SHIRE 3 BERWICK RANGERS 2

Shire emerged with their seventh straight league win after an end-to-end struggle with Berwick Rangers that offered plenty of excitement to the neutral spectator but was less good for the nerves of fans of both teams.

Jamie Stevenson’s free-kick gave Shire the interval lead but Damon Gray levelled things before two goals in three minutes from Stephen McGuire put Shire ahead. But was the home team who were left hanging on for the final whistle after Gray reduced the leeway to a single goal.

Craig Donaldson failed to recover in time from an ankle injury he picked up in training in midweek and that gave Paul Weaver his way back into the starting eleven.

Coach Jim McInally made one other switch to the team which had beaten Stranraer the previous Saturday. That meant Derek Ure dropping to the bench and Stephen McGuire coming into the team.

However, despite the changes the team still lined-up 4-4-2 with Paul Hay at right back and McGuire took up his position wide on the left.

The game got off to a fast and furious start. After just three minutes Berwick’s Paul McMullan did well to keep the ball in play down the left touchline and raced in on goal. He crossed low to Ian Little whose back post shot was brilliantly blocked by Shire keeper Jamie Barclay.

Just a minute later Simon Lynch tried his luck from long-range but although Mark Peat spilled his effort there was no forward following up quickly enough to take advantage.

After five minutes Shire should have taken the lead. A lovely piece of play involving Lynch and Jamie Stevenson created an opening for Andy Rodgers. He had plenty of time to pick his spot but Rodgers’ effort, although netbound, was hacked off the line by Paul Currie.

Things kept on going in an open manner but chances became more infrequent. Some decent passing on the edge of the Berwick box set up Weaver but his first touch took the ball away from him after 23 minutes and the opportunity was gone.

Berwick were forced to make a substitution with skipper Steve Notman being withdrawn and Graham Guy introduced after 27 minutes.

Two minutes further on Berwick were appealing for a penalty following Dean Richardson’s challenge on Damon Gray inside the box. But referee Mat Northcroft took a long look at things before waving play on.

But Shire wasted two glorious chances to take the lead. After 35 minutes Lynch got some room down the right wing and swung over the perfect cross for Rodgers to send a powerful header goalwards but was denied by a brilliant diving save from Peat.

A minute later a perfectly-weighted pass from Lynch sent McGuire clean through with only the keeper to beat but he hit a rather hasty shot straight at Peat who saved easily.

But any fears that Shire may rue those spurned opportunities were eased in 40 minutes. Weaver was fouled by Jamie Ewart 25 yards from goal and after ref Northcroft had awarded the free-kick, Stevenson curled the dead ball high into the keeper’s top left-hand corner of the net.

Two minutes before the break Lynch tried his luck with an effort from the edge of the box which he tried to curl in at the far post but his shot went just wide of the post.

Shire started the second half in a hurry and Rodgers hit a half-volley at the back post well over and barely a minute later McGuire was through on goal; but his angled shot was deflected wide for a corner that came to nothing.

But Berwick were coming back into things and on 56 minutes only a great saving challenge from Michael Bolochoweckyj stopped Damon Gray from going clean through on goal.

However, two minutes later Fraser McLaren made ground down the right and cut the ball back for Gray. The former Hibs youth team man hit a low drive from the 18 yard line into the corner of the net.

But Shire came right back and from the re-start Rodgers went narrowly wide with a shot from just inside the box. However, after 64 minutes Shire did re-take the lead.

Lynch received the ball with his back to goal and laid it into the path of McGuire who managed to curl the ball low into the net at the far post. That gave Jim McInally’s team all the confidence they required to push for more.

And a third goal duly arrived three minutes later. Richardson whipped a corner in to the near post and McGuire reacted first to get a glancing header to it which went into the net off the post.

The game should have been put to bed after that but McGuire was denied his hat-trick by yet another fantastic save from Peat and then substitute Derek Ure was clean through on goal but shot straight at the keeper.

After 78 minutes Shire were guaranteed a nervy closing few minutes when former Shire man Joe Savage combined well with Gray on the edge of the box for the latter to slot home Berwick’s second.

But, despite a flurry of late corners, the visitors could not find the target again.

SHIRE : Barclay, Harding, Richardson, Forrest, Bolochoweckyj, Hay, McGuire, Stevenson(Ure 73), Lynch, Weaver(Tully 77), Rodgers(McKenzie 84).

BERWICK RANGERS : Peat, Notman(Guy 27), Smith, Ewart, Gair, Callaghan, McLaren, Currie, Gray, Little(Savage 73), McMullan.

REFEREE : M. Northcroft.

ATTENDANCE : 347.