Berwick Rangers vs Caledonian Braves

Braves end August in style despite red card drama in Berwick

The Caledonian Braves recorded an impressive three points this afternoon, when they beat Berwick Rangers by three goals to nil. Both sides were reduced to ten men in a frantic first half, however the Braves took their opposition to the sword with three decisive goals in the opening 45.

Ross McNeil opened the scoring after half an hour, before Cammy bagged a brace to secure all three points.

At a sun-kissed Shielfield Park, Ricky Waddell made three changes to his line-up, with Greig Stewart returning to defence, Martin McArthur coming in for the injured Jack Brown at right back and Connor McLaren returning to the wing.

The Braves came out the traps flying, and Ross McNeil found success in the channels in the early exchanges. He came close to opening the scoring on a couple of occasions, with Connor McLaren also testing the keeper.

Cammy Breadner would come the closest however, cracking the woodwork with a great strike after 10 minutes.

However controversy would strike in the 28th minute, when Daniel Martins was shown a straight red card for an alleged headbutt on Jamie McCormack. The contact looked minimal, however the referee didn’t hesitate to draw out his red card.

The Braves would have to reshuffle, with John Guthrie momentarily dropping in to cover at centre back. This wouldn’t affect the Braves too much though, as we’d take the lead two minutes later.

The dangerous Ross McNeil once again made a superb run in behind the opposition defence. The ball was slipped into the marksman who kept his cool, to slot beyond Calum Antel to give us the lead.

Following this goal, Ryan Murray would replace Ross McNeil in a tactical change, to provide us with a more familiar shape. Ryan came on at left back, allowing Robbie Stewart to step into centre-back and Guthrie back into midfield.

And with 38 minutes on the clock, the game would take another turn. Breadner found his way into the box and with the goal opening up in front of his eyes, he was brought down by Gareth Rodger. The referee had no choice but to send off the last man.

With McNeil on the bench, Cammy Breadner stood up himself and smashed the penalty home into the top right corner with aplomb. But that wasn’t all for the first half.

With 44 minutes on the clock, Murray launched a long throw up the line. Connor McLaren was smart to cut the ball across to the edge of the box where the onrushing Cammy Breadner met the ball. The dugout call for him to take a touch, but instead the winger opened up with a superb first time strike into the bottom corner. 0-3 Braves!

Berwick shuffled their pack for the second half, brining on a pair of former Braves players in Matty Collins and Jamie Watson, the latter making his debut.

The Wee Gers came closer to scoring in the second half, but Bernie White’s goal would remain untested. Watson came close after picking off a loose pass at the back, although he couldn’t find the back of the net with the goal gaping.

Liam Buchanan also came close to closing the deficit, with a right footed strike that flew just wide of the top corner. But Bernie would keep his clean sheet, to make it five shutouts in seven games this season.

The result leapfrogs the Braves over Broxburn into third position in the table, to top off an undefeated August over their seven games.

Up next for the Braves will be back to back home games against the University of Stirling and Gretna 2008 at Alliance Park this coming week.

Man of the match - Cammy Breadner