BERWICK RANGERS ....0
ALBION ROVERS .....3


The uncertainty over the future of the club, which is still the subject of a take-over bid, a miserly crowd of only 288, and a comprehensive 3-0 defeat did little to lift the spirits of anyone who follows the fortunes of Allan McGonigal's side.
On this showing Rangers are lacking in any confidence, guile and, dare we say it, team togetherness, and those calling for changes from the top, ie the consortium who are heading the potential buy-out, will be hoping that there are developments sooner, rather than later.
After two defeats at the hands of Albion already this season - the latest of which was at Shielfield in the cup only two weeks earlier - Rangers knew that they would not be in for an easy afternoon.
That was especially true once it was learned that two players (Gary Greenhill and Darren Gribben) were suspended, and a handful of others (including Stuart Fraser and Ian Little) were still injured.
The situation was so bad that assistant manager, Martin Mooney, revealed after the game that he had even been prepared to put his boots on for a place on the bench.
As it was, Berwick recalled David Grant from Camelon Juniors, whilst they pushed through the loan signing of Dayne Robertson from Falkirk on Friday.
Unfortunately, neither failed to make any impression, and neither did the likes of Graham Guy (substituted at half-time), Stuart Callaghan, Peter McMahon or Fraser McLaren.
And with that many players having 'a bad day at the office' it was no surprise they were eventually overrun and outclassed by a far superior opposition.
Rovers, who had impressed in the wind two weeks earlier, once again had all the best players on the pitch - noteably Ross Harris and Bobby Barr, who cruised through the game, seemingly in a different gear, and it was no surprise that they should emerge the match-winners.
Barr, despite some unwanted attention from the likes of Grant and Chris McMenamin, ran the Berwick defence ragged, and after Ciaran Donnelly forced Ryan McGurk into a good save from a short free-kick, he created the opening for the first goal after 18 minutes when his skill and pace took him past two Berwick players down the left, and he crossed for Harris to finish off beautifully with a volley from just outside the six yard box.
Rangers were unlucky seven minutes later when Craig Anderson saw his shot from more than 25 yards out, tipped onto the top of the crossbar by keeper Chris McCluskey.
But Rovers always looked the more dangerous and fullback Michael McGowan made a surging run through the middle, his shot being turned around for a corner by McGurk.
Then, right on the stroke of half-time, Barr was again the provider, but this time Steven Canning pushed his shot just wide of the upright.
In the second half Rangers found themselves coming under more pressure as Rovers turned the screw. John Dillon was twice forced to clear off the line in the early exchanges, whilst at the other end Anderson tried a clever chip from 25 yards out which had McCluskey scrambling back to recover.
A goal always looked more likely at the other end, however, and so it proved when Rovers extended their lead in the 72nd minute.
And it was that man Barr who popped up again, this time firing on a low shot from 25 yards out which went in off McGurk's right-hand post.
And two minutes later worse was to follow when Harris made it 3-0 with a stunning 30 yard strike which also came off McGurk's right hand post.
There was a definite case of deja-vu about the goal, for the 22 year-old scored with an almost identical strike in the cup tie two weeks earlier.
And the one-time Celtic youth signing later revealed that made it 'three in a row,' as he had also scored in similar fashion against Cowdenbeath the previous Saturday.
"My team-mates said the first was a fluke," he said. "They then said the second was also a fluke, I wonder what they will be saying now."
Berwick were a spent force by this stage and Rovers might have added to their tally had they not had another cleared off the line, whilst McGurk had to rush off his line to close down substitute Mark Pollock and save with his legs.
Right at the death Grant had a shot saved at point-blank range by McCluskey, but there was no denying the visitors their win, and after the match Mooney admitted "the better team won."
Berwick - McGurk 6, Guy 5 (Grant 45) 5, Dillon 6, Ewart 6, Horn 6, Callaghan 5 (Greenhill 68), McMenamin5, Anderson 6, McLaren 5, Robertson 5, McMahon 5 (Lennox).