BERWICK earned the sweet taste of victory with a gutsy performance that grew in confidence against fellow play-off challengers Queens Park on the broad acres of Hampden on Saturday.
Damon Gray's expertly-taken opportunist double gives him members
hip of that exclusive band of Englishmen who have notched a couple of goals in victory at Scotland's national stadium.
It was that kind of day. Rangers did this the hard way, coming back from the loss of an early goal against a Spiders outfit buoyed by a stunning 3-0 win away to title aspirants East Stirling in midweek to stifle the excited rustling of corduroy and barbour jackets amongst a QP faithful stirred by their late equaliser.
The celebrations at the final whistle showed how much this meant to Rangers and their management, and credit to them, because they dug deep to register the win.
On a fine spring day, Rangers fans were heartened by the sight of the returning Mark Peat, Steven Notman and Alan Brazil, Jimmy Crease being able to field something approaching his first choice eleven for the first time since Methuselah was a boy.
The anticipation was only slightly dulled by the sight of a lone magpie - of the 'one for sorrow' variety - patrolling the pitch as the ref blew for kick off.
Brazil's value to the team was immediately apparent, the burly striker closing down Queen's defenders in possession as Rangers started comfortably, a state that they were rudely awoken from in the tenth minute when McBride swung in a deep cross from the right which Little flicked on for Henry to loop a ten yard header over Peat.
It was a bad goal to lose, and set the tone for Rangers' discomfort at set pieces for the rest of the afternoon, a problem they need to sort out and sharpish.
However, with Jay Shields roaming the centre of the park like an amphetamine-fuelled wolverine, the home midfield was gradually hustled out of their early comfort zone, until ref McDonald decided that if the match should proceed on a non-contact basis, which meant a handful of players walking the tightrope after a rash of early bookings.
Though Queens held the upper hand during the opening half hour, they rarely threatened, allowing Rangers to build some momentum as the game headed towards the break.
Stuart Callaghan sent a free kick narrowly wide from a plum position in the 29th minute after Gallagher was booked for fouling Brazil on the edge of the box. Two minutes later, Rangers passed up their best chance so far, McLaren's low cross eluding Gray before being collected first by Little and then Brazil, whose shots were kept out by desperate defending.
The game had lit up by now, and in the 33rd minute Mark Peat made his first serious save of the afternoon, brilliantly tipping Daly's towering header from a McGinn cross over the bar.
Queens should have been reduced to ten men in the 39th minute, when Gallagher, who had been carded earlier, did a Chuck Norris on Elliot Smith as Rangers pulled the home defence all over the place with their most intricate passing move of the half. Their efforts were rewarded on the stroke of half time when Ian Little won a great header to set up Damon Gray for a neat headed finish at the back post.
As the first half wore on there was a growing sense amongst Rangers' fans that Queens were there for the taking, and their confident start to the second period suggested that this was a view shared by Crease and his players.
Callaghan crashed a 49th minute free kick into the defensive wall, but with Brazil, Little, Gray and McLaren linking well there were growing signs that a second goal was imminent.
Queens had other ideas, however, and Rangers escaped in the 64th minute after Murray's incisive pass bisected Ewart and Gair, only for the ball to elude the onrushing Hamilton by inches.
Rangers took maximum advantage a minute later, McLaren's low cross dumbfounding Little and McGinn in the home defence to reach the lurking Gray at the back post, where he nimbly sidestepped the grounded McGinn to hammer a close range shot past McGeown.
The home side were stung into replying, and such was their desperation to find an equaliser that Murray was booked for a BAFTA qualifying dive in the 76th minute. They looked a lot happier four minutes later, however, Watt scuttling down the touchline being pursued by Jamie Ewart, who resisted the temptation to dive in and earn himself a red card, only for his defensive colleagues to leave space for Watt to glide into the box and shoot low under Peat from an acute angle.
Showing admirable strength of character, Rangers bounced back with an 84th minute winner. McLaren, who had an excellent second 45, carved his way down the right, waited patiently for support to arrive, then picked out David Greenhill's intelligent run to the back post, where the sub lashed the ball high into the net for a jubilantly-received winner.
There was still time for McGinn to be sent off two minutes from the end for mugging Greenhill on the halfway line as he threatened to break through.
Berwick - Peat 7, Notman 6, Ewart 8, Gair 6, Smith 7, McLaren 8, Callaghan 6, Shields 7, Little 8, Brazil 6, Gray 7.
