EK interim boss suffers first defeat at Berwick
BERWICK RANGERS ............................. 3 EAST KILBRIDE ...................................... 0
Martin Fellowes admits East Kilbride need to be better at the‘ugly side of the game’after they went down 3-0 away to Berwick Rangers on Saturday.
The Kilby interim boss enjoyed a 3-0 win over Gretna on his dugout debut the previous week, but was on the reverse of that scoreline at Shielfield Park to leave Kilby’s hopes of a top six finish this season in doubt.
Berwick, managed by former
EK gaffer Stuart Malcolm, ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals from Lewis Allan, Lewis Barr and Kyle Baker to move within a point of sixthplace EK going into the final two games of the campaign.
Fellowes felt the scoreline was harsh on his side but admitted they didn’t master the dark arts of the game on a difficult surface.
He said: “The conditions were difficult and I’m sure Berwick would agree. It was never going to be a spectacle on their pitch.
“So it was a difficult game, where we didn’t do the ugly side of the game well.
“We have to be better at that side of it, dealing with the elements and everything Saturday threw at us.
“There were no surprises on Saturday when it came to the type of game it was. Obviously, we didn’t expect to get beaten 3-0 but we knew it would be difficult and we knew the challenges Berwick would pose.
“They edged us when it came to the fine margins and I don’t think it was a 3-0 game, in my eyes. It was a tight game, but once their second goal went in, they took control for the last 20 minutes.
“When it came to being more aggressive in the final third, Berwick edged us and I’ve got no complaints.”
On facing a familiar face in the dugout, he added: “I wouldn’t say it wasn’t any sorer that Stuart came out on top, but it was a sore one in terms of the work we’ve been putting in over the past few weeks, this takes us a step back a bit.
“But I can’t for a minute say the guys gave me less than 100 per cent. They emptied their tanks out there.”
East Kilbride now play their final home league match of the season on Saturday, when Tranent visit K-Park. Kick-off is 3pm.