Wednesday, September 26th, 2018
SPFL Reserve League 2 Lesser Hampden, Glasgow

QUEEN’S PARK RESERVES 5 BERWICK RANGERS RESERVES 1

This was Berwick Rangers Reserves’ first visit to the west of Scotland in Reserve League 2 but it was a player called East who stole the show. Eighteen year old Euan East scored four of Queen’s five goals as the youthful home side showed why they currently top the table, looking comfortable on the ball and employing a well rehearsed passing game.

On a mild night in the shadow of the main Hampden stadium, Berwick had the better of the early exchanges. Within minutes of kick off a ball from Gary Windram into the box was blocked. Berwick went on to win two successive corners, Evan Smith optimistically appealing for a third one when he blasted the ball wide.

East first gave indication of the damage he had the potential to inflict after he beat two men as he worked his way in from the left wing. It was only a foul by Rangers’ trialist Matthew O’Connor which stopped further progress. From the free kick, a yard or so outside the penalty area, EAST beat the wall and keeper Stuart Allan.

Just beyond the 30 minute mark, following an exchange of passes with overlapping full back Cameron Dickson, and again from outside the area, EAST calmly lofted the ball high into the net. It could have been three as Kieran Moore was free to meet a cross from right back Luke McColl but the striker glanced the ball sideways.

Eight minutes on, MOORE did find success after a poor clearance kick by Allan. It was soon 4-0 after EAST was again able to weave his way inwards to complete his hat trick.

As if taking an extended half time break, EAST saw nothing of the ball for five minutes after play restarted but when he did get his first touch of the second half, it led to his fourth goal of the night. He was eventually substituted a little after the hour.

Berwick were awarded a 78th minute penalty for handball but keeper Elliot Anderson saved Windram’s kick. It was left to Rangers’ number 15 to score their consolation after a further six minutes from precisely where East had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Marc Malloy was fouled and the TRIALIST struck the dead ball to perfection into the far corner of Anderson’s goal.

Berwick Rangers: Allan, Ashford ( Briggs 65 ), A.Trialist ( D.Trialist 65 ), O’Connor ( T ), McCrorie, Murray ( capt. ), Smith, D.Purves ( Blair 58 ), Malloy, Brown ( C.Trialist 58 ), Windram

T=Trialist