Relegation Play-offs; Cove v. Berwick

[DutchBorderer]

Final Standings

With the regular season done and dusted, Cove Rangers and Berwick Rangers finished top and bottom of their respective divisions;

Cove Rangers won the Highland League for the second year running, this time around clinching a 8 point gap over second placed Brora - in 17/18, the Aberdeen-based side finished 11 points ahead of Formartine, showing that these particular Rangers seem to be a bigger fish than the size of their pond lets on. Incredibly, 100 goals were scored across 34 matches, with the Cove goalie conceding just 12(!). This strong form continued into the first round of the promotion play-offs, with a scrappy 1-2 win at East Kilbride's K-Park being followed up with a comprehensive 3-0 rout of the Lowland champions at Balmoral Stadium - a 5-1 aggregate is nothing to scoff at.

On the other side of the trapdoor, Berwick Rangers' bottom completely fell out - 19 lonesome points being three worse than Cowdenbeath's tally in 17/18 and 13(!) less than East Stirlingshire's record during the season in which they were relegated. Since the introduction of the then-Third Division back in 1994/1995, only three sides scored fewer points than this season's Dream Team; Albion Rovers in 94/95 and East Stirlingshire in 02/03 and 04/05. Things could have been different, for this season's Albion Rovers are the second worst 9th placed team - behind the 03/04 Elgin City side (25 points) - but Berwick failed to capitalize on Rovers' insanely week start to the season under John 'Let's sign Alloa's development squad and call it a day' Brogan.

Cove Rangers

Back in 2017/2018, the Cove Rangers thread down in the Highland League section of Pie & Bovril was titled 'Cove on the Move' - a play on words that may well have proven to be prophetic were it not for scrappy Cowdenbeath barring the Highland League champions entry to League 2 in the play-offs. Another season of battering the other Highland sides later and the 7-times champions are eager to succesfully operate the Trapdoor this time around - this time with a scintillating form to their name seeing as the last time Cove dropped points was way back on the 23rd of March, when Brora held the blue-clad Aberdeen squad to a 1-1 draw. For comparison, the last time Berwick picked up any points was the 19th of March.....

Since the Brora bump in the road, Cove played and won 5 league games - Fort William, Wick Academy, Keith, Forres Mechanics, and Clachnacuddin were all beaten - scoring 15 times and conceding just once. The last time a team put more than a single goal past Cove was on the 6th of March (Rothes scored twice but shipped 6 goals themselves) and the last time a team actually beat them was on December 1st 2018 when Fraserburgh secured a 1-0 win at home.

Cove's team features a smattering of SFL experience, including the likes of Martin Scott (ex-Livi, Hibs, Ross County, Arbroath, Stenny, Raith, and Salgaocar - wait, who?), Jamie Masson (Aberdeen, Elgin, Brechin), Jordon Brown (Aberdeen, Forfar, and about 180 matches for Peterhead), and Mitchel Megginson (Aberdeen, Arbroath, Brechin, Alloa, Dumbarton, and Brechin). Blair Yule of Arbroath fame is another prominent member of the squad, as is Ryan Strachan - another former Peterhead stalwart.

Berwick Rangers
Click the spoiler for a season recap

Spoiler

The Dream Team from Berwick-upon-Tweed have had a bit of a ramshackle season to say the least - things started off remarkably well with a 1-0 win over Dave Mackay-led Stirling Albion and ex-player-turned-gaffer Robbie Horn having seemingly managed to build an okay team on a shoestring budget. Eight defeats and one win (over the previously mentioned John Brogan + Albion Rovers clown car) later and Horn was out due to the job impacting his health. No hard feelings from the fans against him, and Robbie turned his season around - winning the EoS Conference B with Bonnyrigg Rose.

Berwick's board turned to a young up-and-coming manager by the name of Johnny Harvey, who was helming Penicuick Athletic (who ended up EoS Conference A champions) at the time. Scuttlebutt has it that one Kevin Harper applied for the job as well, but it was Mr. Harvey who was appointed as Rangers' manager. A few dimes were found in and around Shielfield as the new manager managed to bring in quite a few players whilst also sending a fair few off - proven goalscorer Cedwyn Scott was sent back to Dundee United whilst the other scoring striker, Paul Willis, was hooved off to league leaders Peterhead. Club legend Darren Lavery had his contract torn up, Gary Philips left for Albion Rovers, and a few other players also left at varying stages of the seasons - including Livingston loanee Matthew Knox.

Johnny Harvey brought with him a trio of players from Penicuick; his supposed brother-in-law Craig Hume, Andy Forbes, and Lewis Barr. Familiar face Dougie Brydon returned to the club to bolster the defence, and a small army of loanees came into the club; Scotland international player Ahmed Aloulou (mind you, he played for the Scotland futsal team, not the actual football side) was loaned from Alloa who had taken a punt on him, Ryan Goodfellow was relinquished from his fate as third choice goalie at Cowdenbeath, and Cameron Blues was loaned from Livingston. One Alexandre Happi, an elusive player from Cameroon, also joined but then left without playing a single game.

Johnny Harvey started off with a win over Gretna 2008 in the Scottish Cup, but then saw his side ship six goals across his first two league matches. Then, suddenly, his plan seemed to come together as Elgin was beaten up in Borough Briggs and Albion Rovers were pummeled 2-0 at Shielfield on the 17th of November 2018. Football is a funny game though, as that win would be Berwick's penultimate in the regular season - the team went 16 games without a win, drawing just four times and suffering the ignominy of a 7-1 defeat at Hampden v. Queen's Park, with the goalkeeper sent off at half time for an incident in the players' tunnel.

A small glimmer of hope came on a wet evening in March as Peterhead strolled into town only to get spanked 2 to 0, but this would be Johnny Harvey's final success as Berwick manager; as the losses were strung together and Johnny became increasingly unhinged in the post-match interviews, Albion Rovers snuck ever closer by picking up points under - you guessed it - Kevin Harper. Clyde's administrative mess then saw Rovers climb above the Wee 'Gers for the first time this season, which ended up being the death knell for the black and gold. From Peterhead onward Johnny Harvey and his team lost six matches, shipping 20 goals and scoring 0, with the final blow being delivered by the resurgent Rovers; on a Saturday afternoon at Shielfield, with Berwick Rangers backed by hundreds of loyal fans who turned up in an impressive display of support, the team lost 0 to 3 to Rovers, who were mathematically safe.

Johnny Harvey was fired (which prompted a veritable cascade of angry family members on social media and a heads gone statement from the freshly unattached manager himself) and John Brownlie and Ian 'Yano' Little - both ex-Berwick managers - were brought in to right the ship and give the Shielfield faithful at least a glimmer of hope for the play-offs. Their first (and final) test in the league was despondent Elgin, who hadn't won a game since before Berwick Rangers' dismal run started; of course, Elgin won 2-0 and the visitors clambered back on the bus bound for Northumberland.

Berwick Rangers haven't won a game - or indeed picked up points - since the 19th of March when league leaders Peterhead were beaten 2 to 0. Since, 6 matches under Johnny Harvey resulted in 0 goals forward and 20 against, while the single match under John Browlie and Ian Little was a merciful 2-0 loss at the hands of Elgin. A team that has been built, refurbished, and demolished by Robbie Horn and Johnny Harvey this season, Berwick's hopes are pinned on key players Dougie Brydon and Jordan Orru, both returning from a couple of weeks of injury, and Ousman 'Ouzy' See, who has been out of the game for about 8 months following a broken leg incurred at Montrose (back when they were still in League 2).

Promotion/Relegation Play-Off; Leg 1 of the Trapdoor

Having mentioned Montrose we can safely say that there is a life after the Trapdoor - with the Angus side having impressively secured a second season in League 1. Of course, the Gable Endies never actually fell down to the Highland/Lowland League. Conversely, League 2 strugglers of old East Stirlingshire are into their theird season in the Lowland League, with crowds averaging 180 odd fans having witnessed a sixth place finish this season. The other SFL team to have experienced the perils of the Trapdoor - Cowdenbeath - have steered clear of immediate danger by ending 6th in League 2 this season.

Whichever example Berwick Rangers will follow - survival and great/limited success or relegation and a new reality - the Dream Team have one final shot to save their skin and membership of the SFL due to the relatively closed-off nature of the pyramid, which is more than most teams in their position in other European countries can say. Even then, should relegation occur, Berwick will receive parachute payments (possibly in the form of Ladbrokes sponsorship like East Stirlingshire received) and continued access to the Challenge and League Cups for 2019/2020. Still, with East Kilbride continuing their stint in the Lowland League, the Wee 'Gers will be in serious trouble if they want to bounce back at the first time of asking.

As for Cove, promotion to League 2 will have never been easier to achieve than this season given the league performance of Club 42, and the Aberdeen-side will be hungrier than ever following their controversial (their words, not mine) defeat at the hands of Cowdenbeath last season. They seem to have outgrown the Highland League and have shown willingness to be promoted - and should they reach their goal they will undoubtedly make a fist of their first season in the SFL, which should worry the current members.

May 11th will be the first leg of this play-off between two very different teams, both with their own ambitions; Cove will look to turn their home advantage into a convincing win to make the return a dead rubber, whilst Berwick will be pleased to keep the tie alive ahead of their home match on the 18th of May. If you are in the area, consider making the trip to Balmoral Stadium and see for yourself how exciting football at this level and stage of the season can be.

Cove play in all-blue adidas teamwear at home; considering the fact that Berwick's away shirt is light blue with navy shorts and hooped socks, expect the Black and Gold to turn out in, well, black and gold. I don't have a graphic for Cove's kit so please accept my substituting it with the 2010/2011 Peterborough United home shirt.

[marello]

simples...cove to win on agg 5-2

[As Easterly as it gets!]

 

Berwick may well rise to the occasion , but it's hard to see anything other than a win for Cove.

[tongue_tied_danny]

C'mon Cove, bend these c***s over.

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

Good luck to cove, hope they fucking spank berwick.

[Redcar]

First reports from Elgin suggest that our new management team have found out just how bad we are. 

Still time to sort a few things out though. 

[ForzaDundee]

Mon the Scots.

[resk]

Given that the Dons are continuing our irresistible march to the League Cup group stages on Friday night v Hearts, I'll probably head up to this one. The park is tucked into an industrial estate with only a pishy family restaurant for pints within walking distance but ach well, at least it's actually in Aberdeen.

[elginer]

I was not impressed by Berwick today who were comfortably beaten by a very ordinary Elgin side. Berwick put plenty effort in and are quite physical but  have no penetration at all. One never knows but if Cove cannot beat them over two legs it will be a poor reflection on the lower leagues.

[Super Berwick]

Does anyone know if Martin Scott will be banned for the game?

[Debs2101]

Good luck to Berwick, hope they beat Cove!!

[DutchBorderer]

The match preview is up, thank you for bearing with me - it's quite a bit longer than I initially planned and expected, but then there is a lot to talk about and I imagine not everyone interested in this play-off will know the ins and outs of both teams and their seasons. Please consider giving me a greenie for it so I can take at least something from this wretched season.

[the_bully_wee]

If Berwick took action RE: Harvey sooner (ie. at least a week) then I'd be a lot more optimistic about an outcome other than my beloveds being blasted over two legs, but a week and a half to turn around the fortunes of a woeful team - never mind a part-time one - is an exceptionally short period of time. If the rumours of new investment are true, though, and Brownlie and Little are in any way useful as a management team, then perhaps a parachute payment-assisted Lowland League assault might just be a possibility next season. 

[1320Lichtie]

That Blair Yule a cracking player by the way. Have Cove not still got Paul McManus? Sure they have Scott McBride too?

This tie will be over after the first leg

[Ray Patterson]

Going to this, finally got a Saturday off work.

I'm gonna say Cove 3-1 Berwick. With at least one red card.

[Ginaro]

6 hours ago, DutchBorderer said:

Conversely, League 2 strugglers of old East Stirlingshire are into their second season in the Lowland League, with a crowd of a 100 odd fans having witnessed midtable mediocrity this season.

Their third, having finished 2nd, 4th, and now 6th; 184 was their attendance this season.

[Jimmy Shaker]

That Blair Yule a cracking player by the way. Have Cove not still got Paul McManus? Sure they have Scott McBride too?

This tie will be over after the first leg

McManus is there and still features on rotation from the bench.

[cowdenbeath]

8 hours ago, 1320Lichtie said:

That Blair Yule a cracking player by the way. Have Cove not still got Paul McManus? Sure they have Scott McBride too?

This tie will be over after the first leg

Scott McBride's at Kelty.

[an86]

Although I think the pyramid is a good thing, I've always found myself siding with the league side in these situations. I think it's the realisation of how horrible a situation it is and the liklihood that it'll be us one day. I'd also rather go to Berwick away than Cove away. 

[1320Lichtie]

Scott McBride's at Kelty.

Cove were looking at him. Knew a few boys that had been involved with Cove and they were asked about how he got on at us, he had one good season with us at left back but his problem was he is the slowest winger on the planet. Good left peg though.

Might've made a journey up the A90 to watch the game at Cove but it'll be a non contest, possibly going to Forfar v Raith sounds more tempting