UOS vs BRFC – 24-25
Berwick were left to rue a host of missed chances as University of Stirling came out on top in a chaotic encounter.
Euan Walker’s late winner secured all three points for the hosts in a game which saw wild deflections, two missed penalties and both sides squandering leads.
Kevin Haynes continues his search for a first win as Berwick boss as he watched his side sabotage any hopes of collecting a vital victory.
Haynes made just one change from the side which drew at Caledonian Braves with the suspended Grant Nelson replaced by Dean Aitken, handed his first league start.
The students began the game strongly, hoping to move seven points clear of Berwick in the Lowland League table with full back Carter Jenkins having two early opportunities – first slicing well wide when in a good position before sending a free header straight at Callum Antell.
Berwick did begin to grow into the game and had two massive opportunities in a minute. Ben Scarborough dug out a great cross from the left for Rayan Mohammed but the striker’s header was deflected behind for a corner. Scott-Taylor Mackenzie delivered a lovely ball to the back post where Aitken could only head wide unmarked.
It was a huge chance for Berwick and they fashioned another one midway through the first half. Good play from Mackenzie saw him look for Kyle Somers with a cross but Uni keeper Adam Buttgieg failed to deal with it however Liam Buchanan couldn’t guide his header on target.
Buttgieg was then called into action to tip over an improvised Lewis Barr effort before some last ditch defending from a Uni corner saw two shots blocked by Berwick bodies. The game was opening up but, just after half hour, the hosts lost striker Thomas Vonk who picked up a nasty looking elbow injury that required more than five minutes of treatment.
It was this break in play that allowed the students to reset and, 90 seconds after the restart, they took the lead. Sam Martin tried to play an early ball to his front men but completely skewed the ball which looped high into the air, over Antell’s head and into the net.
It was a huge slice of fortune for the hosts but, seconds before half time, Berwick got their own good fortune. Scarborough was again the architect, winning the ball on the right before taking on Jenkins. Buchanan took over and hit a hopeful effort from the edge of the area which took a huge deflection and looped over Buttgieg and into the net.
That equaliser shifted Haynes’ team talk and within 90 seconds of the restart, Berwick took the lead. Buchanan fed the ball to Scarborough on the right of the area, who moved inside and fired a brilliant strike into the back of the net via the post.
Berwick tails were up but, as has been the story of the season, self-inflicted wounds led to a quick equaliser. A Berwick corner was cleared to the left flank where Aitken picked it up under pressure but the defender tried to play a difficult ball to Barr which was perfect for a Uni break. With Berwick piling men forward, the ball came to Finn Moffett, who set himself well and fired just beyond Antell’s reach.
Berwick would not be disheartened though and continued to create opportunities. Mark McConnell headed wide from a Somers delivery before Mohammed stung the palms of Buttgieg and Scarborough’s skewed shot across goal just had too much on it for Buchanan to reach at the back post.
However, Berwick almost gave away a carbon copy of the host’s second goal. Another set piece was poorly dealt with on the transition and ended with McConnell dangling a leg out in the box which Martin decided to go down under in stages. It was a clear penalty though but Antell was down well to deny Moffett low to his right.
Both sides were desperate for the win but it looked like Berwick were the most likely. Matty Collins came off the bench and almost had an immediate impact, skinning his man on the left before putting a cross on the head of Scarborough but the wide man couldn’t make enough contact to guide it into the back of the net.
Berwick would eventually be punished for all of those missed chances with three minutes remaining. Collins was caught on the ball midway inside his own half and Berwick were never able to get organised, with a low cross from the right going all the way through to substitute Walker, who had about three weeks to pick his spot past Antell.
All hope seemed gone but, with seconds remaining, Berwick were gifted a chance at rescuing a point. Scarborough took on Jenkins in the area and the full back made a lazy attempt to win the ball, fouling the Bonnyrigg Rose loanee. Mackenzie put the ball on the spot and sent Buttgieg the wrong way, but dragged his effort wide.
That would be the final act in what was a painful day for all Berwick fans as results elsewhere mean that the Dream Team slip to 16th in the Lowland League table.
Up next, Berwick are on the road in midweek friendly action at Newtongrange Star before our next Lowland League fixture against Cowdenbeath at Shielfield Park.
