CATCH-UP ROUND

With their Round 11 game against Croydon Rangers being postponed Berwick United finally got their chance to play against the only team in the league they hadn't played this season. But once again Croydons ground was under water after all the rain so the match had to be moved to Hillsmeade and with this being Berwick's home ground they had picked up a huge advantage.
As the ground was being marked out and the nets being erected there was some concern about parts of the ground being very wet but this was not going to stop the game as this is one of the best grounds if not the best in the league.

After consistant rain through the night it looked like the worst had passed and the game would go ahead with overcast conditions but with a little luck the rain would hold off. As the teams prepared by doing their warmups and the supporters turned up in their numbers it was time to get the game underway. The Ref brought the two teams to the centre of the ground and we were ready to go. Berwick won the toss and Ryan B decided to stay as they were and kick into a slight breeze.
Croydon got the game underway and took the ball into Berwick's half and looked like they meant business as they put the Berwick defence under pressure.  With the ball skidding off the turf because of the slippery surface Berwick could get caught out as the Croydon forwards were very quick and were on the attack from the start. All Berwick had to do was settle and come to terms with the conditions. Berwick weathered the early storm and switched on very quickly and started to return some pressure of their own. Berwick started to attack down the left side and Ryan B came close with a shot out wide and this now looked like the Berwick team of the last couple of weeks and were starting to go in harder for the ball and pressure the Croydon defence. The Berwick team were now starting to control the midfield with some hard work being done by Erno and Garrett and this was how the first goal came about. Ben received a ball that split the defence beating the off side trap and hit the sweetest shot I have seen this year as his shot went from right to left and sailed past the Croydon keeper to put Berwick United up one nil.

The score stayed at one nil for a while before Ben once again made a bustling run through the middle and calmly chose his spot to score his second goal of the day. Croydon were a little shocked by the Berwick pressure but they were still trying and did break through the defence a number of times but if it wasn't the defence that kept them scoreless it was Ollie in goal that kept them out with very safe hands under such wet conditions. As the first half wore on Berwick never let up and continued to apply the pressure as they were hungry to extend the scoreline and after some great passing between Ryan B and Thomas who were working tirelessly down the left hand side the ball was sent across to the right to Joel who calmly slotted home his first goal of the game and Berwicks third.

To Croydon's credit they continued to try and pull one back and forced Ollie into some good saves who was having another solid game in goal and he was aiming for another clean sheet. With the first half coming to an end the players now looked like they were feeling the affects of the heavy ground and as the wind started to pick up the Ref signalled for half time.

With the players coming out to start the second half there were some major changes to the Berwick team with the main two being goalkeeper Ollie now out in defence and he was replaced by Olivia in goal. And the main defender for Berwick and a player who has held the defence together this year Ryan H had now been moved up front. The second half got underway and with the wind now picking up in Berwicks favour it would be hard for Croydon to peg back the lead that Berwick had built up in the first half but it looked like they were going to give it their best.

With Berwicks best defensive line now being spread out around the park Croydon started to exploit some gaps and attack looking for an early goal to get them back into this match. And on two such occasions it looked like they would do just that but Olivia was not going to concede a goal if she could help it and pulled of two spectacular saves to keep the Croydon team scoreless and wondering how Berwick could swap one fantastic keeper for another. With the wind picking up and the rain starting to fall the ground was geeting heavier and the players were starting to show some signs of fatigue but to both teams credit they kept pushing themselves to the limit. As the second half wore on Ryan H made a great run through the centre, beat a couple of players took aim and fired home his first goal of the season to make the score four nil and put this game beyond any doubt. But once again Croydon kept coming but every time they looked like they could pull a goal back Olivia was there to repell them as she was having one of her best games of the season and she was loving it. 

To think that this game did not need to be played as the regular season had finished and both teams would stay where they were on the ladder, credit had to be given to the players as they played this game as though they were in a final and they were not going to leave anything on the pitch. Time was ticking away in the second half as Ryan B who up until this stage had played a great game but had not scored but split the defence and once again as he has done all year calmly slotted home his first of the game and his sixteenth of the season to make it five nil to Berwick United. The Ref brought the game to an end not long after the fifth goal and credit has to be given to all players with the award for unluckiest player not to score going to Erno who had a number of attempts but for one reason or another the ball would just not cross the line.

So a good end to the season for Berwick United with four wins in a row and if this team stays together next year and can get off to a good start who knows what they can acheive.
As the team came together for one rousing version of the club song, this team showed how close they are to each other and how much this win meant to them, the Coach and to their very loyal supporters.
Now bring on next year.