Caudenbit saw off Berwick Rangers 4:0 in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday. The hosts did not travel to make up the numbers, and neither did the visitors. By then you could see this was going to be one-sided before a ball was kicked.
It has been a difficult spell for Caudenbit. They lost three of their last five league games, including a 1:3 defeat at Clyde on the 26th of September. They looked vulnerable at the back, conceding freely. And here's the thing about this result — it was a complete reversal of their recent fortunes.
Berwick Rangers had shown more unpredictability in their recent fixtures. They beat Stranraer 3:2 on the 22nd of September but then went down 1:7 to Airdrieonians. That result must have stung. To be fair, they had also beaten Hibernian U21 1:0, so they are not without quality. But the FA Cup run ended before it really began.
The scoreline tells you everything about the match. Four goals without reply is not a fluke. It suggests Caudenbit were sharper, more organised, and simply better on the day. Berwick had to fight from the opening whistle and found themselves out of sight by half-time. The game was done.
For Caudenbit, this is a lift they needed. They move into the second round with confidence after a run of defeats. For Berwick Rangers, it is back to league business. They will need to regroup quickly — the cup dream is over, and there are seven points to chase in the league standings.
