CREASE THROWS A WOBBLY.

Byline: BRIAN WELSH 

EAST STIRLING .........1 BERWICK .................0 BRIAN WELSH reports RAGING Berwick boss Jimmy Crease blasted Steven McLean after the ref reversed his linesman's call to hand Shire the chance to grab a controversial winner.

The home side snatched the vital goal when Andy Rodgers raced clear to net just two minutes after the interval.

But Crease was furious McLean over-ruled a crucial throw-in decision in the run-up.

He said: "We feel very hard done by. It was our throw-in - the linesman saw that and we saw that.

"But the ref steps in and overrules it and our players, who are in attacking positions, are then caught out. It's hard to take."

Berwick's sense of injustice was made worse by the fact they hit the woodwork twice and were denied by a Jamie Barclay wonder save at the death.

Clawed

Barclay only received permission to play earlier in the day when Billy Stark released him from Scotland Under-21 duty and the keeper proved a key man for Shire.

The highlight of an untidy first half was Alan Brazil's 25-yard shot that smacked the underside of Barclay's bar before bouncing to safety.

The second half saw an immediate improvement from Jim McInally's men and they quickly made the breakthrough.

After McLean switched the throw-in decision in Shire's favour, Paul Weaver took possession and his long pass was controlled by Rodgers who coolly netted.

The lead was almost doubled in 57 minutes when Craig Tully's header from a Simon Lynch cross was tipped on to the bar by Mark Peat.

Stephen McGuire was next to hit the woodwork and his shot was eventually clawed off the line by Peat.

But it was Berwick who finished the stronger side with Jamie Ewart heading against the bar before sub Oliver Russell watched his point-blank shot brilliantly saved by Barclay.

Shire boss McInally said: "It's a great result but an average performance."

CAPTION(S):

Jolly Rodgers: East Stirling forward Andy Rodgers races into the box before coolly firing past Mark Peat to earn his side three points with the delighted hitman then being mobbed by his team-mates (left)