A 92nd minute penalty from Lee Currie sent Berwick Rangers through to the third round of the Scottish Cup to ease supporters fears of a 620 mile round trip to Britain’s most northerly mainland footballing outpost.

Losing to the last kick of the game might have been frustrating for Wick, but Rangers should have been out of sight by half-time, surviving an early penalty thanks to another superb spot kick save from Yossi Bejaoui, who had his best game for the Gers, to dominate the rest of the opening half. Fraser McLaren missed a couple of one-on-ones and the influential Neil Janczyk hit the bar with a header, but Rangers failed to take advantage of their dominance and allowed their far-travelled visitors back into a match that had looked beyond them. Only some excellent saves from Yosssi and a stunning defensive block by Doug Bryden kept the scores level, until sub Stuart Noble was hauled down in the Wick box in the final minute. The nerveless Lee Currie stepped up to bury the spot kick. The feeling around Shielfield after a frustrating afternoon was one of relief rather than triumphalism, and there was considerable sympathy for Wick and their colourful support (minus the death-march drummer) after conceding so late on.

Rangers continued their excellent home record with this victory, but they need to inject more urgency into their play and look in desperate need of someone who can hold the ball up if they are to make an impact in the upper reaches of the league this season. Th return of Stuart Noble might help with that

Bejaoui 9; Jacobs 8; Townsley 7; Brydon 7; Hoskins 7; Notman 7; Currie 6; Janczyk 7 (Noble 7); McDonald 5 (Gielty 6); Lavery 5 (Ferguson 5); McLaren 6

Cheers

David Cook