BRFC vs Broomhill Match Report
Berwick Rangers’ strong run of form continued after an emphatic 4-0 win over Broomhill at Shielfield Park in the Lowland League as the returning Liam Buchanan scored twice.
The visitors started the game stronger with the windy conditions at Shielfield benefitting the Broomhill attack. A miscommunication in the Berwick defence saw Joe Ellison’s header fall for Broomhill’s Darren Miller at the edge of the box. Miller’s effort hit the side netting at the near post.
Five minutes later, another clearing header by Ellison fell to Corey O’Donnell who put the ball on a plate for Scott Roberts, but his shot flew over the bar.
Berwick were forced into an early change after Cammy Graham was injured after a challenge by Dan Higgins. Graham was replaced by Liam Buchanan who made his second debut for the Dream Team after an initial spell with Bonnyrigg Rose.
The best chance of the first half came on the half-hour mark with Broomhill’s Darren Miller playing a long ball towards Roberts. The Broomhill forward went for the audacious lob that beat Antell but hit the top of the bar and was then scrambled clear by Dougie Hill.
Berwick’s best chance of the half was from the free-kick of Jamie Stevenson. After great play from Callum Mackay to win the free-kick, Stevenson’s great effort sailed inches over the bar from around 22 yards out.
Just over five minutes into the second half, Jamie Stevenson had a free-kick just inside the Broomhill half. His cross into the box was flicked on by Gers skipper Jamie McCormack before being met by the head of fellow defender Callum Mackay. Mackay’s perfect connection was too good for Broomhill ‘keeper Luke Scullion as the ball smashed into the back of the net to make it 1-0 Berwick.
The second half seemed to bring out a completely different Berwick side as the tactical tweak saw the Gers looking to expose Broomhill’s high defensive line. Lewis Barr gathered the ball in the midfield before playing in Jackson Mylchreest down the left who had time and space as he drove towards the Broomhill goal. It looked as if Mylchreest took too many touches as Scullion charged towards him, but Mylchreest managed to poke the ball over the ‘keeper to double the Dream Team’s lead on the hour mark.
Less than two minutes later, Berwick were in again as Stevenson’s delicate lobbed ball over the Broomhill defence sent Liam Buchanan in down the right. Scullion again charged out his goal, but Buchanan got to the ball first and calmly took the ball past Scullion and slotted it into the empty net to score Berwick’s third goal in the space of ten minutes.
The second half continued to be dominated by the Dream Team. Once again it was Stevenson who was the creative force for Berwick as the open space of the visitors’ right-hand side was again exploited, as Liam Buchanan powered his way past the Broomhill backline. Buchanan cut inside and his powerful strike this time went wide of the post.
However, a minute later Buchanan managed to get his second on his return in the Black & Gold. Another long ball, this time by Callum Mackay, beat the Broomhill defence and Liam Buchanan calmly lobbed the ball over the static Scullion to make it 4-0. The fourth goal summed up a terrific second half from Berwick as they excellently got in behind the Broomhill defence time and time again.
Berwick continued to push forward for more goals with Liam Buchanan desperate to score a hat–trick. Mylchreest fed the ball to Buchanan just outside the Broomhill box. Buchanan’s fierce strike was well saved by Scullion on his right-hand side.
Broomhill barely got a sniff in the second half as they were overwhelmed by Berwick’s strong attacking display.
The Berwick onslaught slowed towards the end with the three points wrapped up nice and early as 4-0 marked the final score. Berwick’s third win in a row saw them climb above Broomhill into 11th in the Lowland League table. The match attendance at Shielfield Park was 387.
