After losing 3-2 away to Falkirk in their opening pre-season game the
previous Saturday, Berwick Rangers beat Lowland League champions
Spartans on their own synthetic Ainslie Park pitch on Tuesday ( July 8th
).
Rangers included five trialists in their starting line-up and had
another couple come off the bench, one of whom was to prove very
influential. He put Berwick in front on 57 minutes, laid on the second
goal for Andy Russell and rounded off the scoring with another of his
own with twenty minutes remaining. Berwick’s second half keeper Billy
Bald made two great saves near the end to prevent the Edinburgh side
claiming even a consolation goal. Other established first teamers to
make second half appearances included Devon Jacobs, Paul Currie and
Stevie Notman (pictured above scoring in an earlier game).
Admission to the game was free with Spartans using it as an opportunity
to sell season tickets. Takings from these on the night and from raffle
tickets sold at the gate yielded a four figure sum. A Spartans’ official
estimated the attendance at this, his club’s opening pre-season game, to
be around the 200 mark.
** This Saturday, July 12th, Berwick Rangers host Scottish Championship
side Hibernian in an attractive friendly which kicks off at Shielfield
at 3:00 p.m.