Peter Murphy concedes he was still not happy with Annan Athletic’s first-half display, despite storming to a record win against Berwick Rangers.

The Black and Golds all but confirmed a Scottish League Two play-off place with a 6-0 home thrashing against basement boys Berwick Rangers on Saturday. It was their biggest league win since 2009, having beaten Elgin City by the same margin that March.

That leaves Murphy’s men 12 points ahead of fifth-placed Stirling Albion with four matches left, meaning if Annan can get a result against the Binos this Saturday at Galabank they will book their play-off spot.

But Murphy is refusing to get carried away.

“Listen, you’d like to say ‘yeah, we are in the play-offs’, but, mathematically, we are not there yet,” he said.

“We just need to keep picking up as many results as we can. But even making the play-offs isn’t an achievement in itself, it’s what happens after that. There is an end goal [of getting promoted], let’s see if we can get there.”

Athletic were not at their best in the first period against Berwick and keeper Alex Mitchell was called upon to make a fine save to deny Cameron Blues just after the half-hour mark as the two teams went in level at the break.

But it was a different story after the restart.

Owen Moxon broke the deadlock a minute into the second half, before Annan doubled their advantage through Tony Wallace’s penalty. Moxon then doubled his tally, with Robert Wilson putting through his own goal to make it 4-0. Chris Johnston made it five with 73 minutes on the clock and, four minutes later, substitute David Wilson completed the rout.

Murphy said: “It was a very pleasing second-half performance.

"I think, after the first half, we were lucky to come in at half-time at 0-0. They had a one-on-one chance and another couple of half-chances, albeit we had a couple of half-chances, too. 

“I think, in the second half, we got the early goal and made a tactical change as well, which in the end worked out well for us.

"The subs came on and made an impact, getting goals. That was very pleasing, but it was a game of two halves.”

But on his team’s ruthless streak after the restart, Murphy added: “I’m thrilled.

"I’ve just been told it’s Annan’s best result in 10 years. But I’m frustrated, as well, about the first half. There are two sides to it, that’s the old cliche of ‘A game of two halves’.

"I’m really frustrated that the players didn’t step up in the first half and it took for us to change something [to get on top] then, obviously, the six goals in the second half are brilliant.

"There were ups and downs, but that’s what football is all about.”