BERWICK RANGERS 2 SHIRE 1

An inspired goalkeeping performance from Berwick Rangers’ Ryan McGurk made sure his side kept the three league points at Shielfield on the opening day of the Third Division season.

Shire made a disastrous start, losing two goals inside the first half hour and although Andy Rodgers pulled one back just before the interval, Shire could not find their scoring boots in a second half they dominated both in possession and in terms of chances.

With Craig Tully suspended and David King injured, Shire boss Jim McInally was forced into fielding another makeshift back line. But, instead of the three he chose to start with against Ayr United in the Challenge Cup, he switched to a four at the back with Sean Anderson and Dean Richardson coming into the full-back roles.

And in another major surprise Shire opted to go for goals, playing with three strikers as Brian Graham, a substitute against Ayr, made his starting debut.

The visitors were quickly on the attack and, with four minutes on the clock, Andy Rodgers slipped the ball inside the full-back for Derek Ure. His shot was weak but keeper Ryan McGurk still fumbled the effort and had to gather at the second attempt.

A minute later a David Nicholls effort from just outside the box was deflected wide for a corner and after 10 minutes Colin Cramb put Graham clear but he shot wide when well-placed.

It was a bright opening for Shire but they got a shock after 13 minutes. Stephen Oates tried to guide the ball back to John Hillcoat but the keeper was slow to come off his line and the ball went past him as far as Darren Gribben who rolled it into the empty net for the opening goal.

Just after the quarter hour Richardson fired in a cross from the left which Graham did well to reach at the back post but he couldn’t get any real direction on his effort which went onto the roof of the net.

But for all Shire’s pressing they fell 2-0 behind on the 26 minute mark. A corner was cleared as far as John Dillon 20 yards from goal and he hit it first time high into the top left hand corner of the net.

Three minutes from the interval Richardson put Graham clean through on goal. The on-loan Morton striker tried to lob the keeper from the edge of the box but McGurk extended his height to fingertip the effort away.

A minute before the interval Shire pulled a goal back when a cross from Sean Anderson was knocked back across goal by Cramb to Rodgers who was unmarked at the back post and he shot home from eight yards.

Straight from he re-start Fraser McLaren should have put Berwick 3-1 up after a goalmouth scramble but his effort from six yards came crashing off Hillcoat’s crossbar.

Shire started the second half on the ascendancy but it was Berwick who created the first clear-cut opening after 52 minutes. A poor midfield pass gave Dillon a clear run on goal but the former Stenhousemuir man elected to cross rather than shoot and although the centre was accurately aimed towards Jim Lister, Dean Richardson did enough to intercept it.

From then on it was literally all one way traffic towards the Berwick Rangers goal. After 65 minutes some lovely passing in and around the home penalty box set up Nicholls for what seemed like a certain equaliser but the veteran midfielder hit his  final effort too close to McGurk, who nervously palmed the ball away to something approaching safety.

A minute later Rodgers set himself up for a chance but was thwarted by a fantastic stop by McGurk, diving low to his  left to turn the ball round the post for a corner.

On 79 minutes some good work down the left by the tireless Rodgers ended with a great cross into the box which Graham rose to head just over the bar. Then it was substitute Jimmy Gibson’s turn to have a go from the 18 yard ine but despite having the whole goal to aim at the Shire midfielder managed to send his effort just over the bar.

Cramb had been displaying his best form for Shire since signing for the club in the summer but two moments late on summed up his, and Shire’s afternoon. On 87 minutes he was put clean through on goal with only McGurk to beat but delayed his effort too long, allowing the brave Berwick keeper to make a diving save at his feet.

Then, in injury time, Camb, having already been booked, strained to head a Nicholls free-kick into the net and just tried too hard, making contact with his hand. The referee judged it deliberate handball and showed him a second yellow.

Berwick Rangers : McGurk, Guy, McMahon, Ewart, Horn, Bonar(Little 48), McLaren, Callaghan, Lister(Greenhill 81), Gribben(Grant 86),Dillon.

Shire : Hillcoat, Anderson(McKenzie 79), Richardson(Gibson 65), Oates, Bolochoweckyj, Ure, Dunn(Donaldson 65), Nicholls, Cramb, Graham, Rodgers.

Referee : R. Madden.

Attendance : 570.