BBC Storyline

We were featured on BBC Storyline this week. It is available to view on the BBC's iPlayer until Monday (our bit is about 25 minutes into the programme) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b009ncgv.shtml?q=english&start=1&scope=iplayersearch&version_pid=b009ncft

Back from Barca

Firstly, apologies for the lack of updates in the last couple of weeks. I have been away to Barcelona for the past week or so, missing the Brechin game (thankfully) in the process.

Seems like it was quite a tanking once again, check out the thread on P&B, things aren't getting any easier for Michael Renwick. I sat in a pub on La Ramblas watching the scores roll in on Sky Sports and I wasn't at all suprised it ended 5-0, I was suprised that the result didn't relegate us. That particular delight has been reserved for this Saturday, where anything less than 3 points against Peterhead would relegate us.

Barca was good though, I took in FC Barcelona's game against Real Valladolid at the Neu Camp. Tickets were available right up until kick off and at 48 euros they for a seat behind the goal, I didn't think it was too expensive. Nearly 60,000 catalans turned up to watch an entertaining game in the sun, with Henry, Eto'o, Zambrotta and Bojan standing out in a 4-1 win.

Watching the Spanish version of Match of the Day later that night showed that Real Villadolid's goal was never a penalty and one of Barca's goals was offside. From our view both goals looked good - such was the distance from the pitch.

A game and a good day, The Neu Camp certainly beats the likes of Central Park.

Cowdenbeath vs Berwick Rangers

It is D-Day at Central Park tomorrow, nothing less than a win will do to fend off our inevitable relegation. The maths are quite simple now, if we lose to Cowdenbeath and Queen's Park win at Brechin, we are down. That said, the odds are probably in our favour as I would fancy Brechin to beat Queen's if we fail to take anything from Cowden.


Tuesday night's thriller at Shielfield will have taken a lot out of both sets of players. The fitter squad of players will win this game, sadly I don't think that will be us.

The main story this week has been the apparent loss of Jordan Smith, who has seemingly joined Stenny. I can only assume that this is a pre-contract agreement and he will be with us for the remainder of the season.

In a quite perverse way I am quite looking forward to this game - Cowdenbeath away has always been one of my favourite fixtures. There is quite a large group of us travelling up who will be intent on enjoying the day despite the fact we will could leave Fife on Saturday teatime as the Third Division's newest team.

My predictions: Cowdenbeath 2-0 Berwick Rangers; Brechin City 2-1 Queen's Park

Weather: Cloudy, 8 degrees.
Bluesq: Cowdenbeath 4/7, Draw 13/5, Berwick 4/1

Berwick Rangers 4-5 Cowdenbeath

What a bizarre game of football at Shielfield Park last night. The 259 punters that turned out certainly got value for money, something that rarely happens at Shielfield these days.

With Peter Logan suspended, Michael Renwick chose to keep Chris Flockhart out of the side and instead bring in ex-Alloa and Montrose 'keeper Gary McGlynn as a trialist.

Denis McLaughlin (below), who was part of our Championship winning squad last season, got Cowden off the mark with just 40 seconds on the clock. And he doubled Cowden's lead three minutes later. We all got that familiar sinking feeling.

But we had hope when Ian Little got one back, but that was squashed when Mark Ramsey (another ex-Berwick player) knocked in a third for Cowden. But right on half time the on-form Little made it 2-3.

David Greenhill got our equaliser with a deflected shot in the 70th minute and two minutes later Fairbairn put is 4-3 infront.

Then three minutes later McLaughlin completed his hat-trick to level things at 4-4. And just as it looked like being an amicable 4-4 draw, he added his fourth and Cowden's fifth in the 90th minute.

A defeat for Berwick at Cowdenbeath on Saturday will see one of our earliest ever relegations in the history of the club.

Berwick Rangers 1-2 Alloa Athletic

Another defeat, watched by only 332 people. Brown Ferguson, a one time Berwick signing target, got Alloa off the mark with just 2 minutes on the clock. On loan Blair Tolmie gave us hope with a headed equaliser and things looked even better when Forrest was sent off for Alloa for a bad challenge on Thommo.

Unfortunately a minute later, on loan Berwick 'keeper Peter Logan was sent off for man handling Ferguson outside the box and Ferguson converted the penalty.

Most of the small crowd left early in the rain.

Berwick Rangers vs Alloa Athletic

Sadly this could be our lowest crowd of the season so far, the Ducket was pretty empty last week as many fans decided to give it a miss (me included), this game could see an even lower attendance.

Failure to win today could see us relegated in the next seven days. Possibly the earliest relegation in the history of the football club. That won't be the only bad record we will be breaking, but I don't want to depress you all just yet!

As I said before the Ayr game, it is now a matter of players playing for contracts and a place in the squad next season. Renwick has always said he would like to be judged on next season, when he will have the squad of players that he wants in place.

My prediction: Berwick 1-1 Alloa

Weather: Sunny, 10 degrees
Bluesq: Berwick 3/1, Draw 11/4, Alloa 4/6

New Blog

I came across a new Berwick Rangers blog today, not sure who does it, but it is worth a look - http://www.blogstoday.co.uk/bloghome.aspx?username=BA%20Sport

Relegation

The trapdoor is open...

After last night's 3-0 defeat at Airdrie, we remain 14 points behind second bottom Cowdenbeath, having played one more game. Looking at the points which remain and the fixtures still to come, we could quite easily be relegated by Cowdenbeath when we visit Central Park a week on Saturday.
Michael Renwick had the white flag in the air back in January so we shouldn't really be surprised that it has come to this. But of all the teams, Cowdenbeath! We have a long history with The Blue Brazil - we won promotion on their turf in 1979 and more recently denied them Scottish Cup ties against Rangers (2002) and Hearts (2001) by beating them in the Second Round of the competition. They have the most recent victory though - they narrowly beat us to the 2005/6 Third Division Championship. And now it looks like Michael Renwick's old club are going to send us back to the basement of Scottish football.

There is some hope that they won't relegate us, but that would mean us beating Alloa this Saturday and hoping Cowden drop some points before we meet them. We would then probably need to beat them twice in our two consecutive games against them next week (we also face them at Shielfield next Tuesday).

Airdrie Tonight

The game is in some doubt, although there is no inspection planned. Check with Airdrie before setting off - www.airdrieunitedfc.com/news_article.asp?article=165