BERWICK'S slackening grip on a play-off place was loosened a little further on Saturday when they went down to a disappointing 3-1 away defeat at Stranraer.

The reverse, Rangers' seventh in the last eight games, leaves them clinging on to fourth place in the table . . . but the vultures are circling.

At the time of writing, Queen's Park are level on points, Albion Rovers are four behind with three games in hand and even Annan and Stranraer, the latter who have four games in hand, are all capable of reeling them in.

Clearly Rangers need a change of direction, something to kick-start their season again, otherwise, after such a promising start to the campaign, they are in danger of free-falling down the table.

After a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Albion in midweek, Berwick probably went into this game as underdogs with the bookies, despite the fact there was 14 points between the sides at the start of play.

And on the evidence of this performance it is perhaps understandable why this should be the case, for Jimmy Crease's side have simply lost the winning touch, the ability to compete over 90 minutes.

With central defender Andy McLean suspended after his straight red card dismissal at Coatbridge the previous Tuesday, Robbie Horn was given a rare start in the back four alongside Jamie Ewart, but with Ewart himself due to start a three match ban this weekend, Horn's run in the side may be a little bit longer than he expected.

Rangers fell behind in the 14th minute when Mark Peat made a good save to deny Stuart McColm, but the striker made no mistake with the rebound.
Five minutes later and it was 2-0, McColm again the man on target when he netted on the angle from 12 yards out after being set up by Kevin Cawley.

The 21 year-old should have made it a treble after 57 minutes when he blasted over from close range following Armand One's lay-off.

But less than 60 seconds later he put the result beyond doubt when he completed his first senior hat-trick, claiming the match ball with a well struck left-foot shot. He used his pace to break clear of the Rangers' defence and shot low under the advancing Peat.

Rangers then made three substitutions (Jordan Cropley for Stuart Callaghan, Paul McMullan for Ian Little and right at the death, Oliver Russell for Jay Shields), but by then there was no way back for Crease's beleaguered side.

Russell was only on the pitch a matter of seconds when he scored with his first touch, turning and hooking the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box past a helpless Robbie MacKillop, who had also just come onto the pitch as a replacement for David Mitchell.

However, that was scant consolation for the players, management or the handful of hardened supporters who made the trip.

Manager Crease admitted his side were 'well beaten' by Stranraer.
"They were the better side and deserved their victory," he said, "but that still does not detract from the fact that this was another defeat for us.

"We simply just did not perform and never looked like posing any problems,

"It's getting very tight in the race for the play-offs. We still hold fourth spot, but there are a few teams breathing down our necks now and we cannot afford any more slip-ups."

But Crease is not giving up without a fight and he says if the team can regain their winning form they have every chance of securing a top four finish and a place in the play-offs.

"I have impressed on the players the importance of raising their game again," he said.

"We now have to gather our thoughts again and get our act back together for the final nine games of the season.

"There's still plenty of points to play for."

This weekend Rangers face lowly Elgin at Shielfield. Berwick won 5-1 in the Highlands several weeks back and they will be looking for a similar result this time around.

Then on Tuesday Rangers take to the road again with a re-arranged game at Forfar.

Over the last few weeks Forfar have also hit a difficult patch, but this will be another difficult game.

In a bid to catch up on fixtures lost to the weather at the turn of the year, Berwick are due to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday over the next two weeks.

On Saturday 27 it's Montrose away, before league leaders Livingston visit Shielfield on Tuesday 30.

Berwick - Peat 6, Notman 6, Smith 6, Ewart 6, Horn 6, Callaghan 5 (Cropley 67), Currie 6, Shields 5 (Russell 90), Little 5 (McMullan 74), Brazil 6, Gray 6. Subs not used - McCaldon, Greenhill.