Berwick Rangers continued their impressive home form with a comfortable 3-0 victory over East Stirlingshire at Shielfield Park. Daniel Watt and Regan Graham put Berwick 2-0 up at half time, with a third added early in the second half from the unfortunate Adam Murray who sliced into his own net from an Ethan Anderson cross.

 

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides with Daniel Pattenden heavily involved in the opening exchanges. First he went close with an effort from 12 yards that he blazed over the bar after an excellent delivery by Graham on the right. Not long after he mustered another opportunity, skipping past his man in the area before unleashing a powerful effort that swayed just past the goalkeepers left hand post.

 

Berwick were entering the Shire final third with ease, but had to be wary of the away sides counter attacks, and that nearly proved when Callum Brown almost found himself in on goal but a vital touch from Dean McConnell prevented any danger.

 

From the following attack, Berwick broke the deadlock in the 19th minute through Daniel Watt. His quick feet gave him a yard of space in the box before rifling the ball beyond Michael Fairbanks.

 

Home side kept pressing, not giving the Shire defence a moments piece. Full backs Ewan Herriott and Anderson were heavily involved with overlapping runs and dangerous crosses but none of their team-mates were gambling to get into those areas.

 

They remained patient and doubled their advantage in the 35th minute. Watt the provider this time unselfishly squaring the ball to Graham in the box who tapped in from ten yards. The least they deserved from a dominant first half display.

The first action of the second half resulted in a third for the home side in the 46th minute. Murray sliced Anderson’s cross into his own net after some neat build up play from Alan Walker and Kieran Ingram, a moment he would like to forget.

 

The hosts tested the Shire defence with a rare set-piece and should have added a fourth. Graham reacted sharply in the area to collect the loose ball after Shire failed to clear their lines but his finishing was all at sea.

 

Watt was next to waste another golden chance for the hosts. He capitalised on a weak back-pass from Murray but the heroics of Fairbanks let his fellow team-mate off the hook.

 

It was just over the hour mark before Shire had a decent spell on the ball in the Berwick half. David Grant playing a more advanced role in the second half along with the introduction of Stephen Reynolds up-front benefited the away side in attack. His hold up play and eye for a pass gave Shire a much needed boost in attack.

 

And they were almost rewarded with a goal through Jason Weir. His angled shot inside the area was blocked by Mark Walters after a beautifully weighted pass from Reynolds.

 

Berwick almost put the icing on the cake late on, Hogg got up well to clatter a header onto the crossbar after being picked out by the impressive Pattenden.

 

Another eloquent performance from the hosts sees them move up to fourth place leapfrogging Alloa whereas East Stirling have lost all of their away games this campaign.