The Lone Rangers

[DerbyJack]

So with the season about to begin its time to review how the squad has changed over the course of the year.

Having started my time at Berwick with just one English player in the entire team, the squad has undergone a massive upheaval, with eleven players now heralding from the clubs home nation. The transfer market has seen the arrival of Four new faces to the team, with the recently arrived Luke Leahy and our defensive stalwart Alex Kitchen proving to the best of the bunch.

With half the team still needing to be replaced with suitable English players the job is still far from completion but the first season of our English invasion has gone almost perfectly.

With the club already making steady progress up the leagues and some good young players already in the ranks the future is certainly bright for the Borderers.​

 

[DerbyJack]

So transfers done for now, squad returned from holidays and a new League to prepare for. Time to get the pre-season under way.

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4th July 2015 - Friendly

​

First game to get us up to speed has us going up against our newly acquired parent club, Hibernian. I had no say in choosing them and truth be told wasn't even aware it had happened but I'm not going to begrudge some extra money as part of the deal, however a distinct lack of English players in their entire team doesn't exactly help our cause. A well earned two goal draw against a Premiership side though was an encouraging way to get things started.

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11th July 2015 - Friendly

​

From the parent club to our feeder club, fellow Northumbrians, Ashington. The non league side have absolutely no players worth my interest but a four goal victory at least gave us a moral boosting victory to the start of the season, with Lee Currie again showing his prowess from a dead ball situation and Alex Kitchen showing that he hasn't taken his foot off the gas over the summer.

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15th July 2015 - Friendly

​

Another game against Premiership opponents had us go up against Aberdeen and we again held out for another well earned draw. Darren Lavery made sure he kept his status as first choice striker under wraps with a well taken goal, with our new signings yet to make a big impression upon the team. With just one game remaining time is running out to grab a starting spot.

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18th July 2015 - Friendly

​

Final game of the pre-season has us go toe to toe with another Northern team in the shape of Conference side, Gateshead. The Geordies gave us a good run out and probably showed a true reflection of what level the club is currently at with both teams sharing the spoils courtesy of a second half goal from young Adarabioyo. He might have just got himself a place alongside Lavery with that goal.

Not exactly the most impressive preseason, the new signings appear to be struggling to blend and adjust to our formation but with no time left to adjust its time to face the music and hope for the best.​

 

[DerbyJack]

A season in League One, awaits us. Its certain to be a busy one for the Borderers with our new arrivals and flimsy defence sure to be tested in a League where we can expect to face some fallen Scottish giants.

Its not going to be easy.

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25th July 2015 - Ramsdens Challenge Cup - First Round

​

We kick start our season as usual with the cup competitions but in a change from procedure last season we actually made it past the first round. Ayr welcomed us for the game and quickly gifted us with an early lead which we soon built on, creating a four goal lead with the ever reliable Lavery and new signing Leahy both making an impressive start to the season.

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1st August 2015 - Scottish Communities League Cup - First Round

​

Another cup competition and another unexpected victory. Dumbarton are recently relegated and will be one of the toughest teams to face in our league but we certainly gave them a rude awakening after the summer break smashing home three goals to seal our place in the second round. So far this season is looking like its going to be a good one for the Borderers.

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8th August 2015 - Scottish League One

​

And it just keeps getting better. Our first taste of life in League One and we make easy work of Stranraer. Andy Russell leads the goalscoring with Captain Lee Currie and the longest serving Englishman in the team, Jon Fairbairn joining him on the score sheet as we cruise to the top of the table. Begginers luck or are we truly ready made for the step up.

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11th August 2015 - Ramsdens Challenge Cup - Second Round

​

Our brief run in the Challenge Cup is brought to an end as Championship side Raith leave it late but eventually dump us out of the competition following Laverys third goal of the competition. Success wasn't really on the cards here and to be honest the money to be made from the Scottish Cup competitions appears to be laughable.

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15th August 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Back to the league and again we perform above expectations. Dunfermline are one of the favourites this season and quickly lay down a marker with the opening goal but an encouraging never say die attitude is blossoming within the club and we held on to Darren Laverys leveller to hold on to what could prove to be a valuable point.

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22nd August 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Our good fortune comes to an end in the league as Brechin score in the dieing minutes of the game to ****** all three points and give the crowd at Shielfield Park a wake up call. A red card for Fairbairn didn't help matters but it was safe to say we never truly looked like winning the game. Fortunately the games are coming thick and fast no time to linger on defeats.

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25th August 2015 - Scottish Communities League Cup - Second Round

​

Well that bubble well and truly burst. The Scottish Premier League entered the competition with a bang and quickly set about taking us apart with ease. The defence struggled to match up with the speed Kilmarnock had at their disposal and we were fortunate to only escape with a five goal drubbing. Plenty of work left to do.

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29th August 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Ten goals in two games. I think our honeymoon period is over. Dumbarton might have been easy pray in the cup competitions but they definitely weren't in the mood for playing around in the League. Tullochs opportunity at a first team spot following Fairbairns red card resulted in an own goal for the unfortunate Scot and Archie Campbell soon rubbed salt into his wound with a clinical hat-trick.

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August 2015 - Scottish League One

​

An incredibly busy start to the season for The Wee Rangers but we come out of it in a respectable mid table position. With a taste of victory already its fair to say, I have renewed faith in our chances of survival this season but there is a long way to go yet before we can relax.

 

[DerbyJack]

19th September 2015 - Scottish League One

​

A disappointing result for The Lone Rangers, as we throw away a two goal lead in the first half with Forfar netting four goals in the second half to take all the points and leave us sliding further down the table. The only positive was some strong play on the wings from our two English players, Bonnett-Johnson and new boy Luke Leahy.

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22nd September 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Well now this is starting to get worrying. Airdrie aren't even one of the biggest teams in this division but they certainly proved to be more then a match for us at Shielfield Park, scoring an early goal and holding onto the lead for the remainder of the game with ease. We need to be more ruthless if we're going to cut it in this league.

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26th September 2015 - Scottish League One

​

That is more like it. Andy Russell has long been an understudy to Darren Lavery but has started to shine in League One. Our plucky Scot picks up a solid brace to help us on our way to a comfortable victory over Peterhead with Lavery and Leahy joining him on the scoresheet as they continue to impress at the front of the club.

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September 2015 - Scottish League One

​

We've slipped from the edge of the playoffs in the race for promotion and straight into a potential dog fight at the bottom already. We're proving to be rather inconsistent thus far this season but as long as we're picking up some points we at least leave ourselves with a chance of survival. Backs to the wall time.

 

[DerbyJack]

17th October 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Ayr are really struggling this season and its certainly helping us a great deal as we pick up a very welcome three points on the road. Our ever reliable captain continues to impress as his brace helps guide us to victory. He is certainly not going to give up his place in the team to an English invader any time soon.

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24th October 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Our inconsistency again comes back with a vengeance as we slip to a poor defeat against Stirling. They controlled the game from beginning to end and we never looked like we could potentially take a point from the game. Our usually reliable midfield appeared to be burnt out, unable to match up to the neat passing of Stirling.

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31st October 2015 - Scottish Cup - Third Round

​

More cup action and a highly competitive fixture against fellow League One side, Dumbarton. Both teams threw everything into the game as they looked to make a quick route into the next round but eventually cancelled each other out in a frantic first half, which left us with an unwelcome replay to deal with next month.

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October 2015 - Scottish League One

​

We're slowly crawling away from the drop zone as the League begins to take shape. Its safe to say we are going to be part of the dog battle to come with our rivals already nervously eyeing each other up at the bottom of the table. We're only a quarter of the way into the season but we can already tell which direction its heading in.

 

[JamesScott2908]

Great read and cracking success first season!

 

[DerbyJack]

Thanks very much James, appreciate it.

With international breaks making both September and October fairly relaxing months, the games ramp up dramatically in November with the reintroduction of the cup competitions and a busy schedule in the League as we draw closer to the midway point.

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4th November 2015 - Scottish Cup - Third Round Replay

​

We get the month under way as we look to settle our tie against Dumbarton in the League cup. Having been pushed all the way in the previous match, we were hoping for a quicker resolution but once again we went all the way against Dumbarton. Andy Russell managed to force the game to penalties to level things up in extra time and duly tucked away the winning spot-kick to bring an end to this needlessly exhausting fixture.

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7th November 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Back to the league and our tired team are again put through the running in a tight fixture against Dunfermline. We took a two goal lead within just Twenty minutes but did not have the legs to see out the fixture as we slowly watched the points slide out our grasp, with Dunfermline eagerly taking advantage in aid of their promotion race.

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10th November 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Having beaten them by five goals in our first game of the season, we were confident of picking up the points against Stranraer but it was not to be as they resiliently held out for the points despite the best efforts of our strike force. Non the less a clean sheet is welcome having failed to keep one all season. Hopefully the start of some rejuvenated defending.

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21st November 2015 - Scottish League One

​

We knocked them out of the cup competitions and they certainly didn't seem too happy about it. Any hopes that our defence were going to build on their recent clean sheet soon disappeared as we watched Dumbarton easily dismantle them in front of a dismayed crowd at Shielfield Park. Life in the league is proving to be very harsh.

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24th November 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Things are getting worrying again. We knew things were about to ramp up following a slow spell in September and October but we have really struggled to match the pace, consistently dropping points. With things in the League being extremely tight we cant afford to have months like this. Perhaps its time for another morale boosting team-meeting?

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28th November 2015 - Scottish Cup - Fourth Round

​

We round off the month with an exit from our final cup competition of the season. Queen of the South are going well in the Championship and despite leaving it late they certainly looked like the real deal. The step up between the leagues certainly feels like a big one given our brief taste of football against some of the Championship sides.

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November 2015 - Scottish League One

​

A disastrous month, a tired squad and just one point gained all month. Unsurprisingly we end it in the relegation play-off spots. Its still all to play for though. Despite our poor form, Ayr and Forfar have been unable to build a gap and lowly Peterhead look all but set for a torrid time at the foot of the table.

 

[DerbyJack]

November saw the games come thick and fast and in the usual fashion, December was to prove no different. With a host of league games to play and the half way stage looming, the results this month could hold sway to how our entire season may pan out.

No time for Mince Pies and Turkey, we've got games to win.

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5th December 2015 - Scottish League One

​

We get the festive period under way in appalling fashion. Airdrie are leading the pack away from those of us locked in the relegation battle and picked up all three points to leave us stranded further from safety. Conceding two goals within half an hour left us without hope before even the half time whistle and although Russell did claw one back but it proved to be too little, too late.

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12th December 2015 - Scottish League One

​

Despite it being so early in the season this was already billed as a relegation six pointer and it certainly played out like one. Both teams where reluctant to take risks, with another Russell goal proving to be the only thing that separated the teams in a nervy affair. A late red card summed up a disappointing afternoon for Forfar as they took our spot in the relegation play-off spot.

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15th December 2015 - Scottish League One

​

We need points quickly right now and following our recent victory we are keen to build on the some potential momentum but a resilient Stirling were not going to let us pick up any free points and despite both teams trading blows it ended in a two goal stalemate with neither side willing to back down. we might be desperate to distance ourselves from relegation but Stirling still hold dreams of promotion.

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19th December 2015 - Scottish League One

​

For every step forward we are taking a very big one back. Peterhead are favourites for relegation this season but quickly turned the tables on us as they picked up two goals within fifteen minutes. Luke Leahy might have picked up a late goal to at least show some fight but the disappointing result drags us kicking and screaming back into the dog fight.

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26th December 2015 - Scottish League One

​

That's more like it. Ayr too seem to be struggling to distance themselves from the bottom of the table and on arrival at Shielfield Park they gave us the welcome opportunity to keep them within reaching distance. Lavery scored a quick fire brace to ease the pressure with Russell and Gray joining him to making it an impressive game for our Scottish contingent.

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December 2015 - Scottish League One

Its tight at the bottom. Worryingly so.​

The top six have distanced themselves at the halfway stage and its all but certain that we will be fighting it out in what is shaping up to be a fierce dog-fight. The small comfort however comes at least from the fact that we top the pack and our goal difference is for the time being at least, fairly respectable. Time will tell if we can hold on for the remainder of the season.

 

[DerbyJack]

Once again the January transfer window rolled up and instantly passed us by with no English talent of any worth being either available or willing to join our cause. This limited scouting range is really proving to be a hindrance now.

Non the less there was still plenty to draw our attention as we got stuck into another jam packed month to get the Year under way.
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2nd January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We continue the new year celebrations with arguably our best result of the season thus far as we pick up a convincing three goal victory over Stranraer. Leahy continues his very impressive debut season with a well taken brace, with Alex Kitchen not only helping his defence to only our second clean sheet of the season but also grabbing a diving header to help us to victory.

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6th January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Well that saw any hopes of a winning streak in the new year quickly disappear. Dunfermline are determined to ensure that they end the season not just in the Championship but also as champions and based on their performance we are certainly not going to argue against it. We held them at bay for most of the first half, eventually going in to the break just a goal behind but we collapsed in the second with the league leaders running rampant.

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9th January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We recover from the convincing defeat with a hard earned point against Dumbarton. With them **** bent on their attempts to claim a play-off spot we knew it was going to be a tough game but ended up unfortunate not to take all three points as Lee Curries efforts were cancelled out by a last minute goal, non the less it was some encouraging signs following our earlier thrashing.

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16th January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Another good display from The Wee Rangers. Our wingers returned to the forefront of the game as Bonnett-Johnson and Leahy both found the back of the net from either side of the field but it was an impressive display across the field that saw us take all three points from a promotion chasing Brechin. The new year is at least showing signs that we can cut it in this division.

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23rd January 2016 2015 - Scottish League One

​

We're on a roll now. Airdrie have continued a rampant rise up the tables and are now shaping up as serious contenders for promotion but once again we dented another teams hopes as we claimed an unexpected victory. Last seasons ever dependable players, Darren Lavery and Lee Currie combined once again to steer us towards back to back victories.

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26th January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Three victories on the trot for the first time this season as we pile on the misery for the seemingly doomed Forfar. Our wingers were at it again as we witnessed a dominant display from our midfield with Leahy, Bonnet-Johnson and Currie all getting themselves back on the scoresheet to build on their recent strong form.

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30th January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Four in a row. We're in unstoppable form. Having punished two promotion chasing sides we turned our attention to the bottom of the table and again handed out the goals as we looked to assure our place in the league. Our midfield ran the show for the second time in a row and even our defence seems to be enjoying life of late, picking up two clean-sheets. If we played like this all season we would easily be in the promotion race.

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January 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Its been a long time since we've seen one of these but following a ruthless display from our inform midfield, our captain Lee Currie picks up another award for his impressive career with The Borderers. The guy is an absolute wizard from a set-piece situation and played his role in every game this month. If only he was English.

Forget relegation dog-fight, in the space of just one month we have turned our season upside down and now are in with an outside chance of even stealing a play-off spot as we quickly race towards the end of the season. Maybe we have got what it takes for this league after all.

 

[DerbyJack]

13th February 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Stirling are proving to be a very tough nut to crack and despite our sensational form we couldn't overcome some resilient play from the playoff contenders. We spent the majority of the game playing catch up but mid way through the second half we eventually edged ahead courtesy of a solo effort from Darren Lavery only to have a taste of our own medicine as Stirling almost instantly drew things level. A well deserved point however.

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16th February 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Our run of unbeaten games comes to an abrupt end at the hands of Ayr. Of all the teams to do it, Ayr seemed the most unlikely with them sitting just above the relegation spots themselves but an efficient display of controlling football certainly taught us not to under estimate anyone in this league. Time to see if the boys have what it takes to bounce back.

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20th February 2016 - Scottish League One

​

A strong point against a tough side. Dunfermline are all but certain of claiming the title and have thoroughly deserved it but with the Borderers eager to make amends for their three goal drubbing we certainly showed them that it wasn't going to be all plain sailing to the end of season as we salvaged a hard earned point courtesy of the ever present Lee Currie.

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27th February 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We round off the month with a welcome return to winning ways as we coast past Stranraer. A quick fire goal from Summer signing Steven Logan gave us the perfect start to the game and we controlled it with ease, aided by a red card in second half and a neat finish from Andy Russell. We might have slipped up briefly but we're still able to pick up the points.

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February 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We're within just six points of a play-off spot. Its still a big ask however as we near the final two months of the season but there is some real belief floating around the squad right now. With a decent bit of good fortune we could actually salvage something from this season.

 

[DerbyJack]

8th March 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We have had mixed results against Brechin this season and fittingly this one pans out as a thrilling draw. Brechin certainly looked like they could easily walk away with the points, however a Darren Lavery goal against the run of play in the second half saw us take a surprising point. Where would we be without him.

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12th March 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Dumbarton know we are now hot on their heels in a bizarre race for the playoff spots and didn't show us any mercy. They took a controlling two goal lead and only made one mistake all game as a late challenge in the box, gifted us with a penalty that our dead ball maestro gleefully tucked away. A big dent to our slim playoff hopes. Its too close below us to afford any dropped points.

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19th March 2016 - Scottish League One

​

A quick bounce back has us ease to another surprise victory against Airdrie. Club icon, Darren Lavery opens the scoring, with Sean Bonnet-Johnson shocking the home crowd as we doubled our lead and left Airdrie a drift from a chance at claiming automatic promotion. We're proving to be a real bogey side for them. Never going to complain about that.

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March 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Our play off hopes seem to have disappeared as quickly as they emerged. Despite claiming a respectable four points this month, the League is simply so close that any slip up is quickly punished by the surrounding teams. We're once again dropping closer to that relegation zone but the appalling form of Forfar and Peterhead mean that we are safe for the season as they begrudgingly take the two spots.

 

[DerbyJack]

The final month of the season has us looking to see just how high we can climb in the league. Any real danger from the league has gone, we've got nothing to lose and plenty to gain.

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2nd April 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Peterhead are rooted to the bottom of the table, all set for life in division two with an entire months worth of games still remaining and the despondent squad certainly looked like they had already given up on this season. Our two Scottish talisman did the honours, scoring a goal each to gift us a ready made victory.

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9th April 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Like Peterhead, Forfar have had a season to forget, they might have avoided the humiliation of instant relegation but a play-off battle soon awaits them. Either the Forfar boys were saving something for that battle of survival or they are simply just not cut out for this league crumbling to a two goal defeat, as Russell and key defender Fairbairn found the back of the net.

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23rd April 2016 - Scottish League One

​

Our brief winning streak comes to an even quicker end with Stirling managing to ****** a victory as they look to try and recover a late push for the playoff spots. Having spent the majority of the season with playoffs well within their reach Stirling appear to have potentially thrown the opportunity away in the dieing minutes, ironically however that was exactly how they managed to luckily overcome us at Shielfield Park.

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30th April 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We end the season with a rare goalless draw. Both sides entered the game knowing that their season was already over with the Playoff spots out of their reach and the relegation zone already wrapped up and the game certainly played out like a game which had little value. Non the less a clean sheet is at least something to take from the game.

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April 2016 - Scottish League One

​

With three clean sheets and just two goals conceded, Alex Kitchen picks up the player of the month award. He has been a solid and dependable player at the centre of our defence and at just Twenty years old, we are hopeful that he will only improve at the heart of our backline.

A mid season finish is a welcome end to our first season back in League One. We even manage to finish within relative touching distance of the Play-off spots and an encouraging positive goal difference. Not bad for a semi-professional team from the border lands.

 

[gthame1992]

decent 2nd season, 3rd season could be champagne season?

 

[DerbyJack]

Fingers crossed Gthame, certainly showed some good signs this time around.

Second season of my career at Berwick is completed. In my short career we've already managed to climb up a League and are slowly establishing ourselves as a force to be reckoned with in Scottish Football


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2015/16 - Scottish League One

​

Despite finishing in the bottom half of the table we do pick up a surprising end of season award and he certainly earned it. Having taken to League One like a duck to water its two end of season awards in a row for our Captain.
Lee Currie is running the show in the middle of the field and is the lynch pin to every positive move we make. As a Scottish player his days within the team should really be numbered but at current he is not only head and shoulders above the rest of our squad but also anything that appears on the transfer market.

Our English invasion is being led by a Scot.

Back to the league standings and its relatively good viewing again for the Berwick faithful. Ear-marked as one of the favourites for relegation this season we fought against the odds and managed a very respectable mid table finish. It cant be denied however that our season was boosted by the shocking form of both Forfar and Peterhead as they quickly reserved a spot in the relegation zone. Non the less we finished relatively close to the Playoff spots and have plenty to build from next season.

 

[DerbyJack]

With the squad proving to be up to the task in League One, we head into the transfer window looking to add to our cause and progress further. Once again there are few English players to choose from but we are more then willing to try.
​

Like the season before we are again reduced to searching the free agents list as the board maintains a steady grip on the transfer budget and only marginally upgrades our flimsy wage budget.

We get to work by first releasing just one player. Our attempts at making the team entirely English seems to have stalled of late and the only departure is that of Travis Gregory. Having joined in my first transfer window as a hot prospect, he has rarely had the opportunity to feature as Fairbairn and Kitchen have held a solid grip over the central defender positions and with his contract coming to a close he opted to take his opportunities else where.

With just one departure it was fairly obvious that the transfer window was going to be untroubled by Berwick however what I didn't expect is that we would make no moves what so ever.

Yup. Our restrictive recruitment has meant that we start the season with the team essentially unchanged. With no one based from outside of Scotland willing to join and our Semi-Professional status making transfers nearly impossible we settle in for the season having failed to fuel the fires of our English revolution.

This challenge could be over before its even started.

Its going to be an interesting season.​

 

[DerbyJack]

Having left the transfer window unscathed, it may seem pointless but non the less here is the team as we approach the start of the 2016/17 season.

​

A step back overall as we reduce our English contingent down to just ten, leaving us with a solid split down the middle in terms of nationalities. The English invasion certainly isn't charging into battle right now and they are arguably not pulling their weight on the field as our attempts at restoring some pride from our home nation are continually under-mined by our two shining stars.


Lee Currie and Darren Lavery are by far and away leading this club upwards. The likes of Alex Kitchen and Luke Leahy do occasionally contribute to the work but in terms of sheer effort and reliability they are not even on the same page as our two long standing Scots.

We might be making some steady progress up the league but its not coming from English efforts.​

 

[DerbyJack]

Having made no signings the team requires no time to gel in the pre-season but a much needed warm-up will hopefully get the boys back up to speed as we look set for another season to strengthen our hold in League One.

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2nd July 2016 - Friendly

​

We get things under-way with a match up with non-league Fortamine United. We showed our prowess in a strong first half with our increasingly impressive wingers joining Andy Russell on the score-sheet to secure the victory. Despite a good showing from our attacking players some sloppy defending gave us some cause for concern.

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6th July 2016 - Friendly

​

Having recently suffered relegation Peterhead were next to welcome us. Keen for an immediate return to League One they are rapidly trying to gain some momentum in the pre-season for an instant push for the top spot, however our loyal Scottish players proved to be enough to ensure that Peterhead fans still have some doubts about if they can make it back into our division.

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9th July 2016 - Friendly

​

Our feeder club are next to try their luck and are dispatched with a flourish. Seven goals find the back of the Ashinton net with even an early red card not being enough to stop the rampant Borderers. Three braces for Luke Leahy, Darren Lavery and even defender Jonathon Fairbairn ensure we would have a superb morale booster in our home county of Northumbria.

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13th July 2016 - Friendly

​

Another League Two side try their luck against us and are quickly shown just why we managed to escape the basement division two seasons ago, as Sean Bonnett-Johnson scores his third of an impressive pre-season, with the ever reliable, Darren Lavery picking up a brace to secure the victory. Our attacking play is certainly looking very efficient thus far.

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18th July 2016 - Friendly

​

Final game of the pre-season sees us face the only real test of the entire fixture list as we welcome our parent club Hibernian to Shieldfield Park. The Scottish Premier League outfit are a dependable force in the top flight but we certainly gave them a cause for concern as we picked up an unexpected but deserved draw, with Luke Leahy continuing to show signs of some promising early form.

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Morale is sky high within the camp now. Having not lost a single game, avoiding a host of potential slip ups against some lower level sides and even pulling off an impressive draw against a top flight side, theirs some real belief that this core of players can build on their impressive debut in League One.

Time to find out.​

 

[DerbyJack]

We get our season kick-started earlier then usual as the first rounds of the Challenge Cup and League Cup both stand in our way before we can get stuck into the league.

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23rd July 2016 - Ramsdens Challenge Cup - First Round

​

The season gets under way with the cup games and we are quickly knocked out of the first one with Ayr sending us packing following an exciting first half of action. Andy Russell opened his account for the season, with Jonathan Fairbairn also snatching a goal following a well worked corner but both were to be left disappointed as we tailed off in the second half and duly crashed out of the competition.

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30th July 2016 - Scottish League Cup - First Round

​

More disappointment in our second attempt at jump starting a cup run as we are completely destroyed by Dumbarton. With both of us set for a season in League One, this is an ominous sign for the Borderers as our rivals coast to victory comfortably controlling the entire game from start to finish. Based on our cup exploits this is going to be one challenging season.

 

[th3king]

I like the idea behind this. It's really enjoyable, keep it up.

 

[DerbyJack]

Thankyou very much King, hope I can.

The Cups might have held us nothing but disappointment but we're not concerned by that with a testing season in League One being our main focus. With no signings and on the back of a mixed season its certainly going to be a risky one.

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6th August 2016 - Scottish League One

​

With the cups resulting in nothing but disappointment we limped towards the first league fixture of the season against last seasons runner ups, Airdrie. The match got off to an appalling start as we conceded twice within the first quarter of an hour and spent the remainder of the match playing an impossible game of catch up. Not the best way to start a risky season.

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13th August 2016 - Scottish League One

​

We have the perfect opportunity to bounce back, with a tie against recently promoted Queens Park. Despite having a full team available we could only muster a draw, with Andy Russells early goal proving to be the only highlight for the five hundred loyal Berwick fans at Shielfield Park. These results are certainly not looking promising. I might have made a rather large mistake.

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20th August 2016 - Scottish League One

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Having convincingly knocked us out of the League Cup, Dumbarton repeated the feat demolishing us without much resistance in the league. Four goals were hammered past our beleaguered defence as even Darren Lavery's first goal of the season could do little to stop Dumbarton from annihilating us as they cruise their way to the top of the table in rampant style.

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27th August 2016 - Scottish League One

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The start of the season has been bruising thus far as we struggle to get back up to the form that saw us claim a mid-table finish last season. Stirling like us are in for a testing season but took an early advantage with a goal within twenty minutes. It looked like we in for another disappointing afternoon but with time ticking down, Darren Lavery pulled off his usual trick of single handedly salvaging points with a net busting finish.

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30th August 2016 - Scottish League One

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On the back of his first two goals of the season, Lavery continued to roll towards making it another season to remember as he helps towards a turn around in form with a stunning hat-trick against Stranraer. The entire team showed some strong rallying spirit as we rack up six goals in style, four of them coming within just half an hour. With that one result the belief and morale is instantly restored throughout the squad.

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August 2016 - Scottish League One

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In familiar fashion the table is once again incredibly close. We sit in the bottom half of the table just one place above the relegation zone, tied on points but just two points away from bring able to have a play-off spot. Its going to be a touch and go season by the looks of it. We can only hope fortune favours us this time around.