Kevin Haynes hails 'outstanding' Berwick Rangers after Annan Athletic draw

Berwick Rangers boss Kevin Haynes has lavished praise on his team following their 2-2 draw against Annan Athletic in the KDM Evolution Trophy on Tuesday night.

Away from home against SPFL opposition, the Borderers twice went ahead but were pegged back on an evening in which one point could quite easily have been converted into three.

Operating as an auxiliary centre-forward, Ben McCrystal put Rangers ahead inside three minutes, only for the hosts to find an equaliser 90 seconds later. Shortly after the break, Michael Mbewe edged his side in front once more, but Berwick’s lead would last just four minutes before Annan once again drew level.

And speaking after the final whistle, Haynes admitted that he was delighted with the visitors’ display. He said: “I thought we were excellent tonight. I feel really hard done by that we've not won the game. The output the boys put in tonight, it was outstanding.

“I thought our energy levels were good, considering, the hard fixtures that we're going through at the start of the season. And, you know, credit to my players. We made Annan change shape twice, because we were causing them bother.

“They had to change midway through the first half, and then they had to change again at half-time to try and work out something that was going to work for them. So my players must take credit for that. They played with intensity and we attacked space as well - and we've done everything quickly. Like I said, we were outstanding, I thought.”