miller. He connected sweetly but Antell was there again to deny the visitors doubling their lead.

The resulting corner however led to more Berwick problems. Miller’s inswinger could only be parried by Antell straight to Handling who smashed the ball into the roof of the net to put Tranent two goals up.

Given Berwick’s lack of goalscoring firepower of late, a comeback seemed very unlikely. A third Tranent goal seemed the better bet to place as Gray sprinted down the left before his low driven cross was met by Harry Gordon who fired just wide as Antell stood stranded.

McCrystal had endured a quiet game, but he came to life as his quick feet in midfield created space for a pass to substitute Jonny Devers on the right. Devers dug out a looped cross that fell to another sub Cai MacNamara but his sliced shot went comfortably wide.

Less than a minute later, Devers did well to pick out McCrystal on the edge of the box. McCrystal once again showed quick feet to burst into the box and his shot was an excellent one as it went through the legs of Mason and skidded into the back of the net. The Dream Team given some hope of a late fightback.

A fairly quiet Shielfield Park crowd suddenly burst into life as they tried to push the Gers on for an equaliser. However, despite some late free-kicks put into the box, a resolute Tranent defence held out as the visitors grabbed all three points.

Berwick’s run of three consecutive league draws ends as defeat sees them remain in 16th place, while Tranent climb to 4th. The Gers are next in action next Saturday as they take on Cumbernauld Colts in a crucial Lowland League clash at Shielfield Park as the Gers look to secure three points that will help them move clear of the bottom of the table.