Stirling set the pace in Scottish League Two with rout of Berwick

Posted Wednesday, August 16, 2017 by PA

Early Ladbrokes Scottish League Two pace-setters Stirling made it two wins from two by defeating Berwick 4-0 at Forthbank Stadium.

After claiming an opening-day victory over Stenhousemuir thanks to Ross Kavanagh's 82nd-minute winner, the Binos had a far more straightforward afternoon back on home soil.

Darren Smith took his tally for the season to three league goals with a first-half brace that put Stirling in charge and Kavanagh and Ross Smith added further strikes after the interval.

Peterhead joined Stirling on six points following a 3-0 success over Elgin.

The Blue Toon needed two goals in the final five minutes to make a winning start at Annan seven days earlier, but they were able to go ahead through Rory McAllister's effort midway through the first half.

McAllister then doubled that advantage on the stroke of half-time by converting a penalty he had won himself from Stephen Bronsky's tackle.

Allan Smith made it 3-0 before the hour mark, but Peterhead finished the contest with 10 men when Nicky Riley was dismissed for violent conduct.

Edinburgh City slumped to their second straight loss as Ben Stirling's first-half winner earned Cowdenbeath a 1-0 victory, while Annan were beaten again too.

They were defeated 2-1 by Clyde, for whom Barry Cuddihy and Smart Osadolor scored before Rabin Omar claimed a consolation.

Elsewhere, Montrose and Stenhousemuir drew 1-1 as Graham Webster levelled eight minutes after Mark McGuigan's 70th-minute header for the visitors.