Stranraer final moved off the bottom of the Second Division with a high scoring win over Berwick Rangers. The offense was on top form, netting four goals, but as many fans have pointed out the defense still leaks like a sieve.

Despite Berwick having most of the play in the opening twenty minutes, it was the Blues who found themselves two up after 23 minutes. The opening goal came through a Paul Kerr effort after veteran 'keeper Henry Smith misjudged a Stranraer shot which struck the post and fell at the feet of Paul Kerr who slammed the ball into the net.

Only a minute later Stranraer extended the led with a beautifully taken free-kick. The ball looped over the wall and clipped the underside of the bar, giving Smith little chance to stop the powerful strike.

Another crack at goal in the 25th minute by Harty struck the woodwork, again the Smith beaten.

Berwick scored a terrific goal in the 29th minute through Darren Smith. Smith came forward to take the corner and soon found himself with the again. His curling shot from the edge of the box game Hillcoat little time to react and it found the back of the net.

Only two minutes later the home side had drawn level through Gary Wood. David Murie cut past three Stranraer players and knocked in an inch-perfect pass to Wood at the edge of the 6-yard box and he made no mistake from the close range.

Five minutes before the half, Ian Harty resorted Stranraer's lead when he latched on to a Paul Kerr cross and poked the ball past Smith. The same move had been tried minutes before, but on that occasion Harty failed to connect with the ball.

In the second half both teams tried to break through, with Berwick looking hungrily for the equaliser, and it soon came in the 50th minute. It was Darren Smith again, with a low shot in the far corner of the net beyond the reach of a rather slow looking Hillcoat.

A few games ago Stranraer would have probably caved in at this moment, but rather than give in they pushed forward looking for the winner. Any of Stranraer's forward could have scored, but in the end it fell to local lad Alan Jenkins. The midfielder slipped through and picked up the long cross which three Berwick defenders should have cleared, and knocked the ball coolly into the net.

Finlayson should have added a fifth for the Blues minutes later, but his finishing was off, and instead blasted the ball wide.

With victory now in their sights, Stranraer tightened-up the defense and played the remaining half-hour out for a well deserved victory.

OVERALL SUMMARY- A suberb game of football to showcase the standard of football in the Second Division (goalkeeping aside), with plenty for the fans to talk about. The Blues finally seem to have got their act together with 13 goals scored in three games, but the five goals conceeded continue to haunt the defense. Clearly we are on the right track and we are now only three points of the leaders - despite being second bottom in the league.

Man of the Match: Ian Harty. The forward created all kinds of problems for the Berwick defense and was rewarded with his 6th goal of the season.

Attendance: 453