Berwick Rangers 1

BSC Glasgow 0

David Knox

at Shielfield Park

BSC Glasgow stretched their unbeaten run to 16 matches on Saturday.

But they were aided with a rash red card for Ciaren Chalmers inside the opening quarter hour by controversial referee Jonathan Gall.

And despite being a man down for 70 minutes, the home team posed a constant threat for the title challengers.

Berwick manager Ian Little said: “BSC are a good team and we knew we’d have to be up for this one, but losing a player so early meant we had to sit in a bit more than we wanted.

“We still went forward when we could and we did create a few chances, but we were always up against it after the sending off.

“I didn’t agree with the red card but that the referee’s decision and one we have to accept.

“I can’t fault the effort and character of my players today but things didn’t go for us.”

Portuguese teenager Joao Balde showed early on why he has quickly become a fans’ favourite at Shielfied with some mazy runs and a few good passes.

But the encouraging work from the former Rangers youth player was undone on 14 minutes as Chalmers’ challenge on Thomas Collins was deemed deserving of a straight red card.

The sending-off gave BSC the impetus and it took two fantastic saves from Mark Walters to deny the ever dangerous Thomas Orr.

Orr was also foiled by a terrific Greg Donald block after the previous week’s Scottish Cup goal hero weaved his way into the box.

But Berwick also looked dangerous on the break with the pace of Balde and Yaw Osei keeping the BSC defenders on their toes.

Dan Purves had a claim for a penalty waved away on the half hour.

And just before the break Balde’s delightful floated pass to Osei ended with visiting keeper Stephen Barr pulling off a good save.

Orr should have fired Stephen Swift’s team in front just after the interval but shot over from 12 yards out.

But it wasn’t long until BSC did make the break-through.

As Martin Grehan and Donald both went for a loose ball inside the area, Walters came storming off his line and clattered through both players.

Thomas Collins tucked away the penalty kick.

Berwick almost responded within a few minutes with Balde racing onto an Ali Forster through ball, only for Robbie McNab to make an excellent covering tackle inside the area.

Orr had a couple of chances to secure the points, but BSC were also reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute as Declan Hughes was shown two quick yellow cards for his comments after a freekick was awarded.

And it was Berwick who finished strongest.

But apart from a Kevin Waugh freekick which was pushed round the post by Barr, they couldn’t create enough to salvage the draw.

Berwick Rangers. M Walters, K Waugh, G Donald (J Cook 83), C Lumsden (J Wright 83), D Purves, A Forster, Y Osei, L Barr (G Rose 75), J Balde, C Chalmers & R Miller