Berwick Rangers 2, Albion Rovers 0

Nov 2 2009 The Journal

BERWICK Rangers moved back into second spot in the table with boss Jimmy Crease hoping his team have finally “got the monkey off our backs”.

The Borderers might have had three goals in the opening half with first Ian Little heading against the bar from a Stuart Callaghan free-kick, then Alan Brazil striking a post after McLean had created the opening. He was then guilty of a glaring miss, hooking over from only a few yards out.

But the breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute when Callaghan provided another perfectly-flighted free-kick for Paul Currie to stab home and 10 minutes later Gray wrapped it up from the penalty spot after he had been brought down.

“Prior to this one we had a record of only one win in 12 against Albion so a victory like this is particularly important,” said Crease. “It was also important to get back to winning ways after taking only one point from our last three league games.

“This victory was built on a solid defensive performance with the back four all playing particularly well and I have told young Andy McLean, who was recalled in place of the injured Graham Guy, that the jersey is now his to lose and not to have it taken away from him.”

Crease thought his side was “desperately unlucky” not to have scored in the first half. “We had chances and hit the woodwork twice in quick succession,” said Crease.

“I asked the players at the interval to try and win more of the 50-50 balls and get closer to the Albion players, and they responded well.”

The Rangers boss was delighted that Damon Gray, brought on as a second-half substitute, got off the mark with his first goal for the club.