Preview: The Spartans v Berwick Rangers – Lowland League
The games will come thick and fast in the Lowland League this season and, three days after the ‘Gers opened the 2020/21 campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Vale of Leithen, the team travel to The Spartans for their first away game of the season.
Berwick played The Spartans three times last season – winning once and losing twice – and Manager Ian Little will be hoping for a strong performance from his side at Ainslie Park to dust off some away day demons, with just one away win recorded in the Lowland League last season.
Berwick Rangers team news
Reigning Player of the Year Lewis Barr remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is expected to remain out for another 2-3 weeks, while Kevin Waugh will also miss out due to his hamstring problem – although the defender is said to be closing in on a return.
Meanwhile, the match has also come too soon for winger Liall Smith, right, who returned to training last Tuesday evening having picked up an injury in the pre-season win at Whitehill Welfare.
Manager Ian Little was particularly pleased with the performance of his back five in Saturday’s victory and both Jack Cook and Ali Forster came through the game unscathed after missing the previous weekend’s friendly at Stenhousemuir with knocks.
The Spartans team news
The Spartans finished fifth in the Lowland League last season, winning 16 of the 25 matches that they played, but needed a late winner from substitute Cameron Dawson to seal a 2-1 opening day win against Gretna 2008 at Raydale Park.
Prior to that match, The Spartans played five pre-season games, suffering defeats against Dunfermline Athletic (0-3) and Hearts (0-2), but winning against East of Scotland Premier League trio Tynecastle (5-2), Penicuik Athletic (1-0) and Musselburgh Athletic (1-0).
The Spartans squad features three former ‘Gers first-teamers – Michael Bolochoweckyj, Aaron Murrell and Scott Maxwell, the latter of whom was named Man of the Match against Gretna 2008 on Saturday. Sam Jones, meanwhile, is a former captain of the club’s U20 team.
Another former Berwick player, Dean Hoskins, yesterday made the switch from The Spartans back to Bonnyrigg Rose.
Admission
As we understand, The Spartans are going to be live streaming the match FREE of charge. We’ll provide more details as soon as we have more information.
