Shielfield Park, Berwick Rangers FC: Supporting Berwick Rangers Community Academy and RNLI Berwick upon Tweed Lifeboats

Game 9 saw the Samba lads make the trip to Shielfield Park, home of Berwick Rangers FC, and it turned into one of our best occasions yet. The weather could not have been better. Sunshine, 20 degrees, and an immaculate pitch thanks to Ross the groundsman.

This match also carried brilliant community impact. We raised £1,450 in total, donating £1,000 to Berwick Rangers Community Academy and £450 to RNLI Berwick upon Tweed Lifeboats. That RNLI amount included £200 from Samba Foundation FC and £250 kindly donated by Chris Butler, Director at Berwick Rangers and owner of the Eagleview Event Center in Virginia, USA. Chris has been a huge supporter of what we do, and we are grateful for his generosity.

First Half

The Yellows came out flying and took an early lead. Stephen Devine floated a lovely free kick to the back post, where Richie Rintoul nodded it across goal for Craig Robertson to tap in. Moments later a Sneddon cross forced a defensive mix up and Ebbs was unlucky to see the ball bounce off him for an own goal.

It got tougher for the Blues when Kevin Haynes reacted quickest to a rebound and made it 3-0 inside 25 minutes. The Blues needed something and Junior provided it, slipping a pass through for Jonny Watt who drilled into the corner for 3-1.

Right before half time the Yellows struck again. Cairns picked out Haynes who smashed home his second of the afternoon. That made it 4-1 at the break.

Second Half

The Blues came out transformed. Watt threaded a superb through ball for debutant Ethan Pearson, who calmly slotted past the keeper. Minutes later Pearson rose highest from a corner to head in the equaliser. His hat trick arrived soon after. When a penalty was awarded, Pearson stepped up and buried it. From 4-1 down to 4-4, the game had turned on its head.

The Yellows hit back when Barrett cut the ball back for Jamie Neill to make it 5-4. But the Blues answered again. Hamilton struck the post and Paul Ferguson reacted quickest to tuck in the rebound. 5-5.

As the match headed for a draw, Samba found one last moment. Deep in stoppage time Paul McPherson floated in a dangerous cross. The defence could not clear it and Jon McGraw smashed home the winner. He tore off his shirt in celebration and the scenes were unreal.

Final score: 6-5 to the Blues in a classic at Shielfield Park.

Highlight of the Match

Jon McGraw’s last minute winner and wild celebration.

Amount Raised: £1,450

SQUAD

SAMBA YELLOW Kyle Barrett's Team

Kyle Barrett 🅰️

Ross Brown

Kris Burns

Johnny Cairns 🅰️

Andy Coventry

Stephen Devine 🅰️

Joe Dickens

Kevin Fettes

Kevin Haynes ⚽️⚽️

Ryan Lindsay

Jamie Neill ⚽️

Richie Rintoul 🅰️

Craig Robertson ⚽️

Calum Sneddon 🅰️

SAMBA BLUE

Kyle Boggie’s Team

Kyle Boggie

Michael Cairns

Barry Chambers

Dan Cuthbertson

David Donald

James Ebbs (GK)

Paul Ferguson ⚽️

Andy Hamilton 🅰️

Junior 🅰️

Jon McGraw ⚽️

Paul McPherson 🅰️🅰️

Ethan Pearson ⚽️⚽️⚽️ 🏆

Aaron Robinson

Marc Skinner (GK)

Jonny Watt ⚽️🅰️