First Team
Braves look to do the double over high-flying Berwick
11th March 2023
Caledonian Braves return to Alliance Park tomorrow following three consecutive away games to take on an in-form Berwick Rangers in the Lowland League.
Ricky Waddell’s side enter Saturday’s game in high spirits after securing a place in the South Challenge Cup quarter-final with a 2-0 victory over Threave Rovers in the Fifth Round.
Marc Kelly opened the scoring in 30 seconds, which surely broke the record for quickest goal in the South Challenge Cup. Ross McNeil doubled Braves’ advantage before the half-hour mark, as we looked in control throughout the tie.
Sunday’s South Challenge Cup Quarter-Final draw set the Braves up with a tie against Auchinleck Talbot, who knocked out fellow Lowland League side East Kilbride in the Fifth Round.
Alliance Park will host Auchinleck Talbot in the South Challenge Cup Quarter-Final on the weekend of April 1st.
Tomorrow’s game is crucial in the context of our season with Berwick currently eight points ahead of us, albeit we have a game in hand. A home win tomorrow would cut the gap to the chasing pack at the top of the table with Ricky Waddell making clear Braves have “no intention of seeing out this season”
Opposition Report
Berwick Rangers visit Alliance Park on the back of a 3-1 victory over Edinburgh Uni, which extended their unbeaten run to eight consecutive matches. They have also won their six previous games, including an impressive 3-0 home win over Rangers B.
The Borders club, managed by Stuart Malcolm, lost 2-0 to the Braves in August last year, in the most previous meeting of the sides. Zac Butterworth and Marc Kelly’s strikes saw a successful outing at Shielfield Park for Ricky Waddell’s men in what was a deserved victory on the day.
SPFL journeyman Liam Buchanan offers goalscoring prowess for Berwick, with the 37-year-old forward scoring 150+ goals across 11 clubs.
Buchanan’s 19 goals this term included a brace in last Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Edinburgh Uni.
We hope you can join us at Alliance Park, kick is off 3pm and it is pay what you can (optional donation at the gate) as always! If you can’t be there we will have live commentary available on Twitter Spaces as well as live text updates through the app!