31-7-04 `Shire 1 Berwick Rangers 2

[Ramz]

So the new season finally dawns - I feel no great anticipation and I`m trying to be as low key as possible about the `Shire. I`m not as excited at this point in time as a `normal` supporter should be but that does NOT mean I won`t support the team or jump up and down + get carried away - it means I am shielding myself from the memory of the horrors witnessed last season, and I don`t think I will be alone. The uncharted depths `Shire plunged to in season 03/04 will cast a shadow over us for many years to come and the big question is could we be (even close) to being THAT bad again this season? That question will be answered in the next few weeks when we see what the new players are like and how the team plays - we can only hope for the best at this point. I don`t think we can realistically hope to beat Berwick but should look on the game as an opportunity to see what we are like this season under `proper` match conditions.

[wellibob]

7 - 0 to berwick

[Strumps]

Hope that we get a goal

[Shire105]

Courage my friends.

Were are the Shire and anything is possible !

[Dodger]

Game finished 2-1 to Berwick but I think all the Shire fans were upbeat after an excellent Shire performance and we were unlucky to lose the match. Jamie Dunbar was particularly outstanding and I only hope we can keep him for a decent length of time as any watching scouts can't have failed to be impressed. There was a moment in the second half when he controlled a rifled pass on his chest, turned and fired a 25 yard shot that came back off the post. Had it gone in you could have wrapped up goal of the season right there and then.

The game didn't get off to the best of starts though when we went a goal down after about 10 minutes. It was all too easy as a simple through ball split our defence and ex-Shire man Kevin Gordon tucked the ball into the corner (how come he never used to do that for us?).

Shire came back into it though and Ross Donaldson should have equalised but blasted over from 10 yards out. He made up for it in the second half though with a scorching equaliser, cracking the ball in off the underside of the bar from 25 yards.

We were more than matching Berwick for the majority of the game, but lost out to a very dodgy goal. It looked like a blatant foul on Sean McAuley as he was pulled back when chasing the ball, but nothing was given and the ball was cut back to give Gordon Forrest a simple tap-in.

Plenty reasons to be cheerful though. The midfield looked solid, if unspectacular and the defence looked steadier than usual with David Harvey's pace making a big difference.

A similar performance next week could give Peterhead a fright, but obviously the challenge is to keep up the standard they set today. Also as a few folk said, we put in an excellent performance against Ross County and lost 2-1 this time last year and ended up having a nightmare season so it's too early to get hopes built up just yet.

Also a word for the Berwick fans. They took a big support up and sang throughout (even squeezing in a few Anti-Mackin chants) and generally seemed like a quality bunch of guys.

[VarisIan]

I also left the game encouraged and it wasn't just the outstanding performance of Jamie Dunbar, he looked too good for this division on today's performance. Dodger picked out his glorious second half effort but he had an excellent left foot effort in the first half, in the second he beat several players on the right and fired an absolute beauty of a pass to the left winger who failed to take the ball in his stride for what would have been an excellent scoring opportunity.

I thought we had more creativity in midfield and as somebody else said Sean Macaulay wasn't having to do it all on his own in the middle. Ross Donaldson missed an absolute sitter in the first half but scored a corker in the second and so is forgiven but playing alongside Dunbar he will need to be sharper.

I still think we are dodgy at the back and hope that we can soon be shored up or else last season could come back to haunt us again.

However, lets not go there yet and bask in the very good performance today and see what next week at Peterhead brings.

Do you think they'll have their pie shop open?

What is the world coming to when you go to a game and find the shop shut. Yet more evidence of Mackin and his cronies running the club even further into the mire.

With Gordon Parks writing in the Record every week and a Scotsman reporter writing a book on the Shire we can hopefully continue to illuminate Mackin and co's inept running of the club to the footballing public and expose them for the rogues that they are.

Isn't it good to have somewhere to go on a Saturday afternoon again?

[Ramz]

Was`nt it good to go to a `Shire game and come away feeling good? Even if we did get beaten, losing by the odd goal against a team from a division up and playing well AND entertaining the fans was more than most were hoping for - well done `Shire! I take Varis Ian`s point about not getting carried away all too well though, lets see what our new look team can do in the next couple of months.
I am as puzzled as anyone by the lack of catering facilities - on a very hot day no-one could get a drink - apart from directors and their guests I`m sure. I hope something can be done in time for the next home game, there was a lot of disgruntled people today expecting food and drink left with nothing.

[Nimmo's Notes]

Great performance, bad result. Let this be the last heroic failure and start getting some victories under our belt. We should fear no-one and the sooner we start winning the better. Often the only difference between teams is the start they make to a season. Fail to win in the first five games and your already playing catch up, win a couple and your in the hunt. Looking at today's game we have to count ourselves very unlucky, shots against the woodwork, efforts inches wide and at least three outstanding saves by the Berwick goalie and of coarse a fantastic goal to savour. There was no doubt which was the busier goalmouth. To lose a match in such a manner should only make the players more determined that Peterhead should pay the price next week. P.S. Does anyone know what the team line up was today?

[esfc]

1 Tony Mitchell
2 David Harvey
3 Graham Mc Ghee
4 Jamie Mc kay
5 Chris Newall
6 Sean Mc auley
7 Paul Ross
8 Alan Moffat
9 Ross Donaldson
10 Jamie Dunbar
11 Chris Miller

Subs
12 Jordan Leishman
14 Gordon Parks
15 Chris Baldwin ( not used)
16 Grant Findlay
gk Ross Gilpin (not used )

[Gull]

I too was pleased with our performance yesterday, even at this early stage it looks like there has been a substantial improvement. Although I will not get carried away with just 1 performance and I`m aware that we must get a result or 2 in the league in the next few weeks or we are no better off than last season (being ultra-cautious about the teams prospects - copyright all the Shire fans after last season!).
I notice only 4 players from last season started plus 1 substitute - the others still at the club but not played must now knuckle down and prove that they can do a job. I think that its good to see some serious competition for places begin to develop, those who played yesterday are the men the others have to match and exceed to get into the team.

[Scotland]

Did the new keeper play?

If so, how did he get on?

[VarisIan]

He did OK but has obviously attended the Shire school on flapping at cross balls. Fortunately there weren't many. However, he does seem to command his box which is something we have definitely been in need of. Nothing he could have done about the 2 goals but them we did carry the greater threat. Did I really say that about the Shire?

[Scotland]

I thought he would be good.

Who is reserve keeper now? In fact how many keepers are at the club now?

Cheers,
Gordon.

[Ramz]

As far as I know our reserve keeper is Ross Gilpin who got some games towards the end of last season.

[Dodger]

Yeah Ross Gilpin is the only other keeper at the club as Chris Todd is on loan to Cumbernauld Utd for the season.