Arbroath lined up with only two players out of position, which was very impressive considering the usual four or five we usually do. Marc Cairns took his place between sticks, with Flyer at right back, Dobbins and Bishop in the centre and Paul Watson at left back. The midfield 4 were Marc McCulloch on the left, Hugh Davidson and Chris Jackson in the centre of midfield and Greg Millar on the right. Upfront were Jay Stein and Pat Clarke.
Basically, Berwick scored 3 times, had 21 odd attempts at goal and we did SFA. Berwick's first came after a long ball got caught in the wind and landed around our 6 yard box. With no-one apart from Marc Cairns and Kevin Haynes in the box, it seemed an easy jump and catch situation for Cairns. Instead, he stood there, watched the ball as it came towards him and watched as Kevin Haynes strolled accross and chested it in, with Cairns flapping about trying to catch it at chest height.
After this, Berwick had numerous chances to score again, with Chris McGroarty missing a 1 on 1 and Ian Little a diving header from 3 yards out. Arbroath did have their only chance of the game, created by Berwick, after a short passback was nearly latched onto by Pat Clarke, but his little toe poke was easily gathered by ex Lichtie Craig Coyle in the Berwick goal. Soon after this Cairns got injured and Mark Peat was brought on.
Berwick's 2nd came reasonably early in the 2nd half, after Kevin Haynes handled in full view of the referee on the half way line, and ran on to score past Mark Peat in the Arbroath goal. It isn't the handball that annoys me about this, it's the fact that Flyer lost the ball, with Jamie Bishop 2 yards from him, and Greg Millar 7 or 8 yards up the park. Guess who was left chasing Haynes, and guess the 2 who just stopped and watched. I think we all know which player im talking about.
Berwick's 3rd came 15minutes from the end. Watson was skinned again on the left hand side and a good cross was volleyed home by Ian Little after he was given 3 yards of space on the edge of the 6 yard box.
Today was an all round complete joke. Only 2 players actually put any effort whatsoever into this game in my eyes, Marc McCulloch and as usual Greg Millar. Two of our best players, although McCulloch did perform below his usual standard today. I know were missing some players, as Roddy Black, Alan Brazil and Mathu King (Ross Graham in disguise?) were all out of contention but that is no excuse. Steven Rennie was on the bench today, I would love someone to explain to me why he was? At times today, Jamie Bishop and Paul Watson were having problems kicking the ball in the right direction without slicing it out the ground or missing is completely. Some of Watson's "clearences" baffled me completely! I try not to slag Harry Cairney off, but today was taking the piss. A midfield 2 of Hugh Davidson and Chris Jackson is a joke, Jacko hardly inspires the rest of the team with his creative sideways passing and Hugh Davidson really needs to get a grip on things.
The one thing that summed things up for me today was not on the pitch. We didn't even have a physio present at the game! What is this all about? Can we not afford one? Can we not organise having a physio anymore? Whats going on at Arbroath FC? Things keep getting worse and worse....I hope to god this share issue see's some changes.