No respite as Berwick crash to heavy loss

ANNAN ATH BERWICK 4 0

BERWICK found no festive cheer when they went down to their 11th defeat in 16 league games at Annan.

Annan were the better side throughout and a goal at the start of each half put them in the driving seat, with two more consigning Johnny Harvey’s side to a disappointing loss which leaves the Tweedsiders second from bottom of Scottish League 2.

Galabank has never been a happy hunting ground for Berwick, and it took Annan just two minutes to breach the visitors’ defence and open the scoring, Steven Swinglehurst finding the net with a shot after a cross from Chris Johnston.

On seven minutes Aidan Smith hit the bar for the home side and, as they continued to attack, Tony Wallace pulled a shot wide, Owen Moxon went close twice and Ryan Sinnamon fired over inside the first 20 minutes, with Berwick’s sole effort being a shot from outside the box by Greg Hurst.

The remainder of the first half saw few chances being created.

Annan were the better of the two sides but at half-time the had only eked out a slender 1-0 lead.

However, almost immediately from kick-off at the start of the second half Annan doubled their advantage when Moxon found the net with a shot from outside the box.

Rangers’ keeper Sean Brennan then had to make two saves in two minutes to deny David Wilson and Smith, but on 55 minutes he was beaten for a third time when Smith headed in from a Johnston cross.

Moxon, Wilson and Johnston then all had shots blocked as the home side continued to press before Aaron Murrell had a shot saved for Berwick and Gary Phillips shot over.

Brennan saved again from Johnston, but there was more misery for Berwick on 69 minutes when Swinglehurst bagged his second of the afternoon, and Annan’s fourth, with a header from a Johnston corner.

Rangers, who have conceded nine goals in the last two games, must now try and pick themselves up to face league leaders Edinburgh City at home next Saturday.

Annan: Mitchell, Hooper, Swinglehurst, Bradley, Strapping, Moxon (Wright 85), Sinnamon, Wilson, Johnston, Smith (Roberts 74), Wallace (Muir 74). Berwick: Brennan, Forbes, Cook, Hume, Phillips, Brown, Neill (Ogilvie 56), O’kane, Barr, Hurst, Murrell. Referee: Peter Stuart. Attendance 373.