BERWICK contrived to throw away a match they were very much in control of by conjuring up a calamitous second half performance at Cliftonhill on Tuesday night, to leave Albion Rovers with every chance of overhauling them in the contest for the final play off spot.

After dominating the opening 45 minutes, Rangers supporters expected their side to kick on and secure the three points, but those hopes were quickly rubbished by a superb Rovers display highlighted by some brilliant work by Paul Tyrell in their midfield and Mark McCusker up front.

Rangers started brightly on the freshly ploughed pitch, and Ian Little should have given them a fifth minute lead, shooting wide from five yards out after Brazil picked him out.

Rovers hit back and Peat was lucky to see McCusker's lob bounce back off the bar in the ninth minute, whilst Jay Shields had a thumping 20 yarder turned around by Ewings.. He was finally beaten in the 41st minute,McLean bulleting home a front post header from Little's corner.

No one could have foreseen the catastrophe that was to unfold within the opening 15 minutes of the second period. Within three minutes Benton had equalised, and they fell behind six minutes later when McCusker shot home a rebound.

McLean was then sent off for chopping McCusker down in the 59th minute, and he picked himself up to score from the spot, the striker going on to complete Berwick's misery whern he netted a third for his hat-trick.