Berwick Rangers 2 Dunfermline 2
Monday, 6th Jul 2015Pre Season Friendly: Five trialists start - Currie, Paldan, Ferris, Cardle and Caldwell
Allan Johnston took a look at six trialists in the friendly at Shielfield Park on Monday night. Scott Ferris, Ross Caldwell and Joe Cardle who all played on Saturday at Bayview were joined by Igor Paldan and keeper Blair Currie. Martin Boko came on in the second half.
The home side started only four signed players including former Par Ross Drummond. Their bench also held four trialists and former Pars youth Blair Henderson.
Dunfermline possibly had the better of the early possession but it was Rangers trialist John Crawford who had the first chance powering a header wide left after rising to meet a good ball over from the left side.
The Fifers first chance came in 14 minutes after Cardle's cross fell between Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Ross Caldwell but only a corner was won. The defending at the corner was unconvincing and the Pars kept up the pressure with Cammy McClair sending a dangerous ball into the box and then El Bakhtaoui trying a shot that was well wide of target.
Cardle headed down a McClair cross into the path of El Bakhtaoui just twelve yards out but he was closed down before he could shoot. A Berwick free kick from the left then allowed Crawford to again rise and head on target but Currie held comfortably.
The Pars were getting closer all the time. Ross Caldwell got to the byeline to cut back for El Bakhtaoui but Kevin Walker made the save. Next Caldwell tried a shot from the edge of the box that again Walker saved.
Then in 31 minutes El Bakhtaoui drove a low shot just the wrong side of the left upright. Cardle made a run through the centre but his shot from 25 yards was easily held by Walker. Disaster followed however when a poor clearance allowed Darren LAVERY to crash the ball past Currie. 1-0
The home side's lead was to last only three minutes. It was trialist Scott Ferris who carved out the chance cutting back from the right for EL BAKHTAOUI to smash home from close quarters. 1-1
The half came to an end without any further incident. Faiss and Ferris put in a good 45 minutes and the 24 year old Slovakian centre back trialist looked alert and solid alongside Potter.
HT: Berwick Rangers 1 Dunfermline 1
The visitors started the second half briskly with Cardle testing Mark Walters within just 15 seconds of the restart. His stinging shot from 25 yards was well kept out by the newly introduced trialist sub keeper.
Spence, Cardle and Ferris all took the play forward on different attacks but none managed to find a team mate in the box to finish. A couple of Cardle corners from the left kept the pressure up and Currie had to come well out of his goal to act as sweeper. Berwick kept play in the Pars half and their trialist right back, Ewan McNeil sent over a high ball that dropped perfectly for Michael McKENNA to head in at the far post. 2-1
A rash of substiutions continued for the home side but only one for the Pars, James Thomas for Faissal El Bakhtaoui. McClair was unlucky with a couple of crosses in from the right and then Cardle looked lively as he tried to feed Caldwell. A corner was won on the right but the overstruck ball was pursued by Thomas whose cross in from the left then gave Caldwell a chance but Walters held the header.
Next Cardle created another opportunity for Caldwell and the keeper did well to keep the Pars out yet again. in 72 minutes Igor Paldran limped off to be replaced another trialist Martin Boko. A strong run by Caldwell from midway inside his own half took play right to the edge of the opposition box but when he laid that off to the right for Cardle but Berwick blocked out the cross.
Cardle soon delivered another cross from the right and Thomas's headed attempt from close in was beaten away by the keeper. Eight minutes from the end a Ferris corner from the right was defended only as far as Byrne 30 yards out and the keeper spectacularly turned the ball over as it dipped in on target.
In 84 minutes Colin Cameron was yellow carded for his second nasty tackle on Byrne and from the resultant free kick Potter stooped on six yards to head on Cardle's delivery but Walters read it well and held.
Two minutes from time Dunfermline got the equaliser that they justly deserved. Cardle belted across a dangerous low ball from the right and the Berwick trialist David Banjo lunged only to deflect the ball past his helpless keeper. 2-2
- - Listen to Allan Johnston`s post match thoughts
BERWICK RANGERS: Kevin Walker (Trialist HT); Trialist, Trialist, Trialist (Jonny Fairbairn 62), Ross Drummond (Trialist HT); Robert Wilson ((Trialist 62), Trialist (Colin Cameron 62), Trialist, Darren Lavery (Callum Helm HT), Trialist (Michael McKenna HT), Trialist (Blair Henderson 74).SUBS NOT USED:
SCORERS: Lavery (35), McKenna (58)
YELLOW CARD: Cameron (84)
DUNFERMLINE: Blair Currie: Cammy McClair, John Potter, Igor Paldan (Martin Boko 72), Jordan Orru; Scott Ferris (Johnny Galloway 88), Shaun Byrne (c), Lewis Spence, Joe Cardle; Faissal El Bakhtaoui (James Thomas 63), Ross Caldwell
SUBS NOT USED: Robbie Crawford, Paul Joseph Crossan, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: El Bakhtaoui (38), Trialist (88 og)
REFEREE: Colin Steven
WEATHER: Overcast, wet 16C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: Pre Season Friendly v Livingston
Saturday 11th July 2015, ko 3.00pm
Albyn Park, Broxburn
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