Berwick Rangers lose out to old boy's strike

Posted by The Journal on Nov 17, 08 10:00 AM in Sport

Battling Berwick Rangers looked as though they were on the verge of collecting the first point on their travels since the opening away league fixture of the season - until an old boy stepped in.

Ex-Borderer Kevin McLeish fired home a cracking 35-yarder out of the reach of keeper Ryan McGurk with only two minutes remaining on the clock to earn Forfar their first home win of the campaign.

But Rangers caretaker manager Jimmy Crease saw plenty of hope for the future.

"I thought the lads did brilliantly and on this showing there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel and a base to build on" said Crease.

The stand-in boss, who has taken over following the resignation of Allan McGonigal, was disappointed that Rangers failed to cash in again from the penalty spot with John Dillon seeing Ally Brown save his spot-kick after only 90 seconds and Darren Gribben thump the rebound over the bar.

Forfar took the lead on the half-hour mark when on-loan Dayle Robertson was judged to have fouled Ross Campbell in the box and Derek Lilley made no mistake with the penalty award.

But 60 seconds later Berwick were back on terms courtesy of a bullet header by Jamie Ewart from a David Greenhill corner.

Strong winds made conditions difficult in the second half but McLeish cashed in right at the death to leave McGurk beaten for the second match in a row by a powerful long-distance strike.

FORFAR: Brown, Gordon (McNally 71), Donachie, Dunn (McLeish 71), Tod, Tulloch, Campbell, Winter (Fotheringham 58), Lilley, Brady, Graham Gibson. Subs (not used): Smith, John Gibson. Booked: Winter, Dunn, Donachie. Goals: Lilley 30 pen, McLeish 88.

BERWICK: McGurk, Lennox, Dillon, Ewart, Horn, Callaghan, Robertson, McMenamin, Gribben (Chris Anderson 89), McLaren, David Greenhill. Subs (not used): Craig Anderson, Guy, McMahon, Lunn. Booked: Robertson. Goal: Ewart 32. Attendance: 327.

Referee: N Watters .

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