Berwick stakes all or nothing

By Gavin Staindl
BERWICK City appears destined to be relegated from Division Two when the season finishes after losing their 14th straight match, this time to the Southern Stars 4-0 at Ross Reserve.
Alan Mulcahy opened the scoring in the second minute and the Stars continued to dominate, displaying the obvious difference in class between the league leaders and the cellar dwellers.
The loss means Berwick City need to win at least three of their last five games to avoid relegation.
Although Berwick coach Tom O’Halloran believes there is still a chance, he also understands that a lot of luck has to fall his way if his team is to avoid falling into Division Three.
“We haven’t conceded yet,” O’Halloran said of dropping a division. “There are five games left and if we win all of them then we’re a chance, but if I was a betting man I wouldn’t put money on it.”
Berwick has won one game from 17 so far this season that includes a current streak of 14 losses.
But the coach, who took over from Joe Carroll in round 11 this year, is adamant the long-term signs are good for the soccer team in red and white.
“Long-term it is looking great but just at the moment the short-term is the opposite. We have one of the best junior set-ups in the state and the pathways into our senior level is fantastic … we had one 15 year old playing on the weekend and three 17 year olds … the potential is there,” O’Halloran said.
O’Halloran first started his coaching career in 1985 with Berwick City and left in 1989 but after returning to his old club the Scot has praised president Dave Mackie and the board for the club’s improvement in that time.
“It is like chalk and cheese. When I was there they had a few good junior clubs but now there are 36 and 600-plus kids playing … the set-up and the way it is run is really good,” O’Halloran said.
While Berwick was off playing against the Stars, Berwick’s home ground, Jack Thomas Reserve, played host to fellow Division Two sides Casey Comets and Dandenong City.
Because of heavy traffic on Dandenong’s home ground transforming the ground into a mud heap, Berwick kindly agreed to lend their home ground to their Division Two counterparts, Casey and Dandenong, for their round 17 clash.
The in-form Casey rattled off a fortunate 4-2 victory after two own goals gifted the Comets with the win.
The result leaves Casey three games behind the Stars but it has the opportunity to reduce the margin to two games next week when it plays host to the league-leaders.
Provisional One side Doveton has rocketed to the top of its respective ladder after a 2-0 win over Beaumaris at Beaumaris Reserve.
Doveton is now half a game clear on top with five games left.
Provisional Two side Endeavour United has won back-to-back games for the first time since rounds eight and nine after toppling Bayside Argonauts 1-0 at DISC.
Endeavour’s win puts it four points ahead of the eighth placed Berwick Kings, which had a 1-0 loss to Skye United at Skye Recreational Reserve.