A good, solid performance at Trammondford Park ensures Star will go into next weeks South League showdown at Creetown with a two point advantage. A couple of early goals meant there was little chance of anything other than an away win as Star went about their business in a quiet, efficient manner.

They opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Charlie Watson's fine cross from the right found Dale Milligan in the centre and his looping header gave keeper Louis McLachlan no chance. Two minutes later Star doubled their lead when they moved the ball well across the area before Connor Potts scored with a fierce drive from a tightish angle. Potts netted the third just before the half hour with a confident finish after he had been put through. Keeper McLachlan and his defence had done well to keep the scoreline down with the pick of his saves coming just before half time when Ross Hunter was clean through.

However two minutes after the re-start Hunter got the better of the young keeper when he latched on to a superb Dan Carmichael pass and side footed the ball into the net. In the 59th minute it was 5-0 when Carmichael whipped in a near post corner that the unfortunate Rhys Kennedy could only glance into the back of his own net. It hopefully didn't spoil the young full backs evening as he put in an otherwise fine display and deservedly picked up the home sides man of the match. The pick of the goals came in the 72nd minute when Dan Carmichael somehow managed to weave his way past a number of defenders inside the box before calmly passing the ball into the bottom corner of the net. The scoring ended two minutes from time when Cammy Shaw was crudely upended inside the box and he picked himself up and promptly thumped the ball past McLachlan from 12 yards though the keeper did well to get a fingertip to it. 

So this sets us up nicely for next weeks showdown at Castle Cary Park with the team having the rare treat at this time of the year of having a full week to prepare. So it all comes down to this.

MON THE STAR!! 

WIGTOWN & BLADNOCH 0                          DALBEATTIE STAR 7                                     

                                                                               Milligan (11)

              Potts (13, 28)

              Hunter (47)

              Kennedy og (59)

              Carmichael (72)

              Shaw (88 pen)

                                                                               HT 0-3  Att. 72

WIGTOWN & BLADNOCH: McLachlan, Kennedy, Moore (Agnew 59), Cluckie, Ma Henderson, Mu Henderson(McIntyre 59), McKnight, McColm, Kawanza, Nish (Lowrie 70), Kirk (McGurk 70)

Subs not used: McDowall, Keith 

Yellow Cards:  McColm, Henderson, McGurk

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, Swan, O'Sullivan, C Watson (McConaghie 59), E Gourlay (McMurtrie 59), D Taylor, Carmichael, Williamson (G Gourlay 72), Hunter (Shaw 59), Milligan, Potts (Meechan 59)

Subs not used: Minto

Yellow Cards: None

Ref: S Sutherland

A very young Star side was eliminated from the South of Scotland Challenge Cup by a strong and experienced Gretna side. It has been a good week for the Raydale side as they retained their place in the Lowland League and then followed it up with an accomplished performance that saw them run in six goals. For Star this match came in the middle of glut of fixtures and manager Eddie Warwick made no fewer than nine changes to the side that played on Thursday night. As a result this may well have been the youngest ever starting line up for Star with six teenagers and an average age of under 20. 

The youngsters had some decent spells in the match but it was always going to be an uphill struggle against a good side who were in no mood to take it easy against their inexperienced opponents. When you have someone like David Cox in your side then there is never any chance of complacency creeping in and throughout the match he kept driving his team forward from his midfield position. Star managed to hold out until the 21st minute when a deep corner was headed back across goal by Tyler Bowman and there was Cox to nod home from close range. Number two came just before the half hour and it was a fine curling effort from just inside the box from Liam Short. In the 54th minute another ex-Star player scored for Gretna, this time when Ronan Kearney nodded home from a corner. The highlight of Star's day came five minutes later when substitute Dale Milligan played Olly Meechan through and he took a good touch before finishing well past Vinnie Parker in the Gretna goal. Star's joy was short lived as within a minute Cameron Mulvanny burst through and scored with a low drive from the edge of the box. The best of the goals came next when T Dos Santos scored with an excellent dipping drive that flew past Robbie Minto. The scoring ended three minutes from time when Julien Kouame drilled a low shot into the net and Gretna will now face Newton Stewart at home in the semi final.

For Star the youngsters will have learned plenty from this experience which will hopefully help them in the future. There was also good news in the fact that Luke McMurtrie got a good half hour in the match without any niggles and his return will be a huge boost in the busy weeks ahead. Next up is a trip to Wigtown on Wednesday night where anything other than a defeat will mean that Star will go into the end of season showdown with Creetown top of the league. 

GRETNA FC 2008 6                                         DALBEATTIE STAR 1                                     

Cox (21)                                                             Meechan (59)

Short (28)

Kearney (54)

Mulvanny (60)

Dos Santos (68)

Kouame (87)                                                 HT 2-0  Att. 128

GRETNA FC 2008: Parker, Tait, Bell, Short, Bowman, Kearney, Mulvanny (Kirk 74), Cox, Brotherston, Ivison, Dos Santos (Kouame 74)

Subs: Anderson, Boyes

Yellow Cards: Kearney

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, Swan (McMurtrie 57), Jamieson, McConaghie, O'Sullivan, G Gourlay (Hunter 57), Whitty (Potts 42), McKeeman, Shaw, Meechan, D Rogerson (Milligan 47)

Subs not used: Pietsch, D Taylor, Williamson

Yellow Cards:

Ref: A Halliday

Star’s title challenge will now go to the last game of the season as they lost their unbeaten home record to Abbey Vale at a tense Islecroft. It was a hugely disappointing night for the home side who got off to the perfect start, but by the end of the match they had to admit the better team won. It was an evening where very few, if any of the players played anywhere near the levels they have shown throughout the season and Abbey Vale took full advantage. We now go to Wigtown on Wednesday night where even a draw would take us to the top of the league and that would be followed by a title shoot-out at Creetown where we would need to avoid defeat to be crowned champions (providing we take something from the Wigtown match). So the disappointment may still be raw but we definitely have our destiny very much in our own hands.

On a perfect evening for football and on an excellent playing surface, the home side started well and within five minutes Vale keeper Taylor Hall had to dive full length to turn Dan Carmichael’s curling effort wide for a corner. There was a feeling of déjà vu in the 10^th minute when, just like in Tuesday nights meeting, Vale were awarded a penalty with the scoreline blank. And just like Tuesday Konar Pietsch repeated his heroics by saving the spot kick, this time with his feet and this time from Lewis Downie. Five minutes later Star took the lead when Carmichael intercepted a pass in midfield, danced around a couple of challenges and played the ball to Dale Milligan who chipped the ball across goal to Ross Hunter who scored with a well struck right foot volley. Soon after it got even better when a corner was only cleared as far as Milligan at the edge of the penalty area. His volley found Declan Rogerson on his own in the 6 yard box but his shot was palmed clear by Taylor Hall. Hunter collected the loose ball and from the tightest of angles he drilled his shot through a ruck of players and into the back of the net.

It was the dream start for the home side and Hunter came so close to a hat trick two minutes later when he burst through but Hall came off his line quickly to block the strikers effort. However just after the half hour Vale got themselves back into the match with a well worked move down the left that ended with the ball being switched over to Phil Middlemiss who gave Pietsch no chance with a clinical finish. This certainly startled the home side and with seconds remaining of the first half one of the Star old boys in the Vale line up, Curtiss Wilson, had a free header from a free kick but thankfully he sent it inches wide.

The second half began with Vale still very much on the front foot and Star strangely out of sorts. There was a warning of things to come when Star struggled to clear a corner and Liam Patterson smashed the loose ball high over the bar. In the 56^th minute though the New Abbey side equalised when from another corner, the ball was bobbling around the penalty area before Dylan Bruce somehow bundled the ball home through a crowd of players though Downie may well have got the final touch. Just after the hour Star came within inches of restoring their lead with their best move of the half. Milligan beat the offside trap down the left and his pass to Hunter in the centre seemed certain to end in a goal when centre back Mitchell Black appeared from nowhere to make what would be a match saving tackle. That was because just two minutes later the Maryfield Park side took a sensational lead from another corner and this time it was Braden Bruce who fired home after another scramble.

Try as they might Star struggled to create any clearcut chances in the remainder of the match. The closest they came was with 20 minutes left when Russell Williamson’s header from a corner flashed across the goal but wide of the far post. Other than that Hall in the Vale goal was rarely troubled and the visitors saw out the match comfortably to set up an incredible end of season finale. Though this was a bitter pill to swallow, Star must pick themselves up quickly with still so much to play for. You don’t become a bad side overnight as this was our first league defeat since August. Nobody knows better than the management and the players that they are a much better team than what they showed in this match. We just need to get back to the standards we have shown in the past few months in the remaining two league games, and we won’t be far away.

DALBEATTIE STAR 2                                      ABBEY VALE 3

Hunter (15, 21)                                                Middlemiss (31)

                                                                               D Bruce (56)

                                                                               B Bruce (65)

                                                                               HT 2-1  Att.176

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, E Gourlay (Shaw 79), O’Sullivan, C Watson (Meechan 85), Williamson, D Taylor, Potts (McConaghie 65), Carmichael, Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson (Jamieson 65)

Subs not used: Summerbee, Swan, Devlin

Yellow Cards: C Watson

ABBEY VALE: Hall, Wilson (Grzebieniak 71), Glen, Patterson, Black, Corbett, Middlemiss, B Bruce, Hughes (C Kerr 90+5), D Bruce, Downie

Subs not used: Blyth, McKenna, Crawford, Adams, Brown

Yellow Cards: Black, Middlemiss, B Bruce

Ref: M Williamson

Star made it through to the final of the Tweedie Cup after beating Abbey Vale at the North West Community Campus, where both teams more than played their part in an entertaining tie. The match was switched to Dumfries to ensure the league match at Islecroft between the two same teams two nights later would go ahead as even this late in the season there are no guarantees the pitch would have coped with two games in such a short space of time.

Star lined up with a strong starting XI so there were no thoughts this week of saving men for the crucial league match in 48 hours. Both sides began brightly with the ‘home’ side enjoying the majority of possession but Vale always carried a threat. Their best chances came from some excellent deliveries from the right flank especially when Lewis Downie whipped a number of inswinging free kicks and corners that the Dalbeattie defence just about coped with. As early as the 3^rd minute former Star player Aidan Kerr saw a header from one such cross get blocked on the line. Star’s reply was a thumping drive from Charlie Watson that keeper Taylor Hall needed two goes at collecting and soon after Ross Hunter broke clear but with just the goalie to beat, he uncharacteristically made a right mess of the finish. Just after the half hour the visitors had a golden opportunity of opening the scoring when they broke quickly down the right and the cross into the centre found Downie whose effort went past the post. Unfortunately Ewan Gourlay, sliding in to block the effort, clipped the attacker as he shot and the penalty was rightly awarded. Up stepped Kerr but his well struck spot kick low to the keepers right was brilliantly saved by Konar Pietsch and the rebound was driven across goal by Dylan Bruce but thankfully for Star there were no takers.

Despite the setback Vale continued to threaten and another cross from the right was headed goalward only to be well saved yet again. As the half wore on Star began to get back some control and with only seconds remaining they made the vital breakthrough. A neat flick from Hunter sent Dale Milligan clean through and he showed great composure to set himself and slip the ball past the advancing keeper. They always say just before half time is a great time to score but is there such a time as a bad time to score?

The second half saw Star dominate possession but Vale continued to work hard to make life as difficult as possible. Up until now Ross Hunter has had a monopoly on Star’s goal of the season contenders with a number of outstanding strikes earlier in the season. However he has some serious competition now because in the 52^nd minute Danny Carmichael scored a goal that had almost everyone in the ground applauding. Near the corner of the penalty area and with no apparent danger, he turned quickly to create half a yard of space and from there he beat the keeper with an exquisite chip that landed right in the top corner. All that Dan needed after that was a collar on his shirt to flick up a la Cantona, but he had to settle for walking back to the halfway line and exchanging a few firm handshakes with his team mates. It was goal of unquestionable quality that oozed class, vision and technique.

Star began to turn the screw and were determined to put the game to bed and five minutes later they made it 3-0 when keeper Hall mis-judged Milligan’s shot from the edge of the box that spun over the unfortunate keeper and into the net. Both sides made a number of substitutions after this but the tempo and quality of the match remained high. Star continued to enjoy themselves but fair play to Vale who kept going right to the end with Kerr and Downie both being denied by fine saves from Pietsch. The big keepers hopes of a clean sheet were ruined two minutes from time when Downie converted a cut back with a tidy finish.

So Star go through where they will face Lochar Thistle again, at a venue and date still to be decided. Star and Vale go head to head yet again on Thursday night at Islecroft in a league match could go a long way in deciding the destination of the title with Star knowing victory will put them within touching distance. However Vale are defending champions and will be looking to end Star’s unbeaten home record this season.  

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                        ABBEY VALE 1                                           

Milligan (45+1, 57)                         Downie (88)

Carmichael (52)                             A Kerr missed pen (31)

                                                               HT 1-0   Att. 127

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, E Gourlay, Summerbee (Meechan 57), C Watson, Williamson (Swan 64), D Taylor (McConaghie 74), Potts (Whitty 74), Carmichael, Hunter, Milligan (Shaw 64), Jamieson

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Minto

Yellow Cards: Williamson

ABBEY VALE: Hall, Grzebieniak (Black 46), Glen, Kirk, Patterson, Corbett (Hughes 74), Downie, B Bruce, A Kerr (Crawford 85), D Bruce (C Kerr 85), Middlemiss (McKenna 74)

Subs not used: Simpson, Brown

Yellow Cards: B Bruce, McKenna

Ref: J Brown

Star missed out on a place in the Haig Gordon cup final against Newton Stewart by the narrowest of margins as they lost to Creetown on a penalty shoot-out. After two hours of football in horrible conditions it was the home side that progressed with four well taken spot kicks. Star though were just minutes away from victory but a goal in stoppage time took the match to extra time and eventual penalties. There were a lot of tired limbs on both sides at the end of the match and we get to do it all again at the same venue in less than 48 hours.

Star lined up by making half a dozen changes to the team that began against Nithsdale just two days before in the league. Surprisingly the opening half hour was pretty uneventful with both teams taking a safety first approach. However the game sprang into life with Ferrytoun left back Robbie Murray having the first noteworthy effort going narrowly wide. Minutes later Star opened the scoring when Russell Williamson rose majestically in the penalty area to head home Adam Jamieson fine corner kick. The home side finished the half strongly with Shay Meagher forcing Robbie Minto into a good save and the same player had the best chance of the half but his volley from Murrays diagonal ball flew over the bar. With seconds of the half remaining Star came within inches of doubling their lead when Dale Milligan latched on to Charlie Watson’s fine pass but his lob volley beat keeper Martin McCaulay but hit the top of the crossbar.

The second half saw Star put under a lot of pressure but they defended well. They struggled to get any decent possession and as a result it was wave after wave of attack. However they restricted the home side who struggled to cut them open and create decent chances. The biggest danger was from set plays and from one in the 55^th minute Josh Rennie shot over when he should have at least hit the target. With 20 minutes left Meagher saw his shot from the edge of the box come back off the post and you began to think it might be Star’s night. Just when it seemed the Islecroft side had weathered the storm Creetown forced a corner into stoppage time. Striker Rennie made up for his earlier miss by finding space and nodding home from 6 yards to send the match into extra time.

Both teams had players falling with cramp in the extra half hour but at last Star began to become a threat again. Indeed the two best chances in that period fell to the visitors late on, first when Milligan shaved the outside of the post with a fine strike from inside the box and seconds later substitute Connor Potts fired over with keeper McCaulay to beat. So it was on to penalties and the home side netted with four well taken spot kicks from Jones, Mitchell, Rennie and Adair but unfortunately Star’s first effort from Ross Hunter was saved by McCaulay and though Milligan and Williamson both scored, when Ewan Gourlay saw his effort hit the inside of McCaulay’s right hand post and fly across goal and out, it was game over.

Both sets of players have very little time to recover as they meet again in the biggest match of the South league season. The pitch certainly held up well during this match and hopefully it will be playable at the weekend with no more rain forecast. Victory for Star will see them clinch the league title on their return to South league football, but a home win will mean Star needs four points from their last two matches to be crowned champions. Game on.  

CREETOWN 1                                    DALBEATTIE STAR 1  aet  Creetown won 4-2 on penalties                                           

Rennie (90+1)                                  Williamson (33)

                                                               HT 0-1   Att. 100

Jones scored 1-0: Hunter saved 1-0: Mitchell scored 2-0: Milligan scored 2-1: Rennie scored 3-1:

Williamson scored 3-2: Adair scored 4-2: E Gourlay missed 4-2.

CREETOWN: McCaulay, Rogers, Murray, Richardson, Hughes (Adair 82), Lowe (Jones 82), Meagher, Dunn, Rennie, Mitchell, Fyfe (Agnew 67)

Subs not used: McCulloch, Hanlin, Whorlow

Yellow Cards: Rogers, Agnew

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, Bryson (Swan 51), Jamieson, C Watson, Williamson, E Gourlay, McConaghie (McKeeman 83), Meechan (Potts 58), Hunter, Milligan, Shaw (Whitty 83)

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Pietsch

Yellow Cards: Meechan, Jamieson

Ref: C Telfer

 Dalbeattie Star has kept their title aspirations firmly in their own hands after an excellent win over the only side to have beaten them in the league this season, Nithsdale Wanderers. They now travel to Creetown knowing a victory there on Saturday will clinch the title with two games to spare. However even with the worst case scenario, a Creetown win, they will need four points from those two games to still be crowned champions.

Wanderers travelled to Islecroft on Tuesday still on a high after lifting the Alba Cup on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Lochar Thistle and any hopes of them still suffering from a hangover were quickly thrown out the window as they showed straight from the kick off they were in the mood to throw a spanner in the Star works. Included in their line up were two very familiar faces, Steven Degnan and Scott Milligan, and they like their team mates were not here to do Star any favours. Leading the line for Nithsdale was Sean McKenzie who scored four goals when the two sides met at Sanquhar earlier in the season and he must have fancied his chances of adding to that tally when saw that Star had a number of first choice defenders out. But credit must go to the defence who were playing together for the first time, as each of them turned in a tremendous performance to not only keep McKenzie relatively quiet, but more importantly to keep a clean sheet.

In front of a very good crowd and in good playing conditions it was the home side that started on the front foot. They created a couple of half chances that came to nothing before McKenzie showed how dangerous he could be when from absolutely nowhere he fired in a fine left foot shot that Konar Pietsch did superbly well to touch round the post with his fingertips. This was just a wee reminder to Star, not that they needed one, that Wanderers posed a real threat. However most of the action was at the other end and the combination of Ross Hunter and Dale Milligan, who before this match had scored almost 60 goals between them this season, was beginning to seriously threaten the visitors goal. In the 14th minute the vital breakthrough came when Farrel O’Sullivan whipped in an excellent inswinging corner to the near post that flew into the net off the underside of the bar off the head of the unfortunate defender Ian Torrance. This settled the home side and the home crowd to a degree and they knew a second goal would be even better. In all honesty the game could have been over well before half time as the Wanderers goal led something of a charmed life with chance after chance going abegging. Just minutes after Star took the lead Declan Rogerson ran clean through, poked the ball past keeper Jamie Kerr but the ball trickled inches wide. Within seconds the man who scored almost 300 goals for Star, Scott Milligan, ran through but Pietsch saved well at his feet. The chances were coming thick and fast now and Charlie Watson and Dan Carmichael worked a clever short corner that ended with the youngster see his shot strike the crossbar. The crossbar came to Wanderers rescue a few minutes later when Rogerson’s cross found Milligan and this time Kerr touched his shot onto the frame of the goal. From the resultant corner there was an almighty stramash that ended when Milligan teed up Hunter some 6 yards from goal and he smashed his shot that Kerr somehow managed to block.

Carmichael was beginning to run the show now and McKenzie saw yellow for a crude challenge on the Star playmaker. Chances continued to be created and missed with Connor Potts firing inches wide on the half hour. Whether it was a combination of good goalkeeping or defending, or a lack of composure at times in front of goal, it looked like Star would have to settle for just one goal at the break. There had been a number of times when Star got themselves caught offside as Nithsdale played a high defensive line, but there was always the risk that the home side would eventually time their runs perfectly and that is what happened in the first minute of first half stoppage time. It was Hunter that broke the trap down the right wing and he crossed for Milligan who this time made no mistake from close range.

This goal proved to be crucial as it would have been a very nervy second half had Star gone into it with just a single goal lead. Wanderers came out for the second half and put Star under a lot of pressure. However the home side defended well as a unit and restricted the visitors to just a couple of chances. The first came just before the hour when Cameron Thom broke down the left and his well struck shot flew past the far post. A few minutes later Nithsdale had their big moment when they seemed sure to score inside the six yard box but somehow Star managed to survive and scramble the ball off their own line. You felt the home side had dodged a bullet then and Nithsdale’s chance had maybe gone. As they began to throw more men forward it was Star that looked the more likely to score next and they broke with numbers. Midway through the second half a fine turn by Hunter inside the box saw him set up Potts but he blazed his shot high over the bar. Seconds later O’Sullivan forced his way forward and his shot went through a sea of legs but flew past the far post. Three minutes from time Hunter again did well inside the area to create space for himself but Kerr did well to touch his powerful drive wide for a corner. With the final whistle approaching Milligan sprang the offside trap for once and he ran clear and slid the ball low past Kerr to complete the scoring and put the finishing touch to a fine result.

Next up for Star is a quick double header away to Creetown. With the league blockbuster coming up on Saturday it will be interesting to see both line ups for Thursdays cup semi final but whoever is picked for both sides, there will certainly no holding back. 

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                       NITHSDALE WANDERERS 0                      

Torrance og (14)

Milligan (45+1, 90+2)                   HT 2-0   Att. 193

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, Bryson, O'Sullivan, C Watson, Williamson, Summerbee, Potts (McConaghie 80), Carmichael, Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 66)

Subs not used: Meechan, E Gourlay, Swan, Whitty, Minto

Yellow Cards: None

NITHSDALE WANDERERS: Kerr, McCluskie, Torrance (K Bell 46), S Bell, Lawrie, Thom, Griffiths (Meechan 66), Kennedy, McKenzie, Milligan, Degnan

Subs not used: McLeod, West

Yellow Cards: McKenzie, McCluskie, Kennedy, Lawrie

Ref: J Brown

Star made sure they kept their title bid firmly in their own hands when they overcame a gutsy Upper Annandale side as well as a gale force wind, at a stormy New King Edward Park in Lockerbie. With four games left Star just need to keep winning but that is easier said than done. This late in the season even teams with little left to play for, want to end the year on a high and that makes them very dangerous, as was the case in this match.

Star travelled to Lockerbie with their defence decimated by injury but the boys that came in did very well in difficult circumstances and kept a well earned clean sheet. The home side won the toss and naturally chose to play with the 50mph plus wind in their back and immediately put Star under pressure. As difficult as it was for the Islecroft side to get out of their own half at times it was also difficult for Uppers to get any sort of control of the ball as time and time again it would run out of play on the plastic surface. The Moffat side looked most threatening from corners but even they were almost impossible to control at times as the wind began to make a mockery of the match. On the few occasions Star managed to get the ball down and not be blown off course, they managed to create the few chances there were in the opening period. You know how tricky the conditions were when even a player with the class and ability of Dan Carmichael struggled at times, but he created the first opening which Dale Milligan slipped wide at full stretch. In the 20th minute Connor Potts showed superb control and his shot from outside the box was touched over the bar by keeper Colin Bell. Midway through the half the home side had their first effort on goal when Usher burst through but his shot from just inside the box was wide of the far post. The big talking point of the first half came in the 25th minute when Usher and Adam Jamieson chased a ball over the top and when both players went down under a tangle of legs and the referee showed the unlucky defender a red card. It was an accidental coming together that Jamieson could do little to avoid, but from the touchline you could see why the referee gave the decision he did. Put it this way had it happened at the other end....

Manager Eddie Warwick re-jigged his side by bringing top scorer Ross Hunter back to join youngster Cammy Bryson in the centre of defence with Farrel O’Sullivan moving over to his more familiar full back position. Star settled into their new formation but both sides understandably struggled to cope with the wind. Three minutes from the break Uppers had by far their best chance when Declan Wallace was unmarked from an inswinging corner but his downward header from six yards bounced over the bar.

Despite being a man short there was still confidence at the break that Star would go on to victory especially with the wind now in their back. However they needed an early goal to settle any anxiety and that duly arrived six minutes after the re-start. O’Sullivan played a lovely free kick over the top to Milligan who timed his run to perfection and was well onside. Dale took a brilliant first touch that set his up perfectly and he slipped the ball past the onrushing Bell to give Star a crucial lead. Four minutes later and Milligan scored his and Star’s second when he was played in by Carmichael and the forward enjoyed a fortunate ricochet off keeper Bell and was able to walk the ball into the empty net. In the 64th minute the points were made safe when Milligan this time turned provider by setting up Declan Rogerson and his sweetly struck right foot shot from some 25 yards skimmed over the artificial surface and nestled into Bell’s bottom right hand corner.

Both sides made a number of substitutions after this and the game played out without any more goals or incidents. For Star there is no rest between now and the end of the season and next up is a trip to fellow title chasers Creetown in the Tweedie Cup. Although the league will always be the priority for both sides, neither will want to give the other a psychological edge on Tuesday night so it will surely be another cracker.

UPPER ANNANDALE 0                  DALBEATTIE STAR 3                     

                                                              Milligan (51, 55)

                                                              D Rogerson (64)

         HT 0-0   Att. 57

UPPER ANNANDALE: C Bell, Carcu (Myatt 76), A Bell, Wallace, Et Notman, Thompson (Ew Notman 64), Johnston, Webster, Usher, Swan (Nelson 64), Proudfoot

Subs not used:

Yellow Cards: Et Notman, Carcu

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, Swan (McConaghie 71), Jamieson, C Watson, Bryson, O'Sullivan, Potts (Whitty 83), Carmichael, Hunter (McKeeman 83)), Milligan (Shaw 64), D Rogerson (Meechan 71)

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Devlin

Yellow Cards: Milligan, Hunter

Red Card: Jamieson (25)

Ref: C Irving

Star missed out on the first piece of silverware of the South season as they lost out to Lochar Thistle by the odd goal in five in a cup final classic at Palmerston. Like last weeks eight goal thriller at Wilson Park, this match was an excellent advert for football in this region but unfortunately for Star the cup would not be leaving Dumfries come the end of the match. The result was a bitter blow for the Islecroft side as they tasted defeat for the first time in over five months, but a poor first half proved to be just too much of a mountain to climb in the second. Despite the massive disappointment there is still so much to play for this season, including our number one priority, the league title. But if the team can re-produce their second half performance in the remaining games then we will not have a problem, but if we re-produce the first half,,,well we won’t go there.

Star arrived at Palmerston with Callum Summerbee joining the ever growing injury list and Dan Carmichael was also unavailable. There was a large and noisy crowd at Palmerston and they provided a superb atmosphere for both sets of players who looked well up for the battle ahead come kick off. In last weeks league meeting Star managed to concede inside four minutes so they would have been gutted to fall behind in this cup final in just over 60 seconds. A ball was played down the left channel that the Star defence seemed in control of but Lochar striker Peter Mendy somehow managed to nick the ball on the goalline and square the ball to Lewis Todd who had the simple task of knocking the ball home. It was the perfect start for the Dumfries side and former Star striker Mendy would go on to cause havoc in the opening 45 minutes with his pace and power. He was ably assisted by Robbie Hogg and those two in particular were a constant nuisance to the Star rearguard in that first half. In the 5th minute Mendy broke clear down the right but Konar Pietsch did well to come out and save with his legs. Star’s first real effort came in the 9th minute when a Ewan Gourlay cross from the right found Adam Jamieson ghosting in at the back post but his volley was comfortably saved by Jake Gemmell. Minutes later Dale Milligan managed to create a rare opening but was clipped right on the edge of the box as he burst through.

Just when you thought Star might be getting themselves into the match Lochar doubled their lead when Mendy broke down the left and scored with a fine drive that went in off the back post. It was a nightmare start for the Islecroft side and would require a huge turnaround if they were to get themselves back into the match. They slowly began to get a grip of the midfield with Charlie Watson the pick of the players and he would go on to have an outstanding match. Up front though Ross Hunter and Dale Milligan worked tirelessly but found the Lochar defence a hard nut to crack. Time and again Star would work some good possession but it would grind to a halt in the final third due to a poor final ball or some strong defending. At the other end though Messrs Mendy and Hogg continue to cause all sorts of problems. A good move down the right created a chance at the back post for Blair Steele but he mis-hit his half volley and the chance was gone. For the first time in the match Star began to exert some pressure but the Lochar defence was giving nothing away and the only time Gemmell was called into action was to comfortably save a few free kicks from Connor Potts. With half time approaching you felt Star had to get in at the break to re-group without any more damage to the scoreline but with five minutes remaining Mendy rose highest at the back post to head home an inswinging corner to give Lochar an astonishing 3-0 interval lead.

In last weeks league meeting Star twice trailed by two goals but still managed to get themselves back into it, but if they were to repeat it in this game then it would require a monumental turnaround in form and fortune. There was no change in personnel from both teams as the second half began as Star looked to perform the greatest of all escapes. Suddenly though the Lochar front line did not look as threatening as Star controlled the midfield with Watson pulling all the strings. However the Lochar defence still held firm and Gemmell began to produce a man of the match performance. In the 56th minute a fine move down the left saw the ball cut back to Hunter who seemed sure to score but his side footed effort shaved the outside of the post and you began to wonder if it would be one of those nights. Despite this Star continued to push forward forcing a number of corners but the ball just wouldn’t fall nicely for a red and black jersey.

In the 64th minute Star at last got the lifeline they craved when they missed another good chance but this time the ball was driven back across goal and there was Declan Rogerson at the back post to score with a low left foot shot. It was one way traffic now and five minutes later Rogerson was inches away from making it 3-2 when he got on the end of a Hunter cross only to see his header come back off the post with Gemmell well beaten. Gemmell then produced the save of the night as he produced an outstanding reflex save to keep out Jamieson’s volley with his foot and soon after he saved superbly when Potts was clean through. Star needed a goal desperately to set up a grandstand finish and with eight minutes remaining it duly arrived. A short corner on the left wing was curled in and Russell Williamson timed his near post run to perfection and his downward header flew past Gemmell. For the remaining minutes Star threw everything but the kitchen sink at Lochar but the Dumfries sides defence somehow held firm. The one clear chance that came Star’s way fell to young Olly Meechan who worked the space well but under severe pressure he lifted the ball over the despairing lunge of a Lochar defender, over keeper Gemmell and unfortunately over the crossbar.

So Lochar held out and lifted the League Cup for the first time in their history and congratulations to them for that, There is a number of former Star players and coaches in the Lochar ranks, so well done to them in particular. For Star we pick ourselves up and prepare for the biggest game of our season when Abbey Vale visit Islecroft on Tuesday night. This was our first defeat in this competition since 2010 as we won the cup three years in a row before going on to the Lowland League. As we said before there is still so much to play for and this talented group of players deserve to lift some silverware this season, but you don’t get anything handed to you on a plate in this game, you have to go out and earn it yourself. There was a tremendous support for both teams in this cup final and it would be great to see as many as the Star fans back at Islecroft on Tuesday to support the team the way they did at Palmerston.

MON THE STAR!!! 

DALBEATTIE STAR 2                       LOCHAR THISTLE 3

D Rogerson (64)                            Todd (2)

Williamson (82)                            Mendy (14, 40)

         HT 0-3   Att. 800

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, C Watson, O'Sullivan, Williamson, E Gourlay, D Taylor (Shaw 79), Potts, Jamieson (Meechan 75), Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson

Subs not used: McConaghie, Swan, G Gourlay, Whitty, Minto

Yellow Cards: Potts

LOCHAR THISTLE: Gemmell, Coates (Craig 62), Nish, Nicholson (Woodward 77), Copland, McKeand, Steele (Turner 56), Todd, Mendy, Hogg, Zygadlo (Mullen 56)

Subs not used: McVinnie, Cairnie, Maxwell

Yellow Cards: Steele, Todd, Hogg, Gemmell

Ref: S Sutherland

Dalbeattie Star's long winning run of 14 games came to an end after they shared eight goals with Lochar Thistle in a match that was a great advert for South of Scotland football. The last team to stop Star from winning was indeed Lochar, when the two sides drew 2-2 in the corresponding fixture at Islecroft back in October. After that match both teams probably felt they should have won and that was probably the same feeling for both sides after this encounter. 

Star arrived at Wilson Park minus the injured Luke McMurtrie which saw Charlie Watson move to full back and in came Dan Carmichael who had made such a tremendous impact on the team in the two matches he played as a trialist at the end of 2023. A worrying trend in Star's last few matches has been how they have got off to a slow start and unfortunately that continued at a windswept Wilson Park, as inside the opening 8 seconds Marcus Zygadlo found himself clean through on goal but Konar Pietsch came out and saved well with his legs. The home side were right up for this match and adapted much better to the tricky overhead and underfoot conditions as Star began very much on the back foot. As early as the third minute David Taylor picked up a yellow card and the centre back's afternoon did not improve as he had to be substituted midway through the opening period with  a recurrence of a rib injury. In the 4th minute the home side opened the scoring when a free kick from the left touchline was met by a stooping Brian Mullen and he sent his header high past Pietsch giving the keeper no chance at all. It was the perfect start for Thistle and they kept the pressure on, not allowing Star to settle into any rhythm. In the 9th minute defender Liam Nish had a good chance but his header was weak and a minute later Star had their first piece of good play which ended with Dale Milligan bursting through and firing past keeper Jake Gemmell but the goal was chalked off for offside. But the majority of the action was in the other half and in the 12th minute Lochar doubled their lead when Robbie Hogg's inswinging corner deceived the Star defence and went went in off the far post. Hogg had a brief spell at Islecroft a few years ago and he was the player at the heart of the majority of Lochar's good play and caused the visiting defence countless problems.

Despite the torrid start, whenever Star got their passing game together they looked threatening but those instances were few and far between in the first half. One such move came seconds after they fell two behind and ended with the ball flashing across the Lochar six yard line but there were no takers. The Islecroft side slowly began to get a small foothold in the match with Carmichael's influence beginning to grow and midway through the half they pulled a goal back. A well worked move down the right ended with Connor Potts picking out Milligan with an accurate cross and he headed high past Gemmell from close range. Anyone thinking this goal would see Star settle down and dominate would be disappointed as the home side responded well and continued to push forward at every opportunity and just before the half hour they restored their two goal advantage. Unfortunately for Star it came yet again direct from a corner kick, this time from the opposite wing and this time taken by Liam Nish. So inside half an hour Star trailed by three goals to one having conceded from three set plays and all three goals were definitely preventable. It could have been even worse minutes later when another corner was poorly defended and this time it fell to another Star old boy, Lewis Todd, and thankfully for the league leaders he volleyed over from close range. In the 37th minute Star kept themselves very much in the match when they reduced the leeway yet again when a sublime first time cross on the volley from Carmichael picked out Ross Hunter at the back post and his clever diving header flew past Gemmell. This was a huge boost to Star and minutes later Milligan fired inches wide with a 20 yard drive but before the half time whistle the home side came within inches of scoring again. Zygadlo hit a fine drive that Pietsch did well to get his fingertips to and touch the ball onto the post before being cleared to safety.

So come half time, over the balance of play Star would have been pleased to get in trailing by just one goal and with the elements now in their back and with a chance to regroup, they would be looking forward to the second half to right a few wrongs. After almost conceding in the first few seconds of the first half Star did the same in the second when Todd ran clear but Pietsch came to the rescue with a good save. Star though for the first time in the match began to look more like their old selves and began to produce some good spells of pressure. Milligan went on a good run down the left and squared the ball across to Hunter six yards from goal and he seemed sure to score but somehow he failed to connect. It was a rare miss from Star's top scorer but the ball may have taken a bobble as he was about to shoot so we will give him the benefit of the doubt. Despite Star beginning to get on top, the home side were still a threat on the break and yet another ex Star player Peter Mendy had a chance but could only knock the ball wide at the back post. On the hour Star did have the ball in the back of the net when Hunter bundled the ball in but was penalised for jumping in to the keeper with the ball in mid air. Gemmell then produced a reflex save though he may not have known too much about it as he blocked Milligan's header with his shoulder. Midway through the second half you began to wonder if it would be one of those days for Star when Hunter met Farrel O'Sullivan's corner but watched in dismay as his free header smacked off the post and rebounded to a defender. In the 73rd minute Watson produced a goal saving tackle when he slid in to stop Hogg from scoring again and the importance of that challenge was highlighted when Star at last levelled a minute or so later.

With the goals raining in during the first half it was strange to think it took half an hour to get the first in the second period. Milligan made a good run down the right and as he entered the penalty area he knocked the ball past Craig Adamson and was sent flying. The veteran defender would probably argue he could do little to avoid the contact but that kind of challenge is a foul anywhere else on the park and the penalty was rightly awarded. Up stepped Hunter who sent Gemmell the wrong way and it seemed to be now a case of could Star find a winner in the last 15 minutes. With eight minutes left Star took the lead for the first time and it looked like would snatch all three points. Milligan again was causing the home defence all kinds off problems and he cut inside on to his right foot but saw his drive beat Gemmell but it come back off the keepers right hand post. The ball was quickly recycled and Carmichael's cross to the back post was met by the head of substitute Declan Rogerson and he planted the ball into the back of the net much to the delight of the Dalbeattie contingent. With time running out Star looked like seeing the game out relatively comfortably as Lochar pushed for an equaliser but never really threatened. Then in the first minute of stoppage time Star conceded a needless free kick in the middle of the park. The ball was swung towards the far post but the visitors failed to clear their lines and it eventually fell to Mendy who drilled the ball low into the net from a few yards out, as Lochar scored for a fourth time from a set play.

So a disappointing end to an enthralling 90 minutes for Star but if truth be told neither side deserved to lose this match so a draw was about right. This ends Star's fantastic winning run but they still remain in an unbeaten run and in a good place with regard to the title race. The two sides now get to do it all again in their next match as they meet in the first cup final of the South season on Friday night at Palmerston. If they put on half as good a show as they put on here then we are in for a treat.     

LOCHAR THISTLE 4                                  DALBEATTIE STAR 4

Mullen (4)                                                   Milligan (22)

Hogg (12)                                                    Hunter (37, 75pen)

Nish (29)                                                     Rogerson (82)

Mendy (90+1)                                            HT 3-2   Att. 155

LOCHAR THISTLE: Gemmell, McKeand, Nish, Nicholson (Craig 90), Adamson, Copland, Mullen (Turner 82), Todd, Mendy, Hogg, Zygadlo

Subs: Bertram, McVinnie, Irving, Wallace, Cairnie

Yellow Cards: Copland, Adamson, Hogg

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, C Watson, O'Sullivan, Williamson, Summerbee, D Taylor (E Gourlay 23), Potts (D Rogerson 70), Carmichael, Hunter, Milligan, Jamieson (Meechan 82)

Subs: McConaghie, Shaw, Bryson, Ferguson

Yellow Cards: D Taylor, C Watson

Ref: B Templeton

Star made it 14 wins in a row after a well earned victory at St. Mary's Park. After a tight first half Star's patience paid off big style as they ran in five second half goals and their mood was even better at the final whistle as they learned of league leaders Newton Stewart's defeat at Abbey Vale. However the other title contenders Creetown won by the odd goal in five at Nithsdale Wanderers to remain very much in the hunt. 

Star travelled to Kirkcudbright minus top scorer Ross Hunter who was unavailable and he was replaced by Charlie Watson in the only change to the starting line up that clinched a place in the League Cup final on Tuesday night. Traditionally St. Mary's Park has been a very difficult ground for Dalbeattie Star to visit and the team arrived expecting this match to be no different. The home side have had a tough time of it this season but they were very much up for the battle ahead and in the first half in particular they made difficult for the Islecroft side. But an early deflected effort from Connor Potts gave Star the perfect start but try as they might, they couldn't add a second in the opening period that would have given them a bit of breathing space. The woodwork came to Saints' rescue soon after as Watson smashed a header off the crossbar and minutes later Adam Jamieson rattled the same part of the framework with an excellent 20 yard volley. Eight minutes from the break there was the worrying sight of Luke McMurtrie pulling up with a hamstring injury. The flying full backs marauding play has been a big part of the teams success this season and it is hoped the injury will not be as bad as first feared when it gets checked out this week.

The half time whistle came with Star leading by just the one goal but in the second half the shooting boots were on and it was very much a different game altogether. They had to wait until the 56th minute for goal number two but it was well worth the wait as Jamieson scored with a sublime lob from 20 yards after good link up play with Dale Milligan. In the 72nd minute the points were all but sealed when Olly Meechan scored with a terrific finish from a tight angle. Three goals in the last eight minutes or so put a nice gloss finish to the match as Star went in for the kill. Cammy Shaw bagged his second goal in a week when he smashed home a rebound after keeper Danny Wither could only parry a Meechan shot. Seconds later Potts scored his second of the day and it was another quality strike firing into the top corner from outside the box. The scoring ended in the 88th minute when Milligan got his name on the scoresheet and though it may not have been as pleasing to the eye as some of the other goals, Dale will not care a jot as they all count the same.

So another good day at the office for Star as we head towards the business end of the season. Next up is a Lochar Thistle double header including a League Cup Final at Palmerston Park a week on Friday. However before that is a vital league match at Wilson Park, which will be our first ever visit there. The old saying of taking one game at a time has served Star well this season and the league match will certainly be getting 100% attention from everyone at Islecroft. Every game between now and the end of the season falls into the crucial category and it is great to see the players and management relish every moment.  

ST. CUTHBERT WANDERERS 0            DALBEATTIE STAR 6

                                                                        Potts (9, 83)

                                                                        Jamieson (56)

                                                                        Meechan (72)

                                                                        Shaw (82)

                                                                        Milligan (88)

                                                                        HT 0-1   Att.

ST. CUTHBERT WANDERERS: Wither, Fadun, McFayden, Hall, Osaretin, Ntwali, Sarr, Wilson, Daniel, Caygill, Keenan

Subs: MacLachlan, Kane, Gibson, Nwabuzor, Thomson, Harper, Carruthers.

Yellow Cards: None

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie (Bryson 37), O'Sullivan, Williamson (Meechan 64), Summerbee, D Taylor (E Gourlay 74), Potts, Jamieson, C Watson (McConaghie 74), Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 64).

Subs not used: Minto, Whitty

Yellow Cards: None

Ref: C Livingstone

Man of the Match: Callum Summerbee



Many thanks to Les Snowdon for the photos for this match.

Star made it safely through to their first cup final of the season as they beat a dogged Upper Annandale side at a wet and windswept Islecroft stadium. It was a far from vintage performance from the team but they scored the goals at good times in the match to ensure there were no nervy moments for anyone to endure. Indeed the visitors probably had a lot more possession of the ball than even they would have imagined pre-match, but they were unable to penetrate a resolute home defence which meant a fairly quiet night for keeper Konar Pietsch.

Star lined up with eight changes to the starting XI that played at Lochmaben at the weekend in front of a very healthy crowd considering how bad the overhead conditions were. Thankfully the underfoot conditions were a lot better and credit must go to Andy Davies and his team for getting the playing surface in such good nick. The home side kicked off playing down wind and down the slope and inside two minutes Dale Milligan had half a chance before the ball was scrambled clear for a corner. It didn’t take long for the opening goal to arrive and it couldn’t have come in a more straightforward fashion. Farrel O’Sullivan’s inswinging corner from the right was met by the forehead of Ross Hunter some six yards from goal at the back post and there was only ever going to be one outcome. The Moffat side must have wondered how such a prolific goalscorer could be relatively unmarked so close to goal but Star couldn’t care a jot and they were one up and well on their way.

Star continued to push forward at every opportunity though it was difficult to get any fluency going in the horrible conditions, but they were the same for both sides and Uppers were certainly not there just to make up the numbers. They worked their socks off and made life difficult for the home side and forced a few corners and free kicks that the home defence dealt with comfortably. Indeed the sight of keeper Pietsch coming off his line and making clean catches must have been very re-assuring for his team mates as well as his own supporters. If Uppers were disappointed at the way they conceded the opening goal then their mood wouldn’t be helped when they fell further behind in less than 20 minutes in almost identical fashion. Again it came from an O’Sullivan corner to the back post, this time from the left, and there he found David Taylor unmarked and though his header wasn’t the cleanest of connections there was enough power in it to bounce over a despairing defender on the line and nestle into the back of the net. It was the perfect start for Star and though they struggled to create many openings for a third they rarely looked like conceding. On the few occasions they did get their passing game going they did create and just before the break Adam Jamieson shot just wide after a good move down the left.

This Star side has shown they can turn on the style when they need to but they have also shown another side to their character, as they are more than prepared to roll up their sleeves and battle whenever the need arises, and this was certainly one of those occasions. As we moved into the second half the next goal was always going to be crucial and Luke McMurtrie went oh so close in the 51^st minute when his powerful strike from a tight angle smashed of the corner of the bar/goalpost. McMurtrie’s evening would end in some pain and discomfort as he was caught by a late challenge from Robi Carcu that luckily for the winger was missed by the officials, who like most people in the ground followed the ball and missed the challenge as he tried to block the full backs cross. But after the match the defender was in good spirits though his leg was a bit of a mess.

The important third goal of the match duly arrived just after the hour and it went to the home side. A swift break saw Dale Milligan play in substitute Olly Meechan who had only been on the park a couple of minutes but he was halted by a superb sliding challenge. The ball though couldn’t have fallen to a worse player for the visitors as it fell perfectly to Hunter and made no mistake to all but end the tie. It was now a case of seeing the match out safely for the Islecroft side which they managed to do although Uppers continued to press, but they just couldn’t carve a decent opening for their strikers.

So Star make it through to their first cup final of the season where they will face the winners of Newton Stewart and Lochar Thistle which is being played on 13^th March. The final will take place at Palmerston Park on Friday 29^th of March and there should be a good turnout for one of the showpiece events in the South football calendar. We now turn our attention back to league business and seven of our next eight matches are in the league beginning with a trip to Kirkcudbright on Saturday. St Marys Park has always been a difficult ground for the Star to visit in the past and despite Saints’ lowly position this year, no one at Islecroft is expecting anything other than a very tough match this weekend. There is currently great competition for all the positions in the current Star line up, so whoever does gets in the starting line up knows they have to perform well as there is a good player waiting in the wings to take their place. Manager Eddie Warwick has done a fine job recently rotating his squad and keeping this winning run going, though he has always stated the league is the priority, so it will be interesting to see what line up he goes with on Saturday. One thing for sure is whoever he picks, they will be right up for it and will of course be looking to strengthen our position near the top of the league.

MON THE STAR!

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                 UPPER ANNANDALE 0

Hunter (8, 64)

D Taylor (19)                              HT 2-0   Att. 185

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie (Swan 79), O'Sullivan (E Gourlay 70), Williamson, Summerbee, D Taylor, Potts (Whitty 79), Jamieson (Meechan 62), Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 62)

Subs not used: Minto, McConaghie

Yellow Cards: O'Sullivan

UPPER ANNANDALE: Porteous, Thompson (Nelson 79), Bell, Wallace, Harvey, D Carcu, R Carcu, Johnstone, Webster (Myett 70), Pagen (Swan 70), Proudfoot

Subs not used:

Yellow Cards: Proudfoot, Pagan, D Carcu, Harvey

Ref: A Halliday

Man of the Match: Russell Williamson

Star made it through to the quarter final of the Challenge Cup but were made to battle all the way by a determined Lochmaben side and the reward is a trip to Gretna FC 2008. Conditions were extremely difficult for both teams at a blustery, freezing Whitehills Park so it was always going to be a case of rolling the sleeves up and matching your opponent stride for stride. With a busy schedule coming up (eight games in April) manager Eddie Warwick kept his promise of freshening up his line up by making a large number of changes but despite this the players settled quickly into the match.

The home side won the toss and elected to play with the wind in their back but even that would prove difficult as time and again the ball would simply run out of play. Underfoot conditions were just as tricky as the overhead ones but as early as the 4th minute the Star attack combined well and ended with Ross Hunter teeing up Cammy Shaw but his shot was well saved by home keeper Tom Cruickshank. In the 10th minute Lochmaben took the lead when a corner from the right was whipped in to the near post and Kieran Brown managed to bundle the ball home from close range. It was a dream start for the home side and two minutes later keeper Robbie Minto tipped over a curling free kick from full back Douglas Simpson as Lochmaben began to fancy their chances of producing a shock. Star though weathered the storm to a degree and did their best to get the ball on the deck and play their passing game as best they could. In the 18th minute a good move ended with Hunter setting up Adam Jamieson and he slipped the ball past Cruickshank but the ball went agonisingly inches past the far post.

Just after the half hour though the visitors equalised when another good move saw Shaw do well to hold the ball up for Callum Summerbee who shifted the ball onto his right foot before firing past Cruickshank from just inside the box for a fine goal. Into first half stoppage time and debutant Euan Whitty showed some superb skill before shooting narrowly over from 20 yards and the teams went into the break on level terms. The second half began with Connor Potts on for Ross Hunter who picked up a bizarre yellow card and was probably removed before it got any worse. Potts made an immediate impact and five minutes after the re-start he squared the ball across the six yard line and Shaw's effort was somehow cleared off the line. Five minutes later Ewan Gourlay crossed in a terrific free kick from the right touchline but the ball somehow evaded everyone in the centre and went out for a goal kick. Minutes later Shaw had another good effort from outside the box but yet again Cruickshank produced a top save. From the resultant corner the ball was sent to the back post where Potts did really well to flick the ball back into play and there was Shaw to score with a powerful volley into the roof of the net through a crowd of players.

Star continued to control the majority of the match but were unable to add to their tally and give themselves some breathing space. The home side were always in the tie and always a threat from set plays. However the Star defence coped well and keeper Robbie Minto was rarely troubled and they saw out the match with relative ease. As said before the reward for this win is a trip to Gretna but there is a lot of football to be played before that match arrives. Next up is our first semi final final of the season as Upper Annandale visit Islecroft on Tuesday night for a place in the final of the League Cup. Every match is huge between now and the end of the season and it would be great to see a big turn out for the boys so tell your pals to get along to Islecroft on Tuesday night. (Please note the kick off is 7.30pm)

LOCHMABEN 1                            DALBEATTIE STAR 2

Brown (10)                                  Summerbee (32)

                                                         Shaw (59)

                                                         HT 1-1 Att. 64

LOCHMABEN: Cruickshank, Johnstone, Simpson, Foster, Hyslop, Wiggett, Emerson, Ramsay, C Pollock (Willis 80), Brown, Rae

Subs not used: I Pollock, Jackson

Yellow Cards: Brown, Simpson, Pollock

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, Swan (D Taylor 80), Summerbee (O'Sullivan 65), McConaghie (Williamson 80), E Gourlay (McMurtrie 65), G Gourlay, Meechan, Whitty, Hunter (Potts 46), Shaw, Jamieson

Subs not used: Milligan, Ferguson

Yellow Cards: Swan, Summerbee, Hunter, Milligan

Ref: S Sutherland

Man of the Match: Olly Meechan

Star made it a very impressive eleven wins in a row in all competitions with this workmanlike performance against Mid Annandale. This was the Lockerbie sides third visit to Islecroft this season and in the previous two cup ties they made life very difficult for the Star, so there was no question that this was always going to be another tricky match.

With Konar Pietsch serving the first of a two match suspension, Robbie Minto was between the sticks and having performed so well whenever he has been called up, there were no worries from the home fans on that score. The only other change from last weeks starting line up saw Russell Williamson back after suffering a head knock a couple of weeks ago, which meant Adam Jamieson was pushed further forward in place of Declan Rogerson.

Both sides went on the front foot early but it was the home side that opened the scoring in the 7th minute. A brilliant tackle by Williamson won good possession for Star which led to Jamieson setting up top scorer Dale Milligan and he made no mistake. Despite the perfect start Star was unable to build on it and the visitors kept the deficit at one. On the half hour Milligan looked sure to score his second only to be denied by a fine defensive block. Minutes later a tame effort Williamson was spilled by keeper Dominic Duffy but he managed to recover in time and soon after Luke McMurtrie drilled the ball across goal but there were no takers.

At the break the scoreline remained 1-0 and the match was still very much in the balance. Star knew a second goal would give them the breathing space and remove any nervousness that may creep in if things remained as tight as they were and within seconds of the re-start that crucial goal arrived from a very predictable source. Yet again McMurtrie was the provider down the right and Ross Hunter was the man in the right place to score number two in the centre. Five minutes later it was almost three but Hunter was inches off target when through on goal but on the hour there was a warning when Minto pulled off a good save from Mark McQuade to keep it 2-0. Despite this Star looked the more likely side to score next and in the 72nd minute Hunter's header from a Connor Potts cross came back off the post. With five minutes left substitute Cammy Shaw saw his header cleared off the line but seconds later the match took a strange twist for the home fans when Mids pulled a goal back through Garry O'Hanlon and all of a sudden we were in for a nervous last five minutes or so. Thankfully there would be no further scares and indeed Star restored their two goal advantage in the 89th minute as Olly Meechan was slipped through and he unselfishly passed the ball to Ross Hunter to score his second of the day and seal the points.

Next week we begin our SCFA Challenge Cup campaign with a trip to Lochmaben as we look to extend our winning run to twelve.   

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                  MID ANNANDALE 1

Milligan (7)                                  O'Hanlon (86)

Hunter (46, 89)

                                                         HT 1-0 Att. 134

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, McMurtrie (Swan 77), O'Sullivan, Williamson (Meechan 77), Summerbee, D Taylor (E Gourlay 64), Potts, McConaghie (C Watson 54), Hunter, Milligan, Jamieson (Shaw 64)

Subs not used: Bryson, Ferguson

Yellow Cards: D Taylor, Hunter, Shaw

MID ANNANDALE: Duffy, Peat, Newbould, Smith, O'Hanlon, Jackson, Harley, Johnston, McQuade, Hammond, Wagner

Subs: Collins, Murray, Leesing, Rae

Yellow Cards: Peat, Johnston, Smith

Ref: K Whalen

Man of the Match: Callum Summerbee

Thanks to Bobby Geddes for the photos.

Star won through to the semi final of the Tweedie Cup after knocking out holders Newton Stewart following an epic tie at Blairmount Park. Everything that could have gone wrong for the Islecroft side did, yet the team still managed to dig deep and somehow find a way to deservedly win the match. They have now won their last ten matches in a row and you could make a good argument that this one is the pick of the bunch. From conceding home advantage, and going down to ten men inside 20 minutes of the match, to then falling behind, the players showed tremendous character and ability to refuse to give up and claw their way back into the game before going on to win the tie.

As we know the Islecroft pitch took a battering as Star beat Creetown last week, so to ensure this match went ahead the club decided it was better to give up home advantage and play the match at Blairmount Park, than have another postponement. This decision was not taken lightly as Newton Stewart away is one of the most difficult matches facing any South team as they have such a good home record and it is safe to say that the locals certainly like to get behind their side.

Star travelled along the A75 minus the unavailable Charlie Watson and Russell Williamson who suffered a head knock the week before so was given extra time to fully recover, so in came Sam McConaghie and Adam Jamieson to the starting line up. When the two sides met at the same venue in the league back in November, an astonishing six goals were scored in a pulsating first half. This match though had a much cagier beginning as both teams took time to suss each other out. The visitors dominated possession without creating whilst the home side used a more direct route to try and utilise the pace, power and deadly finishing of top striker Robert Middleton. However both defences were very much on top in the early stages of the match before the game took a strange twist in the 20th minute. A ball over the top caught out the Star defence and Aaron Drysdale ran clean through on goal. Star keeper Konar Piestch came charging out of his goal to block Drysdale's lob and once he was fully committed there was no going back. Pietsch though was beaten by the lob that bounced, hit the top of the crossbar and went over the top. Unfortunately the keeper's momentum saw him completely wipe out the Newton Stewart player and there were few complaints when the referee showed a straight red card. There was no malice in the challenge whatsoever but it was reckless and dangerous and thankfully Drysdale was able to continue following treatment.

Adam Jamieson was the unlucky player that was sacrificed to allow sub keeper Robbie Minto to come on and it took Star a few minutes to get used to there new formation. But once they did they again had the majority of possession and at times you would never have known they were playing with a man short. The home side began to rely on set plays as they failed to make use of their numerical advantage much to the frustration of some of their midfielders who time and again would be forced to watch balls sailing over their heads. From a corner though they went close when Luke McMurtrie was forced to clear with a header but minutes later Star had their first real chance of the match. A fine move set up Ross Hunter just inside the penalty and his effort was well saved by former Star keeper Euan Drysdale who did well to get up and block from point blank range to deny Connor Potts with the rebound. Star went even closer a minute later when they cut open the home defence and Dale Milligan clipped the ball over the onrushing Drysdale but the ball drifted agonisingly wide of the far post. In the 37th minute what already looked like an uphill struggle took another bad turn when the home side opened the scoring. Robbie Thomson whipped in a fine free kick from the left wing that found Middleton who had stolen a yard on his marker and his glancing header flew high past Minto giving the keeper no chance. This was another setback for the team but as we have seen so often this season, they more often than not take it on the chin and find a way to solve whatever problems come their way. Half time arrived soon after with Star a goal and a man down and with it all to do, even though the goal had come against the run of play. Despite all this there was still a quiet air of confidence about the side that they could still come back and get the job done.

Ten man Star came out for the second half and immediately went on the front foot and they were rewarded for their enterprise with a superb equaliser in the 50th minute. Another good passing move released McMurtrie down the right wing and there was simply no catching him. He fired in an excellent near post cross that found Hunter and he did what he does best by volleying the ball high past Drysdale. You could tell by the way all the players celebrated the goal that they knew how important it was and there was a steely determination from all of them to see the job through. Just before the hour another fine move ended with Milligan firing wide but a minute later a ball over the top set Middleton on his way but his right foot effort from inside the box produced a top save from Minto. In the 62nd minute ten man Star took a deserved lead when Hunter was flattened by a high challenge from Thomson and the referee pointed to the spot. Keeper Drysdale guessed the right way but Hunter's shot had the accuracy and power to beat him and incredibly Star now led 2-1. Everyone knew the Creesiders would not go down without a fight but they struggled to create clear cut chances despite having an extra man. Star meanwhile showed a great calmness in possession and played the clock down well. The home side launched a number of crosses into the Star penalty area but the visitors coped. They were particularly dangerous from corners as the deliveries tended to be right on the button but Star defended them superbly. The one half chance the home side did create came in the second minute of stoppage time when Middleton found space beyond the back post but his header was a difficult one and Minto saved comfortably. The final whistle was blown a few minutes later to roars of joy on and off the pitch from the Star contingent.

So Star go through to another semi final where they will face a home tie against Abbey Vale. This result and performance seemed to carry more significance than others considering everything that had occurred in the previous 90 minutes. Some huge hurdles were thrown in front of the players in this game but yet again they came up with all the right answers especially against a top side like Newton Stewart. Right through the side there is ability in abundance and that coupled with a strong mentality is a lethal combination. We all know momentum is a huge thing in any sport and the determination from the team to keep their winning. run going, has to be admired. We could go through the whole team and see that every player played their part and contributed to a memorable victory.

We are back on league duty next week as Mid Annandale visit Islecroft. They have already caused us problems this season so we cannot afford to become complacent, but with this set of players and this management team, there is no chance that will ever be allowed to creep in.

DALBEATTIE STAR 2                  NEWTON STEWART 1

Hunter (50, 62pen)                  Middleton (37)

                                                         HT 0-1 Att. 143

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, McConaghie, Summerbee, D Taylor, Potts (E Gourlay 78), Jamieson (Minto 20), Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson

Subs not used: Shaw, Meechan, Swan, G Gourlay, Whitty

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards: Pietsch (20)

NEWTON STEWART: E Drysdale, A Drysdale, Hughan, Service, Brown, Moffat (Mann 74), Thomson (R Drysdale 88), Whyte, Middleton, McDonald (McClymont 59), Marshall

Subs not used: Atherton, McKeand, Rodger, Thorburn

Yellow Cards: Brown

Ref: B Templeton

Man of the Match: Sam McConaghie

It was Star that came out on top in what was possibly the biggest match of the South of Scotland League so far this season. But everyone from a Dalbeattie viewpoint was quick to point out that nothing had been won and that there is still a long way to go with many twists and turns, before any prizes are handed out. The Islecroft side is handily placed but with eight matches remaining there are still a number of very difficult matches to overcome, none more so than a return trip to Castle Cary Park. Despite the result in this match Creetown showed why they had been unbeaten in the league up until this game and they will be even more determined than ever to claw back the four point deficit they currently trail Star by.

There was a huge build up to this meeting and for once the match lived up to the hype. Unfortunately Mother Nature wasn't kind to this area as we were bombarded by heavy rain for almost all of the 90 minutes. The Islecroft pitch had passed an early morning inspection and unfortunately the torrential rain forecast for after the match arrived early. The pitch did cut up badly during the game but there was thankfully no surface water and both sets of players deserve a huge amount of praise for the entertainment they provided for the near 200 crowd in appalling overhead and underfoot conditions.

Star boss Eddie Warwick welcomed back Konar Pietsch, Luke McMurtrie and Dale Milligan to the starting line up as well as Ross Hunter who had been out injured for three weeks, and it would be the Star number nine who would have the biggest impact on the match. It was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides and they were very much on the front foot from the word go as they adapted to the conditions better. They forced three early corners that were well dealt with by the home defence and in the 8th minute they had a fine chance to open the scoring but Harry Mitchell fired wide from a great position. Star's first serious attack came just minutes later when they worked the ball well down the right and Luke McMurtrie drove the ball across the six yard line. First to meet it was Russell Williamson who seemed certain to score but keeper Martin McCaulay made an unbelievable block, the rebound then fell to Hunter and again the goalie somehow kept it out and he made it a hat trick of sensational stops when he managed to dive at the feet of Milligan when he looked sure to score. It really was end to end stuff and Josh Rennie should have at least hit the target when he fired over with the goal gaping. It was straight back down the other end and it was Hunter this time setting up Milligan for a rasping shot from outside the box. Keeper McCaulay produced another fine save but the rebound fell to Declan Rogerson who from the tightest of angles could only hit the post from a few feet out. Midway through the half Milligan at full stretch fired into the side netting and before the half hour Mitchell had another big chance for the visitors but again failed to convert.

With half time approaching the only surprise was that the score line was blank but that would all change in the 41st minute. Creetown centre back David Hughes went to ground as he challenged Hunter inside the penalty area. Down went the striker and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Hunter picked himself up and sent McCaulay the wrong way to give Star a crucial lead. What was a huge blow to the visitors became a whole lot worse when former Star player Dean Fyfe was shown a straight red card for what presumably was abusive language to the referee. Minutes later the half time whistle went to give both sets of players a well deserved break, and the fans as well needed time to catch their breath.

Williamson suffered a facial knock just before half time and he was replaced by Sam McConaghie for the second period. As the half kicked off the message to the home players certainly seemed to be to make their numerical advantage count and they came out looking to kill off the match as soon as possible and this they did to a tee with two goals in the first seven minutes. In 48 minutes Star worked the ball well down the left hand channel before the ball was played in to Connor Potts who had found an alarming amount of space in the Creetown goalmouth and he calmly passed the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards. Four minutes later and it was 3-0 as Star hit on the break which ended with Hunter being sent through and he fired high past McCaulay for a fine finish. As the rain continued to fall Star's biggest worry may have been the possibility of an abandonment but thankfully the pitch held out. Credit must go to Creetown who never gave up and pushed forward whenever they could despite being a man short. However they had one of those days in front of goal and their afternoon was summed up in the 78th minute when they missed yet another glorious chance by firing over the bar. Star themselves could and perhaps should have added to their tally  but in a game of this significance you cannot grumble at three goals. Such has been the impact of Connor Potts since he arrived back at the club with an incredible goalscoring record, it was something of a shock to see him miss a couple of gilt-edged chances midway through the half and even more of a surprise to see him miss the target with both.

At the final whistle the rain soaked fans of both sides stayed behind to give their players a well earned ovation with both teams deserving the plaudits in a game worthy of a top table billing. As said before this is a great result for the Star but there is still a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season. This Star team has faced a lot of questions in this winning run which has now stretched to nine games, and they keep coming up with the right answers. If they keep doing that over the next few months then they won't be far away when the silverware is handed out at the end of the season. But it's one of the oldest cliches in football that you take one game at a time and next up for Star is cup tie at home to Newton Stewart. It is doubtful if the Islecroft pitch will have recovered in time for this Saturday so keep an eye out on social media for any news on that front.       

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                      CREETOWN 0

Hunter (41pen, 52)

Potts (48)                                         HT 1-0   Att. 195

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (Bryson 84), Williamson (McConaghie 46), Summerbee, D Taylor, Potts (E Gourlay 84), C Watson, Hunter (Jamieson 63), Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 75)

Subs not used: Meechan, Minto

Yellow Cards: None

CREETOWN: McCaulay, Rogers (Wilde 75), Murray, Richardson, Hughes (Hanlin 84), Lowe, Fyfe, Meagher, Rennie, Mitchell, Jones (Adair 63)

Subs not used: McCulloch, Whorlow

Yellow Cards: Rogers

Red Cards: Fyfe (41)

Ref: K Whalen                   

Man of the Match: Ross Hunter

Star made it through to the last four of the Cree Lodge Cup after a tight encounter away to Stranraer. The two sides met a month ago in the league at Islecroft and Star turned on the style to run up a seven goal victory, but the young Stair Park side has come on leaps and bounds since that defeat so we travelled along the A75 expecting nothing other than a very tough match.

Star boss Eddie Warwick made one enforced change to the starting line up from last weeks win at Upper Annandale with Russell Williamson coming in for the unavailable Dale Milligan. Star got off to the perfect start when Connor Potts went on a mazy run that took him past a number of defenders before he shot past keeper Craig Burns from 8 yards. It was a terrific strike that ended Potts' goal drought that lasted all of one game! The remainder of the half was mostly a midfield battle with neither keeper being overly troubled. The second half began in a similar pattern with both sides cancelling each other out. Just when you thought Potts' goal might just be enough to win the tie the home side equalised when Robbie Minto parried a shot but the rebound fell to substitute Owen Sutherland who made no mistake from close range. However Star's response was swift and they regained the lead with just five minutes left with a goal worthy of winning any match. Declan Rogerson took aim with a 25 yard free kick and fired the ball straight into the top corner for a wonder goal. The home side pushed hard to try and take the match to extra time but Star saw the game out safely to take their place in the semi finals.

Next up for Star is the first meeting of the season against Creetown and what a match that promises to be. They are currently unbeaten in the league this season and sit just one point behind Star. Although nothing will be decided next week it has all the makings of a classic.     

STRANRAER 1                                 DALBEATTIE STAR 2

Sutherland (71)                            Potts (7)

                                                             D Rogerson (85)

                                                             HT 0-1   Att.

STRANRAER: Burns, Phillips, Clive (Lyon), McClorey, Smith, McKane, Paton, Gallacher, Edgar, Agnew (Simmers), Sneddon (Sutherland)

Subs: Collins, Wither, McKeand,

Yellow Cards: Edgar, Gallagher, Phillips, Simmers

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, Swan (Bryson 60), O'Sullivan, Williamson, Summerbee, D Taylor, Potts, C Watson, Shaw (E Gourlay 75), Jamieson (Meechan 60), D Rogerson

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Pietsch

Yellow Cards: Potts, Williamson

Ref: J Brown                    

Man of the Match: Callum Summerbee

Star made it seven wins in a row with a hard earned victory away to Upper Annandale to book their place in the semi final of the J Haig Gordon Memorial Trophy. The match was played in tricky conditions with a bumpy pitch made even more difficult by a strong gusty wind, but conditions were the same for both sides so Star had to make sure their attitude was spot on against an opponent who was not prepared to make life easy for them. This was certainly not a match for the purists and it was purely a case of both sides simply rolling up their sleeves and giving their all.

Manager Eddie Warwick promised a number of changes pre-match so in came Robbie Minto, Frazer Swan, Adam Jamieson and Cammy Shaw replacing Konar Pietsch, Luke McMurtrie, Russell Williamson and Ross Hunter. Early exchanges were fairly even with neither side dominating to any degree on the tight pitch. However Star made the breakthrough just before the 20 minute mark when Dale Milligan fed Connor Potts outside the penalty area. The youngster took a touch before firing in a rasping shot that swerved and dipped and was too hot for keeper Damon Campbell to handle and as he fumbled the ball, Milligan was the quickest to react and he knocked the rebound high into the net. Three minutes later Cammy Shaw's driven cross from the right wing came back off the crossbar but it was far from one way traffic. Indeed before the half hour John Wight's header from a corner was headed off the line by Jamieson. But Star still looked the more dangerous side in the final third and ten minutes from the break Declan Rogerson's cross found Jamieson at the back post and his volley was blocked on the line. From the resultant corner the ball was cleared only as far as Potts at the edge of the box but his dipping effort hit the top of the crossbar. Come the half time whistle Milligan's goal was all that separated the two teams and the match was still very much in the balance.

Star came out of the traps quickly in the second half and within five minutes had a stranglehold of the tie. Shaw did really well to burst through the home defence and was clearly fouled inside the penalty area by Michael Swan. The referee immediately pointed for the penalty and to rub salt into the defenders wounds he was shown the inevitable yellow card, his second of the match. Off he went and up stepped Milligan to try and double Star's lead. However keeper Campbell guessed the right way and made a fine save only for the ball to fall nicely for Rogerson who was first to the rebound and he made no mistake from close range.   

The Islecroft side seemed intent in putting this game to bed as soon as possible and pushed for at every opportunity. In the 55th minute they broke at speed which ended with Milligan scoring with a sweetly struck drive from the edge of the box that gave the keeper no chance at all. Both sides made a number of changes to freshen things up and though there were no further goals there was still time for another penalty miss and another red card. In the 74th minute Wight took a tumble in the penalty area and from the penalty Julien Kouame saw his effort saved by the feet of Robbie Minto. This kept up the keeper's amazing record of saving a penalty in every match he has ever started for the Star. (That's two by the way). Three minutes later Kouame's afternoon went from bad to worse when he picked up a second needless yellow card. He had been cautioned earlier in the match for dissent and when he blatantly pulled back Russell Williamson the referee had no option but to show another yellow followed by a red. With the final whistle approaching there was still time for home keeper Campbell to produce a couple of fine saves to deny Milligan and Potts but in the end it was Star that was safely through to the last four of the competition.

Next week Star remain on cup duty with a trip to the rejuvenated Stranraer in the Cree Lodge Cup and Star will need to be at their best to make it eight wins in a row.

UPPER ANNANDALE 0                  DALBEATTIE STAR 3

                                                              Milligan (19, 55)

                                                              D Rogerson (51)

Kouame missed pen (74)          Milligan missed pen (51)

                                                              HT 0-1   Att. 63

UPPER ANNANDALE: Campbell, R Carcu (Opelt 81), Proudfoot (Myatt 76), Harvey, Wallace, Hannay (Usher 76), D Carcu, Webster (Johnstone 66), Wight (Thompson 76), Kouame, Swan

Subs not used: Notman, Pagan,

Yellow Cards: Swan, Wight, Harvey, Kouame

Red Cards: Swan (50), Kouame (79)

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, Swan (Bryson 61), O'Sullivan (E Gourlay 58), C Watson (Williamson 72), Summerbee, D Taylor, Potts, Jamieson (Meechan 58), Shaw, Milligan, D Rogerson (McConaghie 61)

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Pietsch

Yellow Cards:: O'Sullivan, D Rogerson, C Watson

Ref: B Templeton                    

Man of the Match: David Taylor

Star made it safely through to the semi final of the League Cup after a hard fought victory away to Abbey Vale. It was perhaps a game of two halves for the Islecroft side as they withstood some home pressure in the first half hour or so, but after taking they lead they turned in a fine second half performance to run out worthy winners.

Star travelled to Maryfield having won by a single goal on their previous visit on the opening day of the season and they knew they would be in for another difficult match. The home side started brightly with their main threat coming from free kicks and corners but Star slowly grew into the match. Just after the half hour Ross Hunter went close but in the 36th minute they took the lead when Declan Rogerson thumped the ball high into the net. It took only six minutes of the second half for Star to double their lead when Connor Potts kept up his amazing scoring record by knocking home the rebound after Hunter's effort had been blocked. Both sides had chances before the home side got themselves back into the match in the 67th minute when Sammy Hughes forced the ball over the line following a scramble in the six yard box. The match was very much in the balance and the next goal would be crucial. Thankfully for Star it came their way when substitute Cammy Shaw combined well with Hunter and Dale Milligan to set up Potts for a simple finish. The scoring ended in stoppage time and Russell Williamson was able to add some gloss to the scoreline when he thrashed the ball home following another scramble.

So another fine win and performance as Star keep their winning run going. We remain on cup duty next week with a trip to Upper Annandale in the Haig Gordon Cup. MON THE STAR!

ABBEY VALE 1                                           DALBEATTIE STAR 4                           

Hughes (67)                                             Rogerson (36)   

                                                                      Potts (51, 75)

                                                                      Williamson (90+4)                               

                                                                      HT 0-1   

ABBEY VALE: Hall, Grzebieniak, Glen, Kirk, Wilson, Corbett, MIddlemiss, Bruce, A Kerr, C Kerr, McKenna

Subs: Bruce, Adams, Pirrie, Patterson, Black, Hughes, Crawford

Yellow Cards: Wilson, Grzebieniak, Corbett, Kerr

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (E Gourlay 77), Williamson, Summerbee, D Taylor, Potts (McConaghie 83), C Watson, Hunter, Milligan (Jamieson 77), D Rogerson (Shaw 67)

Subs not used: Meechan, Swan, Minto

Yellow Cards: D Taylor, Potts, Pietsch

Ref: J Brown  

Man of the Match: Russell Williamson             

Many thanks to Bobby Geddes for the photos              

Dalbeattie Star returned to the top of the South of Scotland Football League after a resounding victory over a young Stranraer side. It was a terrific performance with a lot of quality football on the show, that had the home fans purring after the match. Every player played their part, including the substitutes who all contributed greatly. Without doubt the star man was Connor Potts who helped himself to four goals, which means in the three games he has played for Star this season, totalling just over 200 minutes, he has found the back of the net an astonishing eight times. But for all the excellent football and top class goals on show, the highlight of the afternoon was without doubt seeing Dean Watson back at Islecroft. It was great to see the 24 year old looking so well and him just being back at a football ground must have been so inspirational to his team mates.

This was Star's first match of 2024 and first for some four weeks due to the winter break and a postponement. For the first ten minutes or so the players may have understandably been a wee bit rusty but once they blew away the cobwebs, they put on a fine show for the brave souls that came out on a bitter cold Saturday afternoon. The first clear cut chance came in the 7th minute when Star's highly influential trialist latched on to a mistake by defender Leon Paton but keeper Alastair Collins did really well to come out and block the shot. Soon after Connor Potts broke through the visiting defence, rounded keeper Collins but the angle was too tight and the chance was gone. From the resulting corner the ball was half cleared to Potts just outside the box and he unleashed a terrific right foot strike that flew high past Collins, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. Star doubled the lead seven minutes later when Farrel O'Sullivan did well down the left flank, cut the ball back to Dale Milligan who drilled the ball low past Collins. Just two minutes later and it was 3-0 when Ross Hunter, back for his first match in over two months, turned provider by teeing the ball up for Potts whose shot flew high past Collins with the aid of a slight deflection. The players were certainly in the mood for putting on a show but fair play to the visitors who dug deep to ensure there would be no further scoring in the first half. On the few occasions they were able to break forward they found the home defence a tough nut to crack and keeper Konar Pietsch was relatively untroubled throughout the 90 minutes.

The second half began with the home side very much on the front foot. In the 54th minute more fine play from the trialist set up Milligan but Collins saved well. A minute later though and Star netted number four with a superbly worked goal. A fine pass inside the fullback found Luke McMurtrie who used his pace to great effect. He picked out Hunter at the edge of the six yard box with his cut back from the touchline but the striker cleverly dummied the ball that allowed his partner in crime Dale Milligan to dispatch the ball into the back of the net. Four soon became five a few minutes later when Hunter yet again became the provider when he set up Potts after a swift team move, and the youngster slipped the ball under the onrushing keeper to complete his hat-trick. Appropriately enough it became 6-0 on the hour and again it was from another fine finish. Ross Hunter went down in the penalty area after a hefty challenge and with a couple of players appealing for a penalty, Potts collected the loose ball and curled a fine shot past the keeper and inside the far post. Both sides made a number of substitutions but that didn't stem the flow of the tide. However in the 73rd minute the Blues had their best chance of the match but Paton fired wide with just Pietsch to beat. The scoring ended in the 76th minute when another fine move put Dan Carmichael clear. He rounded the keeper and calmly cut the ball back on to his right foot before clipping the ball past a despairing defender who managed to get back. Simply a quality goal from a quality player. Star continued to push forward looking for more but in the end they were more than happy to settle for seven.

On a day of good news for the Islecroft side, it was also pleasing to see club captain Euan Gourlay make his first appearance of the season after picking up a bad injury in pre-season. Here's hoping he can enjoy an injury free run between now and the end of May as we approach a very important part of the season.

We now have a break from the league as we face four cup ties in the next four weeks, in four different competitions all away from home. First up is a trip to Lochmaben in the Southern Counties Challenge Cup and for Star at the current moment, the games cannot come quickly enough.

DALBEATTIE STAR 7                               STRANRAER 0

Potts (19, 28, 58, 60)

Milligan (26, 55)

Carmichael (76)                                    HT 3-0   Att 132

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsh, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, Williamson (McConaghie 61), Summerbee, D Taylor (E Gourlay 76), Potts (Meechan 68), Carmichael, Hunter, Milligan (C Watson 61), D Rogerson (Shaw 61)

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Minto

Yellow Cards: None

STRANRAER: Collins, Phillips, Clive, Forbes, Smith, Halliday (Sheppard 58), Sneddon, Gallacher (Agnew 58), McKeand (Sutherland 58), Paton, Ferguson

Subs not used: Heaney, McDowall, McCulloch, Wither

Yellow Cards: Heaney

Ref: C Telfer

Star finished off 2023 in the best possible fashion by putting six past Mid Annandale that sent them to the top of the South of Scotland Football League. This was an excellent performance and excellent result for the team to see out the year against an opponent that has caused the Star numerous problems in the two previous cup ties at Islecroft this season. 

Last week Star had a trialist (Connor Potts) who netted a second half hat-trick and this week we had another trialist (Dan Carmichael). Though he didn't score three, he did find the back of the net inside a minute of his debut and he went on to have a superb match orchestrating the youngsters around him who all responded superbly to his promptings.

Straight from the kick off Star looked in the mood and it only took one minute to put the ball past Alistair Ferguson in the MIds goal. The visitors worked the ball well down the left and Dale Milligan cut inside on to his right and curled in a superb inswinging cross that found the Carmichael who timed his run to perfection and planted his downward header in to the back of the net. In the 12th minute Star doubled their lead in almost identical circumstances but this time it was Connor Potts who got on the end of Milligan's fine cross to head home. What probably made this worse for the home side was the fact Star scored with two headers from two of the smallest players on the park, but the quality of the deliveries made it very difficult to defend. Two minutes later and it was 3-0 when Russell Williamson burst into the penalty area and fired high past Ferguson with a terrific left foot strike. Considering his scoring record before he signed for the Star in the summer of 2022, it is astonishing to see this was his first goal for the Star, but now he has broken his duck hopefully the floodgates will open.

Star continued to dominate and you could see all the players were enjoying their football. In the 25th minute Milligan looked sure to make it four when the ball broke kindly for him just inside the box and it seemed all he had to do was walk the ball back into the net but defender Craig Newbould appeared from nowhere to make an unbelievable tackle and it remained 3-0. The home sides first serious effort came in the 37th minute when Mark McQuade shot from 20 yards but Konar Pietsch got down well to touch the ball for a corner. However it was Star that looked the more likely to score again and Declan Rogerson and David Taylor went close before Luke McMurtrie yet again burst down the right and this time his driven ball across the six yard box was so close to being touched home.

Mids went on the front foot at the start of the second half and Taylor cleared an effort off the line but this spurred the Islecroft side into action and within seconds they scored the fourth. Farrel O'Sullivan's inswinging cross to the back post was bundled home and though it may have go in off a  defender we will credit the goal to David Taylor who received the congratulations from his team mates. Time and again one of Star's most dangerous attacks came from Carmichael picking out the blistering pace of McMurtrie down the right and in the 55th minute it deservedly resulted in a goal when the full backs pass picked out Milligan who slid the ball home from a few yards out. The final Star goal came in the 70th minute when Olly Meechan scored with another terrific finish, shooting high past Ferguson. With time running out McQuade was denied by a top quality save from PIetsch but deep into stoppage time the home side scored with a fine strike from substitute Lee Taylor who shot high into the top corner of the net when the ball fell kindly to him inside the box from a free kick.

So we now have a three week break to enjoy the festive period and we return with what promises to be a cracker when Abbey Vale visit Islecroft. So from everyone at the club we wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

MID ANNANDALE 1                                 DALBEATTIE STAR 6

Taylor (90+3)                                          Carmichael (1)

                                                                      Potts (12)

                                                                      Williamson (14)

                                                                      Taylor (48)

                                                                      Milligan (55)

                                                                      Meechan (70)

                                                                      HT 0-3   Att. 55

MID ANNANDALE: Ferguson, Jackson (Peat 64), Murray, Trialist (Collins 31), Robson, Maxwell, Newbould, Trialist (Taylor 73), McQuade, Hammond, Trialist

Subs not used: Willis

Yellow Cards:

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (Meechan 66), Williamson (G Gourlay 51), N Rogerson, Taylor (Palmer 73), Potts, Summerbee, Carmichael (Swan 73), Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 66)

Subs not used: Minto

Yellow Cards: G Gourlay

Ref: K Totten

Star returned to action after four weeks without a competitive match by firing ten goals past a very young Wigtown & Bladnoch side. With there being little or know chance of Islecroft being playable due to the extreme weather over the past couple of weeks, both clubs and the South league agreed that the match could be switched to the plastic pitch at the North West Community Campus in Dumfries.

Any worries that Star may be rusty after not having played since beating Newton Stewart were soon allayed when they ran into a rapid 5-0 lead in less than 20 minutes. There was also the worry that they would miss top scorer Ross Hunter who was serving the first of a two match suspension but that would not be the case in this match. The visitors arrived with just eleven players listed and manager John Kiltie named himself as their only substitute. To put it mildly it was a difficult afternoon for the Trammondford Park side but credit where it's due. They always tried to get the ball down and play and never resorted to being overly physical when trailing so heavily and they were eventually rewarded with a well deserved goal late on.

First chance of the day fell to the visitors but their effort went narrowly past and seconds later Star went up the park and saw Dale Milligan get tripped inside the box and the skipper dusted himself down and fired home from 12 yards past keeper Louis McLachlan. Wigtown reacted well to the early setback and had a couple of chances before Milligan netted his second in the 8th minute with a well taken backheel volley from a corner. There was no let up by Star and after a couple of close  things Charlie Watson made it 3-0 when he finished well at the back post. This was the midfielders first goal for the Star and he didn't have long to wait for his second when minutes later he made it four when he netted after a fine save from McLachlan. Four soon became five when Milligan completed his hat trick in the 18th minute. There was then a 16 minute gap before number six  arrived but that was due to a couple of outstanding saves from McLachlan but he was beaten by Milligan again when he slotted the ball home. Two minutes from the break Adam Jamieson made it a magnificent seven when he scored from just inside the box.

The second period began with McLachlan again saving from Milligan and soon after Luke McMurtrie was inches away from his second goal for the Star but his shot hit the woodwork. Manager Eddie Warwick then made changes to give as many players as much game time as possible and Connor Potts playing as a trialist came on and scored a fine second half hat trick. McMurtrie also hit the woodwork for a second time but the final goal went to the visitors when Kiltie found Timouimbo Kawanza with a fine pass and the forward ruined Konar Pietsch's hopes of a clean sheet by passing the ball into the back of the net.

So a great way for Star to get back into action and this result moves them up to second in the league. Next week is our last game of 2023 and we travel to Lockerbie to face Mid Annandale. In our two matches this season they have proven to be difficult opponents so we will be hoping to have our shooting boots on again when we arrive at New King Edward Park.

DALBEATTIE STAR 10                             WIGTOWN & BLADNOCH 1

Milligan (2pen, 8, 18, 34)                    Kawanza (86)

C Watson (14, 16)

Jamieson (43)

Potts (58, 68, 76)                                   HT 7-0   Att. 52

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, Summerbee, N Rogerson, D Taylor (McConaghie 42), Jamieson, Williamson (Potts 52), C Watson (Swan 52), Milligan (Shaw 52), D Rogerson (G Gourlay 65)

Subs not used: Minto, Meechan

Yellow Cards:

WIGTOWN & BLADNOCH: McLachlan, Kennedy, Agnew, Hoskins, Ma Henderson, Mu Henderson, McKnight, Moore, Kirk, Kawanza, Lowrie (Kiltie)

Subs not used:

Yellow Cards:

Ref: A Halliday    

Man of the Match: Dale Milligan                              

Four goals in a blistering first half hour was more than enough to ensure Star would collect all three points at the home of league leaders Newton Stewart. What made the result and performance all the more impressive was the fact the main reason the Creesiders find themselves top of the pile is due to their outstanding home record. However Star came out of the traps quickly and managed to build a lead the home side could not claw back. They did manage to score two quick fire goals themselves in an incredible first half, but Star re-grouped during the break and controlled the second period for long spells and looked the more likely team to add to their tally.

Straight from the off both teams went on the attack at every opportunity. The home side certainly play to their strengths and they were very direct trying to use the power and pace of their very dangerous forwards, but for most of the match the visiting defence coped well. There was just the spell when Newton scored twice in a minute when Star found themselves under the cosh for the remainder of the half, but they  crucially held out until the break. During the break they made a tactical substitution which paid huge dividends as they came out and controlled the midfield. The Creesiders enjoyed some possession but were unable to create any clear cut chances and their only danger were crosses thrown into the box that the Star defence dealt with well. The fact that the few saves Konar Pietsch had to made were all of the straightforward variety, which was in stark contrast to his opposite number who happened to be former Star keeper Vinnie Parker. The veteran stopper kept his side in the match in the second period with a couple of excellent stops. The only downside to the afternoon for Star was a 96th minute red card for top scorer Ross Hunter that will definitely see him miss our next league match at home to Creetown and probably this weekends cup tie at Abbey Vale. This came after he had been the meat in a Newton Stewart sandwich but was not awarded a free kick. The red mist came down and he made a rash, charging lunge at Robert Hughan that sent the full back back flying. One saving grace was that it was not a high challenge that would inflict a serious injury as thankfully Hughon was able to get up seconds later without treatment and finish the match. However it was a sending off offence and the referee, who it has to be said had a fine match, was right to show a red card. 

After a bright start from both sides Star took the lead in the 9th minute. Callum Summerbee did well down the left and he fed the ball to Ross Hunter whose thumping drive left Parker wrong footed, though the shot may have taken a slight deflection on its way into the net. It was the start the Islecroft side may have dreamt about and two minutes later it got a whole better with an excellent goal. A lightning break caught the home defence out and the ball came to Declan Rogerson and his superb cross from the right was perfect for Adam Jamieson who scored with a spectacular diving header that flew past Parker from six yards. Star looked in the mood for more and seconds later Charlie Watson fired a sizzling shot inches over with a short free kick from 25 yards. The Creesiders almost pulled one back in the 15th minute when a looping volley from Fraser Anderson came back off the bar  but a minute later the clinical men in red and black made it 3-0. They crowded the 6 yard box for a corner and when Watson delivered a perfect cross, keeper Parker was unable to fight his way through the crowd and Rogerson nodded home from close range.

Despite the dream start no one of a Star persuasion was taking anything for granted as on more than one occasion this season we have seen the team get off to a terrific start and still manage to lose the match. Midway through the half Marc Whyte had a decent effort for Newton but his shot was straight at Pietsch and just before the half hour Star scored for the fourth time. Parker did well to parry a shot away from goal but as had been the case all match the Star forward line was that much sharper than the Newton defence and Jamieson fired home the rebound from a tight angle. Dale Milligan claimed to have touched the ball home which led to loud appeals for offside but check our photo gallery which shows if he did get a touch, he was clearly onside and the referee yet again got the decision spot on. From the writers view it looked like Adam's goal and the referee also gave the goal to the on loan Annan Athletic player, so Dale will need to provide a good case if he is to get credited with the goal.   

Blairmount Park can be quite an intimidating place to play as the home fans certainly get right behind their team but they were in a state of shock at this incredible start from Star. On the half hour Milligan had a half chance to make it five when Parker parried again but this time the keeper got up to block the skippers rebound. Ten minutes from the break the home side gave themselves some hope when a good break down the left saw a fine delivery converted well by Marc Whyte who shot low past Pietsch. If this pleased the home fans they were delighted 60 seconds later when they were suddenly right back in the match. A long ball over the top was mis-judged by the Star defence and former Star striker Robert Middleton sprinted through, nipped the ball past the onrushing Pietsch and drove the ball low past Jack Palmer who had retreated to the goalline. The home side certainly had their tales up now and for Star it was a case of hanging on until the break. Newton fired ball after ball into the Star box but they managed to hold on and were able to re-group.

During the break Palmer was replaced by Sam McConaghie which saw Summerbee moved to centre back and Jamieson back to full back. This was no reflection on Jack's performance as he did well against one of the best forward lines in the league. However the changes allowed Star to take back some  control in the second period. As expected the home side had to throw everything forward but they couldn't find a way through the Star rearguard. Their main threat came from corners and free kicks but the visiting defence stood up to it well. At the other end Star looked dangerous on the break and Milligan twice, Hunter and Watson all had great chances to add a fifth. Indeed it required a couple of superb stops from Parker to keep out the efforts from Milligan and Watson that both looked certain goals. Star did manage to see out the match fairly comfortably but had the home side managed to sneak one goal then who knows what could have happened.

The league is shaping up nicely with a number of teams in good positions and both these teams will be there or thereabouts come April or May. The next two weeks see Star return to cup duty, the first being a trip to Abbey Vale in the League Cup and if there is half the entertainment at Maryfield as there was here at Blairmount, then the fans will be in for a treat.   

NEWTON STEWART 2                           DALBEATTIE STAR 4

Whyte (35)                                               Hunter (7)

Middleton (36)                                        Jamieson (9, 28)

                                                                      D Rogerson (16)

                                                                      HT 2-4   Att. 148

NEWTON STEWART: Parker, Anderson, Hughan, MacDonald (Atherton 55), Service, Brown, Drysdale, Whyte, Middleton, McClymont (McCulloch 55), Ellis (Marshall 66)

Subs: Mann, Moffat, Thomson, McKie

Yellow Cards: MacDonald, Whyte, Middleton, Brown

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, Summerbee, Williamson (G Taylor 71), Palmer (McConaghie 46), D Taylor, Jamieson, C Watson, Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 82)

Subs not used: Meechan, G Gourlay, Swan, Minto

Yellow Cards: Milligan, Williamson, Pietsch

Red Cards: Hunter (90+6)

Ref: A Halliday    

Man of the Match: David Taylor                               

Star returned to winning ways after an emphatic first half display against Lochmaben sealed the points. All the goals came in the first 45 minutes but like a number of Star games lately it was certainly a game of two halves. However there were definitely extenuating circumstances as to why it happened in this particular match. In a game of no bad fouls and played in a sporting manner by both sides, there were an astonishing six yellow cards brandished, five to home players. The vast majority of these cards could at best be described as bizarre and with a crucial match away to league leaders Newton Stewart next week, manager Eddie Warwick could ill afford any of his players picking up a second yellow and therefore made a number of tactical substitutions to save his players. As a result it was difficult for the team to get any rhythm in the second period though credit must also go to our visitors for that as well. Trailing 6-1 at the interval they could easily have folded after the opening barrage, but they came out and defended stoutly, had goalkeeper Thomas Cruickshanks pull off a number of fine saves, and even had a couple of decent efforts on goal themselves.

Dale Milligan was the star of the show after netting another hat-trick and deservedly picked up the man of the match award. However it was Ross Hunter's stunning strike in first half stoppage time that was the main talking point at the end of the match, and the yellow cards of course. Ross is making a habit of scoring some unbelievable goals this season and this was the latest in what is becoming a growing line. In fact they are happening so frequently they are fast becoming the norm, though there is no danger of the fans taking them for granted.

On a perfect autumnal afternoon the home side started brightly and took an early lead in the 6th minute. A Charlie Watson corner had come back off the crossbar and the ball was eventually recycled and slipped through to Declan Rogerson who beat keeper Cruickshanks with a beautiful dinked finish. As we have seen in his short time at Islecroft Declan certainly loves to score a goal and he celebrated in his own unique fashion. Four minutes later and Star doubled their lead when Watson found the marauding Luke McMurtrie down the right wing and his low driven cross along the six yard line was converted by Milligan in the middle. However soon after a defensive mix up presented Lochmaben with a big chance to get back into the match but Robbie Minto, on his first start for the club, pulled off a fine save to keep his clean sheet intact. Two minutes later Star made it 3-0 when Russell Williamson showed good composure in the box and teed up Rogerson who scored his second with a clinical strike. Midway through the half Star scored their fourth when Hunter and Milligan combined inside the penalty area and the latter scored with another good finish.

Six minutes from the break a Lochmaben free kick from the left was swung into the box and the referee immediately blew for a penalty for presumably a jersey pull. The fact not one player in blue appealed for a penalty tells you how soft the award was. Up stepped Ben Jaekel but his right footed effort was well saved by Minto and the rebound was cleared to safety. Two minutes later Star made it 5-0 when a long ball over the top from Jack Palmer found Milligan clean through on goal. Though his first touch was a bit on the heavy side he turned on the afterburners and reached the ball just before Cruickshanks and lifted it over the prostrate keeper and into the net to complete a fine hat-trick. A minute from the break the Whitehills Park club pulled a goal back when Dylan Crawford capitalised on another defensive error, but this time he made no mistake slipping the ball past Minto. As we stepped into stoppage time there was time for a Ross Hunter special as he not not only scored the goal of the match, but certainly a goal of the season contender. He collected the ball more than 30 yards from goal and with no apparent danger he managed to whip in a superb shot that dipped inches under the bar giving the Lochmaben keeper no chance at all of saving. The reaction on his team mates faces summed up just what a special goal it was.

Ross's reward for his wondergoal was to be hooked at half time but that was totally understandable as he was one of the players on a yellow card and there was no point in risking him picking up an unnecessary second especially with Newton Stewart looming large on the horizon. As stated before, the visitors did well in the second period and Crawford nearly scored his own second but Minto saved well with his feet. The Whitehills Park side had an even better chance in the 57th minute when Thomas Forster's header was parried by Minto but substitute Jamie Rae could only knock the rebound wide at full stretch. Milligan and McMurtrie both went close soon after but the home sides best chances in this half fell to Cammy Shaw. His first was a fine left foot effort that missed the far post by inches and he then had two better chances but Cruickshanks did well to keep him at bay.

So there would be no further scoring but this result and performance sets up Star nicely for next weeks trip to Blairmount Park. Thankfully there would be no red cards and suspensions but the one concern was seeing David Taylor hobble off inside half an hour but hopefully this was just a precaution. Star will travel in fine fettle hoping to produce the same level of performance that saw them win 3-0 when the two sides met at Islecroft earlier in the season, with what has perhaps been Star's most complete display of the season so far.               

DALBEATTIE STAR 6                           LOCHMABEN 1                            

D Rogerson (6, 15)                            Crawford (44)

Milligan (10, 24, 41)

Hunter (45+1)                                     HT 6-1   Att. 167

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, McMurtrie (Jamieson 68), Summerbee, Williamson (G Taylor 56), N Rogerson, D Taylor (Palmer 26), McConaghie, C Watson, Hunter (Shaw 46), Milligan (G Gourlay 68), D Rogerson

Subs not used: Meechan, Pietsch

Yellow Cards: Hunter, McMurtrie, Minto, Williamson, Summerbee

LOCHMABEN: Cruickshanks, Johnstone, Simpson, Forster, Jaekel, Davies (Caulfield 84), Emerson (Rae 46), Milligan, Brown (Williamson 46), Crawford, White

Subs: Hodgson

Yellow Cards: Forster

Ref: S Sutherland     

Man of the Match: Dale Milligan                               

Dalbeattie Star dropped their first home league points of the season as they shared four goals with Lochar Thistle in an entertaining match at Islecroft. Both teams could probably put forward a good argument for being deserving winners so for that reason alone a draw was perhaps the right result. As the home side though Star may well be more disappointed with the result especially as they finished the game stronger and missed a couple of gilt edged chances near the end, but we take the point and move on.

Star boss Eddie Warwick made three changes to last weeks starting line up with loanees Niall Rogerson and Charlie Watson returning after playing for the parent club against Star, and Greg Taylor came in to replace Farrel O'Sullivan. However it was the visitors who started the better and although they had they majority of the pressure Star keeper Konar Pietsch was relatively untroubled. But just when Star looked like they were getting a foothold in the match they fell behind just after the half hour. Lochar made a good break down the left and Robbie Ferguson's driven cross struck Charlie Watson on the chest and flew into the net. There was little the midfielder could do to avoid the ball hitting him but what made matters worse was there were no Thistle forwards in the centre to convert the cross. It was particularly cruel for Watson who had an outstanding match and was deservedly voted the man of the match. Star's response was excellent and two minutes later a fine passing move ended with Luke McMurtrie's low cross being flicked on by Ross Hunter at the near post. The ball rolled across the six yard box where there were no takers but Adam Jamieson managed to cut the ball back to Dale Milligan and he finished well with a first time right foot shot. The scoring spree didn't end there though and within two minutes the Wilson Park side regained the lead when Ferguson got a touch to near post cross and somehow managed to get the ball over Pietsch and loop into the back of the net. The shot may have taken a touch of David Taylor but that was irrelevant as the main thing that mattered was where the ball ended up. With half time fast approaching Star levelled for a second time when a good passing move in midfield put Hunter through and he made no mistake driving the ball low past Jake Gemmell in the visitors goal. There were loud protests for offside from Lochar but it was a very tight call and with there being no  referee assistants you could see why the official allowed the goal to stand.

There may have been no more scoring in the second half but there was still plenty of goalmouth action. Again Lochar began the half better and ten minutes in Pietsch produced a terrific save to keep it at two goals apiece. But as the match wore on Star pressed looking for a winner and they missed a few glorious chances, the biggest coming four minutes from time when they skied the ball over the bar from 12 yards with the goal gaping.

So both sides had to settle for a point each and we move on to next week. Next week we are still on league duty and we are again at home this time to face Lochmaben. The two sides met just a few weeks ago and though Star ran out 4-0 winners the Whitehills Park side had their moments and will arrive at Islecroft confident of causing an upset.           

DALBEATTIE STAR 2                           LOCHAR THISTLE 2                            

Milligan (33)                                        C Watson og (31)

Hunter (43)                                          Ferguson (35)

                                                                  HT 2-2   Att. 177

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, G Taylor, Summerbee (Shaw 80), N Rogerson, D Taylor, Jamieson (Meechan 70), C Watson, Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson

Subs not used: Minto, Williamson, McConaghie, G Gourlay, Palmer

Yellow Cards: Milligan, Hunter, D Taylor

LOCHAR THISTLE: Gemmell, Braid, Nish, Copland, Adamson, Muirhead, Steele, McKeand, Ferguson, Hogg, Turner

Subs: Zygadlo, McVinnie, Bertram, Cairnie, Tremble, Woodward, Warren

Yellow Cards: Steele, Copland, Muirhead, McVinnie

Ref: S Sutherland     

Man of the Match: Charlie Watson   

Lochar photos courtesy of Bobby Geddes and Louise Hussey                                   

In another game of two halves Queens eventually came out on top of a nine goal thriller at Palmerston Park. Star had by far the better of the first half and should have led by considerably more than a 2-1 scoreline but the home side came roaring back in the second to run out winners. However the match became totally irrelevant after the events in the early hours of Sunday morning when Star midfielder Dean Watson was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle and he is now in a critical but stable condition in a Glasgow hospital. Everyone at Dalbeattie Star and indeed the whole football community are completely behind Dean in his battles ahead.  

Star got off the the perfect start in this Potts Cup tie when Adam Jamieson scored his first goal for the club in the first minute when he converted a Declan Rogerson cross with a tidy finish. Minutes later Dale Milligan struck the crossbar but Ross Hunter did score the second goal in the 5th minute with a superb 25 lob that gave keeper Mark Thomson no chance. It wasn't long before Queens pulled one back when Callum Hill netted from a rebound but Star continued to press forward. In the 19th minute Hunter struck the post  and five minutes later Milligan had the ball in the net but the ref had awarded a free kick for a previous infringement. The Islecroft stayed on the front foot for the remainder of the half but could not increase their advantage.

The home side made three changes at the break and it had an immediate effect when Harry McLinden equalised in the first minute of the second period. Star keeper Konar Pietsch then made a number of top class saves to keep his side level. With 20 minutes left the match was finely balanced but two goals in as many minutes swung the balance in favour of Queens. Jay Burns put his side ahead for the first time and soon after Kier Foster fired into the top corner to make it 4-2. Star's reaction was good and they were right back in it when Hunter converted Luke McMurtrie's cross and it was very much game on with 15 minutes left. However with Star pushing men forward Queens struck twice late on the break,  firstly through McLinden and then in the last minute when Shay Meagher scored despite a brilliant save from Pietsch just seconds before.

So Star go out of the Potts Cup at the first round but all our thoughts just now are of course with Deano and his family. 

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 6                  DALBEATTIE STAR 3                           

Hill (10)                                                  Jamieson (1)                                           

McLinden (46, 82)                             Hunter (5, 75)

Burns (70)

Foster (72)

Meagher (89)                                      HT 1-2  Att.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Thomson, Burns, Hillferty, Watson, Currie (Rogerson 46), Hawes, Raggett, Davidson (McLinden 46), Irving, Foster (Meagher 46), Hill

Subs: Sharpe, Kerr, Bladenhorst

Yellow Cards: Irving

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (Meechan 46), Summerbee, Palmer, D Taylor, Jamieson, McConaghie (Shaw 80), Hunter, Milligan, D Rogerson (Williamson 63)

Subs: Minto, G Taylor, G Gourlay

Yellow Cards: None

Ref: R Marshall                                                 

For the second time in just over a month Star knocked Mids out of a South of Scotland cup competition. Last time the home side needed extra time to see off their Lockerbie opponents but in this match they did enough in 90 minutes to book their place in the quarter final although it was very much a game of two halves. The first saw the home side put in an outstanding display that saw them run up a three goal advantage which could have been even more, but in the second the home side never got started which allowed the visitors to get a foothold back into the match.

Star boss Eddie Warwick made just one change to the starting line up that beat Lochmaben last week with Jack Palmer coming in for the unavailable Niall Rogerson and the young centre back did well in his first start for the club at Islecroft. In front of a healthy crowd the home side were quick off the blocks and opened the scoring in the 5th minute. The Islecroft side worked the ball well down the right and Declan Rogerson's cross fell to Dale Milligan and he stabbed the ball home from 6 yards. Most of Star's good work was down the right flank where their pace was causing Mids all kinds of problems. In the 13th minute another quick break down that wing ended with Ross Hunter volleying narrowly over from close range and soon after former Star favourite Connor Graham had Mids first real effort on goal but his shot from distance sailed helplessly over the bar. In the 18th minute another swift break down the right ended with Hunter teeing up Luke McMurtrie on the wing and his superb cross on the run was met by Adam Jamieson, but the midfielder who timed his run to perfection was disappointed to see his powerful header go over the bar. Midway through the half and Star got the second goal they deserved and again it was manufactured down the right wing and ended with Rogerson squaring the ball to Hunter who made no mistake shooting low past keeper Alistair Ferguson.

Mid Annandale then came back into the match with a couple of close efforts. The first came just before the half hour when Graham's fine 25 yard drive looked destined for the top corner but Star keeper Konar Pietsch somehow got a fingertip to the ball to divert it for a corner. Minutes later Dean Smith whipped in a corner that was flicked on at the near post and the ball fell to Callum Smith at the back but he could only shoot over from close range. Six minutes from the break Star scored the crucial third goal when a cross from the right wasn't cleared and Hunter was first to pounce on the loose ball and fire home from 6 yards.

So it had been an excellent first half for the home side and the fans looked forward to more of the same in the second. However they got off to a sloppy start and never really recovered. The match was littered with petty fouls meaning their was no real flow to the game and the home side struggled to control the match the way they did in the first period. Having said that credit must go to the visitors who took full advantage and pushed forward at every opportunity to get back into the match. In fact their cause could have been helped in the 54th minute when Farrel O'Sullivan escaped a second yellow card for a fairly innocuous challenge which had the visitors screaming for a red but in Farrel's defence not every foul is worthy of a yellow card. Anyway the Star management team was taking no chances and O'Sullivan was soon substituted. Just before the hour Mids gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Graham went down after a challenge at the end edge of the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Keeper Pietsch has already saved two penalties this season for Star and he was only inches away from making it three when he got his fingers to Dean Smith's left foot strike but there was enough power in the shot to see the ball rest in the back of the net. MIds pressed with renewed vigour but they struggled to create any clear cut chances. In fact the better chances chances were at the other end when Star struck on the break with both Milligan and substitute Olly Meechan both seeing good opportunities saved by Ferguson. Star boss Warwick even made a number of substitutions in the hope of changing the flow of the game but it was to no avail. Both sides struck the crossbar with Milligan hitting the underside of the bar in the 63rd minute with a fine strike and keeper Ferguson somehow stopped Rogerson from heading home the rebound. Ten minutes later Drew Jackson saw his swerving, looping shot from 25 yards deceive Pietsch and the goalie was helpless as the ball rebounded off the bar before being cleared to safety. After that the home side comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to book a place in the last eight of the Cree Lodge Cup.

We kick off our Potts Cup campaign next week with a trip to Palmerston Park to take on Queen of the South. It will certainly be an interesting match as there is a fair possibility that our two loan players from Queens will be lining up against us. Matches at Palmerston tend to bring out the best in our players and we will be hoping that will be the case next Saturday.     

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                            MID ANNANDALE 1

Milligan (5)                                           D Smith (58 pen)

Hunter (23, 39)                                    HT 3-0   Att. 267

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (Williamson 54), Summerbee (McConaghie 65), Palmer, D Taylor, Jamieson, C Watson (Meechan 65), Hunter (G Taylor 75), Milligan, D Rogerson (Shaw 65)

Subs not used: G Gourlay

Yellow Cards: O'Sullivan, Meechan

MID ANNANDALE: Ferguson, Notman, Newbould, C Smith, Robson, Maxwell, Harley (Collins 59), Graham (Taylor 46), D Smith, Jackson (Willis 80), Murray (Gregory 67))

Subs not used: Collins, Willis, Gregory, Norman, Thorburn

Yellow Cards: D Smith, C Smith

Ref: C Telfer   

Man of the Match: R Hunter                                                             

With league leaders Creetown's match having been postponed in the morning, Star travelled to Lochmaben knowing that victory would allow them to close the gap at the top of the table. Come the final whistle the gap had indeed been closed after a solid victory at Whitehills Park against a determined and motivated home side. However Star gave them few chances with the defence firmly on top and the midfield, with Charlie Watson the pick of the bunch, totally dominant. Up front Star was clinical, picking their moments to press and force errors and then take full advantage with skipper Dale Milligan helping himself to a hat-trick. The match as a spectacle fell away slightly after the hour with both teams making a number of substitutions that perhaps affected the flow of the match but by then Star had done more than enough to secure the points comfortably.

Considering the amount of rain that had fallen in the days leading up to the match and with there being a number of postponements because of it, full marks must go to whoever looks after the pitch at Whitehills Park as the playing surface held up so well and never cut up at all during the match. The home side was really up for the match and no quarter was asked or given but it only took Star 10 minutes to make the crucial breakthrough. Callum Summerbee did well to battle his way though a couple of challenges from a throw in and he laid the ball back to Ross Hunter whose sweetly struck low drive went through a ruck of players and flew into the back of the net giving the unsighted keeper Tom Cruickshanks no chance at all. This settled the visitors and they were soon looking for a second. In the 16th minute they were inches away from doing so when after a fine passing move Adam Jamieson shaved the far post with a right foot effort. Lochmaben's first effort of note came from a Gavin Smith free kick as he tried to catch out Star stopper Konar Pietsch out at his near post but the big goalie was alert to the danger. Indeed he immediately launched the ball down the park where Declan Rogerson outjumped Cruickshanks but was unable to gather the loose ball that was eventually cleared for a corner.

In the 25th minute Star doubled their lead as good pressing by Ross Hunter forced a defensive mistake and he was unselfish enough to square the ball to his partner in crime Dale Milligan who had the straightforward job of firing the ball into the back of the net. As the half wore on Star became more dominant with the home side struggling to get out of their own half but they defended well coping with a number of Star corners. Hunter had a good chance to make it 3-0 but Cruickshanks was quick off his line and saved well. With almost the last kick of the half Milligan scored his second and Star's third when more good pressing by the visitors forced another defensive error and he shot past Cruickshanks with a lethal finish.

This completed a fine first half for Star in what could have been a tricky match and just two minutes into the second half it got even better. Excellent play down the right from Luke McMurtrie forced a corner that the home side failed to clear and David Taylor knocked the ball back in towards Milligan who fired high into the net from 10 yards or so. Understandably the intensity fell out of the match after this though the home side had a couple of half chances that Pietsch dealt with comfortably. For Star Hunter and Rogerson both went close and Olly Meechan nearly scored an outstanding goal but after skipping past a couple of chances he curled a superb effort inches over the bar. In the 74th minute Hunter was sent clean through but he was crudely upended by Ben English and the referee had no option but to show a straight red card. We then had the strange sight of both teams being forced to substitute one of their substitutes. For the home side Callum Pollock hobbled off after being on the park for barely 10 minutes but for Star Frazer Swan picked up a really sore looking injury through nobodies fault, when he went down after a block tackle on the touchline. Indeed he had to be helped into the changing room after the match and hopefully the injury will not be as bad as first feared.

So another good day at the office for Star and keeps us in a good position in the league table. We now have a wee break from league duty with cup ties on the next two Saturdays starting with Mid Annandale coming to Islecroft. The two sides met at the same venue a month or so ago with Star needing extra time to go through but if we keep up the level of performance we have shown recently then hopefully 90 minutes will be more than enough to see us through.   

LOCHMABEN 0                                      DALBEATTIE STAR 4

                                                                    Hunter (10)

                                                                    Milligan (25, 45, 47)

                                                                    HT 0-3   Att. 72

LOCHMABEN: Cruickshanks, Johnstone, Simpson, English, Davies, Smith (Emmerson 70), Crawford, Milligan, Williamson, White (Pollock 70) (Paisley 81), Cranston (McCrudden 55)

Subs not used: Penman

Yellow Cards: Cranston, Simpson, Davies

Red Cards: English (74)

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (Swan 61) (G Taylor 70), Summerbee, N Rogerson (Palmer 85), D Taylor, Jamieson (Meechan 46), C Watson, Hunter Milligan (Shaw 61), D Rogerson

Subs not used: G Gourlay, Teneggi

Yellow Cards: O'Sullivan, Summerbee

Man of the match: Dale Milligan

Ref: B Templeton

After a run of cup ties, Star returned to league duty for the first time in over a month with an emphatic victory over Upper Annandale. In what we believe was the first ever meeting between the two sides, both sets of players deserve credit for putting on a good show for the brave souls that came out in the heavy rain that fell for almost all of the 90 minutes. For all the visitors were well beaten they had some decent passages of play in the match but were unable to break through a solid home defence that rarely gave them a sniff of a chance on goal.

For the home side it was a good afternoons work. They took full advantage of the slick surface moving the ball well and perhaps the only slight criticism they could face was that they overplayed at times, but all in all they kept the crowd entertained.

Star played down the slope in the first half and in just over 30 seconds they were in the lead when Cammy Shaw collected the ball inside the penalty and netted with a low left foot drive that went in off the far post giving keeper Colin Bell no chance. As good starts go this was right up there and Star went straight on the offensive looking for number two. However the Uppers defence dug deep but they could do little to prevent Ross Hunter scoring in the 17th minute. A trademark lightning break down the right wing by Luke McMurtrie stretched the visitors defence and his low cross was cleverly dummied by Shaw that set up Hunter to thump the ball home from 8 yards. Four minutes later and Dale Milligan had a great chance to make it three but his shot was well saved by Bell. At the other end Star keeper Konar Pietsch dealt well with a couple of free kicks and corners that were thrown into the penalty area but he was never troubled by any shots. Ten minutes from the break Milligan went even closer when following some good link up play in midfield he burst into the Uppers penalty area and curled a fine effort past Bell but the ball smacked off the keepers left hand post went back across goal before being cleared for a corner. It looked like being one of the days for the Star captain but he would eventually get his reward later in the match.

For the start of the second half Star boss Eddie Warwick freshened things up by replacing McMurtrie and Shaw with Frazer Swan and debutant Declan Rogerson. In fact it would a dream debut for Rogerson who would score in the first minute of the second period with his very first touch for the club. He would have Annan Athletic loanee Adam Jamieson to thank as he did all the spadework down the left before drilling the ball low across goal that saw Rogerson coming in at the back post to gleefully volley home. This goal all but snuffed out any chance of a comeback and the Star midfield of Jamieson,  Charlie Watson and Callum Summerbee were in complete control. The fourth goal arrived in the 65th minute and it came courtesy of an excellent Farrel O'Sullivan left foot free kick from 25 yards that left Bell helpless. Five minutes later and Milligan got his name on the score sheet much to his relief and again Jamieson was the provider as he picked the pocket of the Uppers defence. He then laid the ball off to Milligan who shot past Bell from 12 yards. The scoring ended with just over ten minutes left when O'Sullivan's corner deep to the back post was headed downward into the net by the delighted Rogerson. 

This rounded off a good aftenoons work for Star with plenty of players getting good game time. Next week Star are on their travels again as they face Lochmaben in the league and they will be hoping to repeat the levels of performance they produced at Islecroft against Uppers.

DALBEATTIE STAR 6                            UPPER ANNANDALE 0

Shaw (1)

Hunter (17)

Rogerson (46, 79)

O'Sullivan  (65) 

Milligan (70)                                          HT 2-0   Att. 113

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie (Swan 46), O'Sullivan, Summerbee, Rogerson, D Taylor (Palmer 60), Jamieson (Teneggi 69), C Watson (McConaghie 69), Hunter Milligan, Shaw (Rogerson 46)

Subs not used: Meechan, G Gourlay

Yellow Cards: D Taylor

UPPER ANNANDALE: C Bell, A Bell, Wallace (Notman 79), Harvey, Richardson (Nelson 69), Pagen, Carcu, Johnstone (Myatt 69), Dunn (Askins 79), Jackson (McLinden 30), Proudfoot

Subs not used:

Yellow Cards: A Bell, Carcu, Wallace

Ref: N Deane

Dalbeattie Star's cup run ended after a comprehensive defeat at the hands on an impressive Banks O'Dee side. It was a disastrous seven minute spell either side of the interval that saw the Islecroft side somehow concede five goals and end the match as a contest there and then. For Star a number of the goals came as a result of losing possession in bad places and as such were totally avoidable but they were very much second best in this game.

Star travelled north the night before the match to give the players the best chance possible and they began the match well coping with what the home side could throw at them early on. The team was solid as a defensive unit with no sign of the capitulation that was to follow, and Konar Pietsch was relatively untroubled for the first half hour or so. The visitors then began to venture upfield and become an attacking threat of their own. Ten minutes from the break Dale Milligan collected the ball down the right and made a run across the penalty area before striking a superb curling shot with his left foot. The effort had goal written all over it but home keeper Andrew Shearer somehow got the merest of fingertips to the ball and that was enough to send the ball inches wide for a corner - a stunning save. A couple of minutes later and Shearer came to the Dee's rescue again as he tipped Callum Summerbee's 25 yard strike over the bar. With half time approaching it was imperative Star could get to the break on level terms but disaster struck in the 42nd minute. The Star defence seemed to snuff out any danger but then lost the ball on the edge of their own area and the ball was fed to Hamish MacLeod by a clever back heel and he gave Pietsch no chance at all from 12 yards. Worse was to follow on the stroke of half time when a fine move down the left ended with Luke Emmett driving the ball across the six yard line to Max Alexander who had the simple task of tapping the ball home at the back post.

If conceding twice in the last three minutes of the first half was bad enough, that paled into insignificance as to what happened at the start of the second. Almost straight from the kick off Alexander scored with a terrific left foot strike that went in off the underside of the bar and it was going to be a case of how many. A minute later and it was 4-0 as Star struggled to keep the ball and it eventually fell to Chris Antoniazzi inside the ball and he beat Pietsch with a fine finish driving the ball high into the net. From the kick off Star played the ball back where it  eventually came to Pietsch but he saw his attempted clearance being charged down by the onrushing MacLeod and the striker had the simplest task of knocking the ball into the empty net from a few yards out. It had been a demoralising spell for the Star and thankfully there would be only one more goal conceded when Alexander knocked home a rebound after Pietsch did well to save from Ramsay Davidson.

In the dying minutes the home side was awarded the softest of penalties for handball but Pietsch saved the spot kick for the second round in a row diving low to his right.

So congratulations to Banks O'Dee who were very impressive and we wish them well in the next round and for the rest of the season, and we thank them for the welcome and hospitality given to our club. For Star we now return to South League duties with a run of league and cup games coming up and that begins with a home league match against Upper Annandale.           

BANKS O'DEE 6                                    DALBEATTIE STAR 0

H MacLeod (42, 49)

Alexander (45, 46, 63)

Antoniazzi (47)                                    HT 2-0   Att. 200

BANKS O'DEE: Shearer, Davidson (Selbie 78), Emmett (Lewecki 54), Kelly (Anderson 67), Stark, Wallace, Watson (Robertson 54), Philipson, Alexander (L MacLeod 67), Antoniazzi, H MacLeod

Subs not used: Gilmour, Irvine

Yellow Cards:

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, Summerbee, Rogerson, D Taylor (G Gourlay 84), Jamieson, Williamson (G Taylor 46), Hunter (Shaw 55), Milligan (Meechan 69), C Watson

Subs: Palmer, Swan, McConaghie, Devlin

Yellow Cards:

Ref:

Star made it through to the last eight of the J Haig Gordon Memorial Trophy after victory  over Mid Annandale and for the second week running they needed an extra 30 minutes to do so and for the second week running it was Ross Hunter that struck the decisive blow. This was not a match that will be on any highlight reel come the end of the season but Star did just enough to get through, and in cup ties, it is all about making sure your name is in the hat for the next round.  However the management team do put great importance on the level of performance from the team and for once this was one that perhaps did not meet those levels.

With this being the last match before the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup tie at Banks O'Dee, manager Eddie Warwick originally went with the same team that won away to Carluke last week but was forced into a last minute change that resulted in Charlie Watson coming in for his debut in place of Sam McConaghie. There was a familiar face in the Mids team as their captain was Connor Graham who enjoyed two successful spell at Islecroft. The highlights of his time here would probably be two dramatic late winners he scored - the first against The Spartans when Star trailed 3-1 with less than ten minutes remaining and Connor scored a sensational stoppage time winner and the second against Newtongrange Star in the Scottish Cup. This time Dalbeattie was 2-0 down at the break but they came roaring back and Connor scored a last minute winner with a header that started great celebrations amongst the home contingent. And it is fair to say nobody enjoyed the goals more than Connor.   

To the match itself and in a fairly lacklustre first half we had the unusual sight of a water break midway through and even more strange was the fact we are now in September. The match suddenly came to life three minutes from half time when Russell Williamson was brought down by keeper Ferguson and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Having missed their last two spot kicks it was now Ross Hunter's turn to try his luck from 12 yards but he smashed his effort high over the bar and into Colliston Park. However Hunter would get a second chance as the referee judged the keeper had moved off his line too early and ordered a re-take. This time though Hunter made no mistake firing low into the bottom corner. 

The visitors began the second half brightly and within two minutes the were back on levels terms when Laurie Maxwell scored from a cut back. Both teams pushed on for a winner and both teams had the ball in the oppositions net only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. There was no further scoring and so we were into 30 minutes extra time. The deciding moment in the match would arrive ten minutes later and it came from an obvious source as Dale Milligan set up Ross Hunter and he made no mistake, scoring the goal that would eventually take Star through.

As said before we have a week off next Saturday so our next match is the big cup tie in Aberdeen on 23rd September. While having the Saturday off is far from ideal it will give the players nursing knocks more time to recover and will get everyone fired up for what will be a difficult but equally exciting tie.     

DALBEATTIE STAR 2                            MID ANNANDALE 1    aet

Hunter (43pen, 100)                          Maxwell (47)

                                                                   HT 1-0   Att. 131

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, C Watson (Summerbee 49), Rogerson, D Taylor (Teneggi 82), Meechan (G Taylor 61), Williamson, Hunter, Milligan, Shaw (Jamieson 37)

Subs: G Gourlay, Palmer, Swan

Yellow Cards: Milligan, C Watson, Hunter

MID ANNANDALE: Ferguson, Peat, Robson, Maxwell, Graham, Whyte, Wagner, Jackson, Newbould, Norman, Taylor

Subs: Collins, Willis, Agnew, Hammond, Jackson, Murray, Smith

Yellow Cards: Maxwell, Murray

Ref: M Williamson

Man of the match - N Rogerson

Dalbeattie Star's Scottish Cup adventure continues for at least another round after surviving an afternoon of high drama in Carluke. It was an historic occasion for the home side as this was their first ever Scottish Cup tie and an excellent crowd turned up at the John Cumming stadium to witness it. It was a match that had a bit of everything and just when it seemed we were heading to a penalty shoot out the game was decided by a goal of the season contender.

Star arrived in South Lanarkshire minus a number of players but the only change to the starting line up that performed so well against Newton Stewart last week was Sam McConaghie coming in for the injured Dean Watson. This meant the midfield trio of McConaghie, Williamson and Meechan had a combined age of under 60 and though it took them a bit of time to get to grips with the plastic pitch and the match, they performed pretty well.

As expected the home side came out of the traps quickly but it was Star that have the first serious effort on goal in the 6th minute when a superb acrobatic volley from Russell Williamson came back off keeper Joseph McGill's left hand post. Two minutes later the home fans were screaming for a red card when Niall Rogerson was caught under a ball over the top and was forced to pull down Greg Miller but thankfully the ball was heading to the corner flag and also Konar Pietsch would probably have reached the ball first, so the referee was correct in showing a yellow. The visitors were struggling with the pace of the plastic pitch as well as a fired up Rovers and in the 15th minute they fell behind to a stunning strike. There appeared little danger when Cairan McGurn collected the ball 25 yards out but it was one of those strikes that as soon as the ball left his boot you knew there was only one place it was going to finish. If the home side wasn't fired up enough before then they were approaching fever pitch when they went 2-0 up five minutes later. A low cross from the right found Dominic Small in the middle and his well hit volley was partly stopped by Pietsch's right hand but the ball managed to squirm over the line. It was evident early on that Small was the Carluke dangerman and thankfully for Star most of his good work was done well away from goal.

It was imperative that Star dug deep to keep themselves in the tie and to be fair the young side showed some character to slowly play themselves back into the match. Midway through the half McGill parried a Dale Milligan shot onto the bar though the assistant's flag had gone up for offside. Star began cope with the home side's threats and in the 33rd minute they were right back in the match when they halved the deficit. Luke McMurtrie's cross from wide on the right was mis-controlled by a Rovers defender in the centre and Ross Hunter nipped in to tee the ball up for Dale Milligan who simply smashed the ball home from 14 yards. It this was a huge boost for the Islecroft side then six minutes later they received another when the home side was reduced to ten men. Reiss Stewart and Hunter challenged for a high bouncing ball and the defender caught the attacker just above the knee with what at best could be called a robust tackle. The home side argued Stewart played the ball first but it was a dangerous challenge and probably ticked all the boxes required for a red card and so off he went. To say the home fans and players were annoyed by this decision would be something of an understatement and the final minutes of the half were somewhat frantic but thankfully they passed with no more controversy.

The second period kicked off with Star very much on the front foot with their passing and movement a lot better than the first. Being a man short the home side understandably were out to frustrate the Star by trying to kill the match at every opportunity. Three minutes after the re-start Hunter was inches away from an equaliser when he stabbed the ball past McGill but the ball came back off the post and was eventually cleared. Seconds later Milligan found some rare space in the home box but dragged his effort wide and Hunter was then denied from a tight angle by McGill. The constant pressure then paid off on the hour when man of the match Milligan ran on to a pass inside the penalty area, cut inside onto his right foot and fired a superb shot just inside the far post giving McGill no chance. 

With half an hour remaining you fully expected Star to then put the match to bed but for some strange reason they began to get sloppy in possession and the intensity somehow dropped. Knowing they needed to score again Carluke knew their best chance came from set plays and Star obliged by conceding a number of needless free kicks which allowed the home side to launch balls into the Star penalty area. However keeper Pietsch was oustanding at coming out to collect any crosses that were too near to him and this took the pressure of the visiting defence considerably. With the match heading for extra time Star slowly began to build up the pressure again and in the fifth minute of stoppage time Rogerson's towering header at the back post from a corner seemed sure to go in but keeper McGill somehow kept it out and from the resultant melee the ball was eventually cleared.

So on to extra time and in the intense heat surely Star's extra man would eventually tell. However just three minutes in and disaster struck when Rovers were awarded a penalty. A long ball was launched upfield by full back Jordan Brown and as Rogerson was ushering the ball out for a goal kick a Carluke forward got himself tangled up in the defenders legs and went to ground. As the home fans screamed penalty the referee delayed his decision by a few seconds before controversially pointing to the spot. The visitors were stunned but seconds later Pietsch was the hero as he dived low to his right to save substitutes Craig Rutherford's spot kick comfortably. This was a huge let off for Star and perhaps a wee kick up the backside they needed. However the home side still posed a threat and Pietsch did well to push Jordan Brown's free kick over the bar. However Star moved up a gear to try and avoid the dreaded penalty shoot out. In the 103rd minute David Taylor's shot from outside the box was left by keeper McGill but the ball hit the outside of the post. Full credit to the stamina of the home side as the refused to wilt under the blazing sun but with six minutes to go until the penalty shoot out, the decisive blow was struck. Ross Hunter collected the ball some 30 yards from goal and with no apparent danger he took aim and fired in a ferocious shot that flew high past McGill leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. It was an unbelievable strike that would have been worthy of winning the cup final itself. The home team was shattered by now and unable to create even a half chance even though a few free kicks were thrown into the box. There were a couple of minor flare ups towards the end as tempers frayed slightly, but the referee used common sense by issuing yellow rather than red cards,

So Star progress in the tightest of circumstances and we can all look forward to the draw on Sunday night. It is a good sign that a very young team managed to get through a tricky tie away from home, though never playing anywhere near their best. But they did score three outstanding goals and that in the end was the difference. Star did of course have an extra man advantage for a long time in the match and that no doubt had a huge unfluence on the final outcome of the match. 

Next up we are back to Islecroft on Saturday as Mid Annandale visit in the J Haig Gordon Memorial Cup.       

CARLUKE ROVERS 2                            DALBEATTIE STAR 3    aet

McGurn (15)                                          Milligan (33, 60)

Small (20)                                             Hunter (114)

                                                                   HT 2-1   Att. 350

CARLUKE ROVERS: McGill, Brown, Martin, Stewart, Fraser, McClone (O'Reilly 53), J Bell, D Bell (Rutherford 79), Miller, McGurn (Reid 42), Small

Subs: Sandhv, Park, Murphy, Curren, Thomas, Hutchison

Yellow Cards: McGill, O'Reilly, Reid, Martin, Rutherford, J Bell

Red Cards: Stewart (39)

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, McConaghie, Rogerson, D Taylor, Meechan (G Taylor 46), Williamson, Hunter, Milligan, Shaw (Teneggi 77)

Subs: Palmer, Moffat, McKeeman, Minto

Yellow Cards: Rogerson, McMurtrie, Hunter, Milligan

Ref: C Ashwood

Man of the match - Dale Milligan

After losing their last two matches Dalbeattie Star returned to winning ways with an impressive victory over high flying Newton Stewart. The Creesiders arrived at Islecroft sitting top of the league having won all five of their opening league fixtures. Although it is far too early to talk about pressure matches Star knew if they lost this match they would have fallen nine points behind their opponents albeit that they still had a game in hand.

Come kick off everything was set for a great afternoons football and for the home side it could not have gone much better. Conditions were perfect Islecroft basking in the bright sunshine and the playing surface never having looked better. Star boss Eddie Warwick picked a very strong starting line up with plenty of options on the bench. Included in the line up was central defender Niall Rogerson who had just signed on loan from Queen of the South just days before and he would have an outstanding debut. He and David Taylor combined well all afternoon to keep one of the leagues best strikers Robert Middleton quiet. MIddleton did have a very short spell at Star a number of years ago and there were a couple of other familiar faces in the Newton ranks with their keeper and captain Euan Drysdale having played for Star some eight years ago. Their assistant manager is Andrew Donley who will forever be in the Star history books having scored a hat trick in our first ever Lowland League match.

Anyway on to the match and it soon became evident how both teams would approach the match. The home side was keen to get the ball down and move it about the park quickly whilst the visitors were always on the lookout to get the ball to MIddleton as quickly as possible for him to use his pace and power. Star began brightly without threatening Drysdale but they opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a fine team goal. Dean Watson started the move in the middle of the park when he picked out Ross Hunter's run down the right wing. He clipped in a fine pass to pick out Cammy Shaw and his terrific first time cross along the six yard line was knocked home by the sliding Dale MIlligan. It was the perfect start for Star and just two  minutes later they almost doubled their advantage when Luke McMurtrie's half volley flew over the bar after the visiting defence had fallen asleep at the back post. Despite Star's dominance Middleton was always a danger but he was being well looked after by both Taylor and Rogerson. In the 21st minute Shaw saw his curling free kick touched over by Drysdale and it took 25 minutes for the Creesiders to get their first effort on target but Konar Pietsch save easily from a free kick. Just before the half hour Star was inches away from making it 2-0 when a header flew across the goal and past the far post with Drysdale stranded. As the half wore on Newton came more into the match enjoying more possession but the Star defence was strong and they were unable to create any chances. 

The second half began like the first with the home side very much on the front foot. In the 52nd minute another fine Star move ended with Shaw going close as the home side pushed for the crucial second. That goal would duly arrive just after the hour in spectacular style when Hunter latched on to Taylor's long pass and the striker had the audacity and vision to hit a first time lob over Drysdale from some 20 yards. In mid air the big worry was that the ball would bounce over the bar but thankfully for the home fans it went into the top corner before nestling nicely in the back of the net. 

Star now had the cushion they craved but were not going to settle for a 2-0 win. Marc Whyte saw a glancing header go over for the Blairmount Park side but the home side always looked the more likely to score again. Russell Williamson then fired in an awkward 20 yard shot that Drysdale pushed wide before Star scored the third to finally seal the points. A Farrel O'Sullivan free kick picked out Hunter at the back post and his acrobatic volley was half blocked by Drysdale and as the ball rolled along the six yard box substitute Greg Taylor nipped in to thump the ball home from a couple of yards out. In the second minute of stoppage time Newton full back received a second yellow card for dissent and was sent packing. 

So and excellent team performance from the Star and every player could feel pleased with their efforts. The defence was solid from start to finish and was the foundation on which the performance was built. The midfield combined skill with great energy throughout the 90 minutes and the attack carried a constant threat. This is Star's only league match for a few weeks so it was good to get the 3 points in the bag to keep us in contact with the top of the table.

Next up is a trip to Carluke on Scottish Cup duty and if the team can produce this level of performance then they will have a great chance to progress. Scottish Cup time is always a highlight in any clubs season especially if you can get through a few rounds.     

DALBEATTIE STAR 3                             NEWTON STEWART 0

Milligan (14)

Hunter (62)

G Taylor (74)                                          HT 1-0   Att. 187

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, D Watson, Rogerson (Summerbee 69), D Taylor, Meechan (G Taylor 63), Williamson, Hunter (Teneggi 79), Milligan, Shaw (McConaghie 69)

Subs not used: Swan, MInto

Yellow Cards: Meechan, Williamson, Hunter

NEWTON STEWART: E Drysdale, Jamieson, Hughan, MacDonald (Thomson 79), Brown (Service 46), Anderson, A Drysdale (McKnight 85), Whyte, Middleton, Ellis (Mann 65), Rodger (McCulloch 65)

Subs not used: Moffat, Thorburn

Yellow Cards: Jamieson, MacDonald

Red Cards: Jamieson (90+2)

Ref: K Whalen

Man of the match - David Taylor

The South Region Challenge Cup has not been kind to Star over the last few years and you have to go back 6 years to the last time we won a match in this competition - and Saturdays visit to Station Park in Dalmellington extended that poor run for at least another year. Star travelled north minus their two first choice centre backs  and with ten minutes left of the first half in this game they would be without the two that started this match. For all that everything seemed to go against the Islecroft side in this game the visitors did shoot themselves in the foot to some extent by missing a number of good chances and then conceded a couple of soft goals late on to give the final scoreline a somewhat lopsided look. But over the 90 minutes Burntonians deserved their win and we wish them well in the next round.

For the second week in a row Star came out of the blocks quickly and found themselves two up inside the first quarter. Cammy Shaw found Ross Hunter down the right hand channel and he beat his marker all ends up before rolling the ball past Johnson in the home goal. Hunter and Dale Milligan then had a couple of good chances to extend Star's lead but that second goal would arrive in the 24th minute. Again Hunter was the scorer when he capitalised on a defensive error and shot low into the bottom corner. Things were going so well for Star and they looked in total control at this stage but things can change quickly in this game. On the half hour the home side pulled one back when a cross fired across the six yard box was converted by Jordan Ryan. Five minutes later the match was turned on its head when young Jack Palmer conceded a penalty and was perhaps a touch unfortunate to receive a straight red card from the referee. Steven Tan converted from the spot and all of a sudden the score was level and Craigmark had a man advantage. By this time centre back Calum Summerbee had already left the field of play injured and it was a somewhat makeshift Star defence that faced the final hour or so. 

Despite being a man short Star continued to create some chances but 8 minutes after the re-start they fell behind when Jackson Sivewright netted and the momentum was very much with the home side. When Michael Reilly made it 4-2 on the hour it looked like game over but Star continued to push forward and create chances and unfortunately miss them. Unfortunately two goals in the last couple of minutes from Reilly and Tan made the final scoreline a bit unfair on Star but you have to simply take it on the chin and move on.

Next week we return to league duty with a huge match against high flying Newton Stewart. It will be our first home match of the season on a Saturday and it would be great to see another big crowd at the Croft to cheer on the boys. 

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS 6        DALBEATTIE STAR 2

Ryan (31)                                               Hunter (12, 24)

Tan (37pen, 90)

Sivewright (56)

Reilly (65, 89)                                      HT 2-2                       

CRAIGMARK BURNTONIANS: Johnson, Gilbert, Gilmour, McEvoy (Watters 72), Hendry, Ryan, Tan, McCrea, Sivewright, Hill (Reilly 58), Banks

Subs: Miller, McCrum, Henderson

Yellow Cards: Gilmour, Miller

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan (G Gourlay 75), D Watson,  Summerbee (Swan 20) , Palmer, G Taylor (C McKeeman 75), Williamson, Hunter, Milligan, Shaw (Teneggi 60)

Subs: Minto, Moffat

Yellow Cards: Hunter

Red Card: Palmer (35)

Star's winning run at the start of the South league season ended after losing a seven goal thriller away to Nithsdale Wanderers. This match had a bit of everything - goals galore, yellow cards, penalties, more yellow cards, missed penalties, even more yellow cards, controversial decisions and predictably, an eventual red card. There is no doubt Lorimer Park is one of, if not the most intimidating ground in the South league which is all well and good, but the locals do know how to push everything to the limit and at times perhaps even beyond. And before we are accused of sour grapes because we lost this match, we aired the same grievances after our last visit to Sanquhar which was a game we won.

But at the end of the day the young Star side learned a harsh lesson on Saturday but will hopefully benefit from it in the long run. They did score three goals but missed numerous other chances, including for the second week in a row a penalty kick, but this time they were made to pay. Despite everything that happened during the 90 minutes, Star did let a three goal lead slip away, though you have to give full credit to Wanderers striker Sean McKenzie for an outstanding performance as he bagged all four goals for the home side. Everyone knew beforehand he was the dangerman in the home side but his power, strength and clinical finishing proved to be too much for the visiting defence.

To the match itself and Star could not have dreamt of getting a better start as they not only scored in the first minute but found themselves three ahead in twenty. Cammy Shaw got the ball rolling with a very tidy finish after being set up by Ross Hunter. Then in the 5th minute McKenzie had the ball in the net for the first time but the whistle had long gone for offside and Star's lead remained intact. Two minutes later though Star doubled their lead when Hunter latched onto a misjudged header and brilliantly lobbed keeper Kevin Roy from all of 25 yards. The tackles were now flying in and there were a number of bone crunchers among them and the referee decided it was time to start brandishing some cards. The home sides mood was not good by this time and it was to get a whole lot worse in the 20th minute when Hunter fired home his second with a lethal finish low into the corner of the net.

The visitors were in dreamland by this time and Dale Milligan produced some sublime skill to create a chance but it came to nothing. The home side desperately needed a goal to keep themselves in the match by this time and McKenzie was the man to provide the lifeline when he scored with a thumping free kick that gave Konar Pietsch no chance at all in the 27th minute. Despite the setback Star continued to press but ten minutes from time came the incident that changed the whole complexion and mood of the match. The home side had a free kick near the halfway line that was launched towards the Star penalty area. With the ball approaching the box the referee's whistle went and the players from both sides stopped. The ball reached Star defender Luke McMurtrie who caught the ball and returned it towards the centre circle expecting a re-take of the free kick. Then to everyone's disbelief the referee awarded a penalty kick for handball even though McMurtrie caught the ball well outside the area. It was an astonishing decision that left everyone dumbfounded and in the Star camp understandably angry. The golden rule of football is that you play to the whistle which is exactly Star did but they were punished for it by one of the strangest decisions ever seen on a football field. This was of course to be of no concern to Sean McKenzie and when everything had calmed down to a degree he made no mistake from 12 yards and the match was right back in the balance. With everything that had gone on Star would have been glad to get in at the interval ahead but it could have been even better when Hunter had a good chance to complete his hat trick in the 44th minute but his shot from 6 yards was brilliantly blocked.

After a breath taking opening 45 minutes Star would have been glad for a quiet start to the second period but as expected the home side came out with all guns blazing. Four minutes in and McKenzie had a great chance to equalise but for once failed to convert. In the 55th minute Star had a great chance to restore their two goal advantage when Hunter was tripped inside the box but Shaw failed to find the back of the net from the penalty spot and the home side were buoyed once more. Seconds later Pietsch produced a terrific save from a McKenzie header. Emotions on both sides were now running high and the game was very much at boiling point. In the 72nd minute the home side got their equaliser and again it was not without controversy. A ball over the top found McKenzie in splendid isolation and despite looking yards offside he was allowed to run clear and finish with great authority. With ten minutes left Star's worst nightmare came to life when in near identical fashion to Nithsdale's third goal, McKenzie ran clear looking yard's offside and again he gave Pietsch no chance at all. 

Still in a state of shock Star tried to somehow grab an equaliser but were unable to create any chances. Three minutes from time Nithsdale was reduced to ten men when Aiden Lang picked up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. How ironic that a game full of crunching and borderline tackles would see the only red card issued for something as tame as that.

So a sad way for Star to end their winning run but we pick ourselves up and start again next weekend. We have our first cup tie of the season as we head to Dalmellington in the Challenge Cup to face Craigmark Burntonians.              

NITHSDALE WANDERERS 4              DALBEATTIE STAR 3

McKenzie (27, 37pen, 72, 80)         Shaw (1)

                                                                    Hunter (8, 20)

                                                                    Shaw missed pen (56)

                                                                    HT 2-3

NITHSDALE WANDERERS: Roy, West, Thom, S Bell, Black, Nish, Kennedy, Lang, McKenzie, Degnan, Trialist

Subs: Loudon, McLeod, King, Griffiths, K Bell

Yellow Cards: Lang, McKenzie, Nish, Bell, West, Black, Degnan

Red Card: Lang (87)

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie Swan, Watson, Summerbee (Palmer 80), D Taylor, G Taylor (McConaghie 75), Williamson, Hunter, Milligan, Shaw (Meechan 63)

Subs not used:  G Gourlay, McKeeman, Moffat, Minto

Yellow Cards: Summerbee, Pietsch, Williamson

Ref: S Sutherland

Dalbeattie Star continued their 100% start to the league season with a hard fought but fully deserved win away to Stranraer. The two sides went into the match with contrasting beginnings to the season - the home side having lost both their games and the visitors winning their two. However Star knew beforehand that Stranraer is never the easiest place to visit and that they would have to perform to a good level to take anything from the match.

Calum Summerbee was unavailable from the starting line up that defeated St. Cuthberts in midweek so Russell Williamson dropped into the centre of defence and Dean Watson returned after having a slight hamstring niggle. The only other change saw Cammy Shaw begin with Sam McConaghie dropping to the bench. As had been the case in the first two matches Star started slowly and it took a while to get into any rhythm especially as this was their first match on a plastic pitch this season. The home youngsters started better but it was Star that opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Ross Hunter received a pass from Greg Taylor, beat his marker and fired home from an acute angle. However that lead was short lived and midway through the half the home side equalised when Star failed to clear a corner and Martin McClorey scored from close range. Just after the half hour things could and should have been a lot worse for the Islecroft side when Stranraer was awarded a penalty but McClorey ballooned the spot kick over the bar. Star would make the youngsters pay big style by scoring twice late on in the first half. Luke McMurtrie scored his first goal for the Star when he was set up by Cammy Shaw and fired low past Alastair Collins from just inside the edge of the box. In the last minute of the half Dale Milligan gave Star a cushion when he made it 3-1 and set us up nicely for the second period. He slotted the ball home nicely after good work by Shaw and Hunter.

Nine minutes after the re-start though the home side was right back in the match when they were awarded a second penalty and this time Ryan Edgar made no mistake to make it 3-2. Star's reaction though was first class and they produced their best football of the match to clinch the points. Just five minutes after seeing their advantage halved Shaw restored the two goal lead  where he scored with a fine 20 yard fee kick. Star continued to push forward and just after the hour Milligan shot home from close range for his second and Star's fifth and the points were all but safe. The Islecroft side was well on top now and continued to impress and in the 74th minute Milligan had the perfect chance to complete his hat-trick when Star was awarded a penalty but keeper Collins made a good save with his feet from the spot kick. There was to be no further scoring though Star kept on pressing looking for more.

So another good win for Star at a tricky venue at Stranraer Academy. Next weekend we are on the road again this time at Sanquhar where we will face a Nithsdale Wanderers side that has started the season well. Everyone knows how tough a place Lorimer Park is to take any points away from and it will be a great test for this new look, exciting Star side.       

STRANRAER 2                                    DALBEATTIE STAR 5

McClorey (22)                                  Hunter (19)

Edgar (54)                                         McMurtrie (42)

                                                               Milligan (45, 65)

                                                               Shaw (60)

McClorey missed pen (32)         Milligan missed pen (80)

                                                 HT 1-3

STRANRAER: Collins, Phillips, Clive, McClorey, Smith, McKane, Fergusson, Gallacher, Edgar, Hay (Paton 60), Forbes

Subs not used: McKeand, Paton, Wither, Agnew, Simmers, Pell, Sheppard

Yellow Cards: Smith, Fergusson, Hay, Edgar

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie (Palmer 80), O'Sullivan, Watson, Williamson, D Taylor, Meechan (G Gourlay 80), G Taylor, Hunter (Swan 80), Milligan, Shaw (McConaghie 63)

Subs not used: Trialist, Trialist

Yellow Cards: O'Sullivan, Williamson

Ref: B Templeton

MAN OT THE MATCH - Luke McMurtrie

Dalbeattie Star made it two wins out of two matches since their return to the South of Scotland league following a comfortable win over St. Cuthbert Wanderers at a busy Islecroft Stadium. A quickfire double at the start of the second half made the points safe and Star saw out the remainder of the match with a minimum of fuss. Despite the perfect start no one at the club will be getting carried away as there is still so much to work on and improve. However the team has shown glimpses of their potential and the more they play together and get to know each others game, then the fans have every right to be excited at what lies ahead not only in the weeks, months but even years ahead as manager Eddie Warwick is always quick to point out quite rightly, that this is very much a long term project.

Star went into their first South league match at Islecroft in over ten years buoyed by the fine win away to champions Abbey Vale at the weekend whilst Saints opened their campaign by losing heavily at Lochar Thistle. This meant wholesale changes to the visiting starting line up with a number of completely new faces wearing the blue and white hoops. Star began brightly in front of an excellent crowd but the visitors grew in confidence as the half wore on. Despite some fine attacking play from the home side the closest they came to opening the scoring were a couple of crosses flashing across the six yard box where there were unfortunately no takers. In fact the two best chances in the opening 20 minutes fell to the Kirkcudbright side when they ran clear of the Star defence only for Konar Pietsch to block well with his chest with the first effort and for Greig Lawrie to shoot wide with the second. They were perhaps the warnings Star needed as they tightened things up considerably after that, restricting the Saints attack to few chances.

The home side began to dominate and had the visitors pinned inside their own half for long spells, but the Saints  defending was strong with keeper Lewis McCafferty coping well with whatever came his way. However the deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when Dale Milligan was needlessly clipped from behind inside the penalty area and without hesitation the referee pointed to the spot. It was Milligan himself who took the spot kick and he sent McCafferty the wrong way with a well struck shot just inside the keepers right hand post. The home side kept on looking for more goals before the break and they pushed and probed, moving the ball well but they just couldn't find the back of the net again. The closest they came was ten minutes from the break when Ross Hunter did well to set up full back Luke McMurtrie but his left foot shot from close range was well blocked by a last gasp despairing tackle.

So Star went into the interval one goal to the good and they could feel pleased with their efforts though the match was still very much in the balance. Whatever Eddie Warwick and his staff said to the players during the break it certainly had the desired effect as the team came out with all guns blazing and within five minutes had all but sealed the points. Within 60 seconds of the re-start Hunter coolly slotted the ball past McCafferty to double Star's lead and minutes later Greg Taylor capped a man of the match performance by scoring with a neat header from a Milligan delivery. It seemed a case of how many for Star now as they could and perhaps should have added more goals to their tally as they squandered a number of good opportunities. Saints could easily have folded at this stage but they refused to give up and managed to prevent Star from scoring again. Both sides made a number of substitutions which obviously affected the flow of the match but it was equally important to give as many players as possible some game time. Come the final whistle the home players received a deserved ovation from the fans as the left the pitch.

We now face a run of three away matches before we next play at Islecroft at the end of the month starting with a trip to Stranraer in the league on Saturday. As stated previously we are still very much in the infancy of what has been described as a 2-3 year project but the signs are promising. There will no doubt be some bumps in the road ahead but there is already a growing connection between the team and the fans, which was perhaps missing last season, and that can only be good for the club as a whole. 

DALBEATTIE STAR 3              ST CUTHBERT WANDERERS 0

Milligan (25pen)

Hunter (46)

G Taylor (50)                          HT 1-0    Att. 261

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch (Minto 67), McMurtrie (Swan 67), O'Sullivan, McConaghie (Watson 55), Summerbee, D Taylor, Meechan (Shaw 55), Williamson (G Gourlay 73), Hunter, Milligan, G Taylor

Subs not used: Palmer,

Yellow Cards: D Taylor, Watson

ST CUTHBERT WANDERERS: McCafferty, Anunobi, MacLachlan, Scobbie (Larkin 70), Trialist, McMillan, Kirkpatrick (Trialist 16), Campbell, Lawrie (Paberzs 70), Caygill, McLaughlin

Subs not used: Harper, Thomson, Trialist, Tait

Yellow Cards: None

MAN OF THE MATCH - GREG TAYLOR

Star returned to the South of Scotland league with a hard earned win over last year champions Abbey Vale. In  a match where both sets of players gave absolutely everything, it was a rather fortuitous goal from Farrel O'Sullivan that won the points for the visitors. Having said that  over the piece it was Star that just about edged matters and they probably deserved their rub of the green.

It was a young, attacking Islecroft side that lined up on the Maryfield Park that was in superb condition for the pick of the opening day fixtures in the South league. However there was a strong blustery wind that did neither side any favours and the home side kicked off down the slope with the wind in their back. It was evident from the outset that neither side was prepared to give an inch, especially in midfield and this carried on for virtually the whole match. As a result the more creative players in both sides rarely had time or room to show their skills but they were more than willing to roll up their sleeves and do their bit for the team. 

The opening exchanges were pretty even but Vale did create two clear cut chances they would later rue missing. In the 8th minute a ball over the top put former Star player Aiden Kerr clean through but his attempted lob was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Star keeper Konar Pietsch who would go on to have a fine match. Four minutes later and another former Star player Phil Middlemiss found himself one on one with Pietsch but his attempted chip was weak and the keeper saved comfortably. In the 18th minute home keeper Taylor Hall was able to show his ability when he made a save at full length to keep out a David Taylor header from a Farrel O'Sullivan free kick. Following a Star corner there was an almighty scramble in the home goalmouth but the ball would just not fall kindly for a red and black jersey and the ball was eventually hacked away. As the match progressed the defences began to get on top and chances were few and far between though Dale Milligan called Hall back into action ten minutes from the break saving his shot from the edge of the box.

After a goalless first half it was Aiden Kerr that had the first effort of the second period but he fired over what was no better than a half chance. A minute later Ross Hunter had the ball in the back of the net but the whistle had already gone for offside. Star began to get on top and minutes later Milligan was through but Hall did well to rush from his line and block the forwards shot. Just before the hour Olly Meechan curled in a superb cross to the back post but Cammy Shaw was only inches away from applying the finishing touch. At this stage it was the Islecroft side that looked the more likely to break the deadlock and in the 62nd minute they did just that with a slice of good fortune. O'Sullivan did well to win the ball wide on the left and he fired in a deep cross that sailed over Hall's despairing jump and aided by the gusting wind flew into the back of the net via the inside of the back post.

The expected reaction from the South league champions duly arrived but Star coped well and in fact they looked the more likely to score the next goal. In the 66th minute MIlligan had an identical chance to the one he missed earlier but unfortunately this one had the same outcome with Hall making another excellent stop. With time running out you felt the home side would have one big chance to come and it arrived in the 81st minute. Again it fell to Aiden Kerr who broke the Star offside trap but PIetsch did brilliantly to thwart the Vale striker. The visiting defence then survived a number of long throws that were launched into their penalty area and they held out for a clean sheet and a fine victory. 

You couldn't pick out any individuals for a special mention after a good team performance like this as everyone played their part. There were a number of familiar faces in the Abbey Vale ranks and special mention must go to an old foe Liam Paterson, who showed there were still a few miles left in the old legs yet as he was certainly the pick of the home side. 

It's straight back into action with St. Cuthbert Wanderers visiting Islecroft on Tuesday night so there is no time for anyone to rest on their laurels. Hopefully there will be a good turnout for our first home match in the South league in over 10 years.

ABBEY VALE 0               DALBEATTIE STAR 1

                                           O'Sullivan (62)

                                           HT 0-0    Att. 178

ABBEY VALE: Hall, Gazebieniak, Glen, Patterson, Kirk, Corbett, Middlemiss (Harper), Bruce, A Kerr (Hughes 83), C Kerr (Ferguson 65), McKenna (Simpson 65)

Subs: Jess, Pirrie, Adams

Yellow Cards: A Kerr, McKenna, Ferguson, Harper

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, McMurtrie, O'Sullivan, Watson, Summerbee, D Taylor, Meechan, Williamson, Hunter (McConaghie 79), Milligan, Shaw (G Taylor 59)

Subs: G Gourlay, Palmer, Swan, Trialist, Minto

Yellow Cards: Shaw

Ref: M Williamson

MAN OF THE MATCH - DEAN WATSON

Star's pre-season ended with a defeat to West of Scotland Premiership side Gartcairn. Despite the scoreline it was another good run out for the Star youngsters with their next match being the league opener at Abbey Vale. Again every player got a good amount of game time and all eyes look forward to a trip to the defending South of Scotland league champions next week.

GARTCAIRN 4       DALBEATTIE STAR 0

McLiveen

Trialist

Burns (2)                HT 1-0

GARTCAIRN: Trialist, Trialist, Boyle, Trialist, Eley, Trialist, Burns, Crerand, McLiveen, Aitken, Trialist

Subs: Dunlop, Stevenson, Mitchell, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist

DALBEATTIE STAR: Minto, McMurtrie (Trialist), O'Sullivan, Watson, Summerbee (Palmer), Taylor, Meechan, Williamson (Trialist), Hunter (Teneggi), Milligan (Gourlay), Shaw

Ref: E Birch

Star's third pre-season match saw them lose to a very impressive young Queen of the South side. The Palmerston team had hoped to field a some reserves in this clash but a number of injuries received the previous night in a 3-3 home draw to Motherwell put paid to that idea. But the youngsters played well and fully deserved their win.

For Eddie Warwick's side it was a game of two halves performance wise. The first forty five was somewhat lack lustre from the home side as they sat off and allowed Queens to dominate the ball for long spells. One pleasing aspect was despite this, Star was pretty solid defensively and keeper Konor Pietsch did not have too many saves to make. The second half was a different story though and something seemed to click for the Islecroft side. They were far more determined and aggressive in their approach and this made a huge difference. Indeed the forwards suddenly came to life after being starved of the ball in the opening period and they threatened Mark Thomson in the Queens goal on a number of occasions. However after getting back into the match with a terrific goal they were caught twice on the break as they pushed men forward, and it gave the final scoreline as somewhat lopsided look.

As said before Queens began brightly and smacked the post as early as the 10th minute. They opened the scoring in the 25th minute when full back Liam Lamonby was tripped inside the box and a Euan Ross sent Pietsch the wrong way from 12 yards. The home side continued to be passive and fell two behind just before the break when Pietsch could only parry a shot from inside the area and Shay Meagher was on hand to bundle home the rebound.

The second half began with Star more on the front foot but soon after they stepped up a number of gears, They began to close down the opposition much quicker and enjoyed a lot more possession themselves. This improvement resulted in them pulling a goal back just before the hour when Ross Hunter netted with a fine finish from a tight angle after some superb lead up play involving a number of players. Star threw men forward in search of an equaliser but were caught twice on the break with substitutes Callum Hill and Taylor Davidson both netting for Queens. Star had chances as well to add to their tally but both Hunter and Olly Meechan fired inches over.

As we stated in previous reports the final result is really of little concern in pre-season matches. There were a number of individual errors made throughout the match by the Star players but this is the time to get them out of their system. This is only the third time most of these players have played together and there is no doubt they will gel as a very good unit. There were a number of positives to be taken from the match and if the players can replicate the fighting spirit and determination they showed for much of the second half, for a whole 90 minutes, then they will give a lot of teams plenty to think about in the season ahead.

Dalbeattie Star 1      Queen of the South 4

Hunter (58)                 Ross (25pen)

                            Meagher (40)

                                         Hill (73)

                                         Davidson (87)

                                        HT 0-2   Att 162

DALBEATTIE STAR: Pietsch, Trialist (Palmer 53), Summerbee, Watson, McMurtrie, Taylor, Trialist (O'Sullivan 53), Williamson, Hunter, Shaw, Teneggi (Meechan 53)

Subs: Trialist, Trialist

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Thomson (Johnston 53), Trialist (Kerr 85), Lambonby (Hawes 78), Oram (Davidson 70), Rogerson, Frame, Meagher (Bryson 58), Watson, Downie (Millar 66), Ross (Hall 53), Trialist (Hill 82)

Subs: Davidson

Ref: M Williamson

Star continued their build up to the beginning of the league season at the end of the month with another six goal haul. Manager Eddie Warwick had a number of players missing due to holidays and called in four trialists, with two playing in each half. The most important aspect of theses matches is of course to get game time into the players legs so that they will be fit and raring to come the 29th of July, but it doesn't do any harm to see your players and especially strikers, finding the back of the net and building up their confidence.

Star came out of the traps quickly against Palmerston Colts at the North West Campus and were 3-0 up in 15 minutes. Dale Milligan opened the scoring in the 9th minute and three minutes later Callum Summerbee doubled Star's lead. In the 15th minute Cammy Shaw made it two goals in two games and just before the break MIlligan scored his second and Star's fourth.

The visitors continued on the front foot in the second period and Ross Hunter made it 5-0 just before the hour. Four minutes later Summerbee netted his second and though there was no further scoring this was another good run out for the players. WE would to thank Palmerston Colts for the match and would like to wish them all the best for the new season.

Star kicked off their preparations for the 2023/24 season with victory in an entertaining Dalbeattie derby in front of a sizeable crowd at Islecroft. It was a good run out with plenty of positives for both teams, though the one downside for Star was a bad hamstring injury picked up by Ewan Gourlay that could keep him out for some time.

Star got off to the perfect when Cammy Shaw scored his first goal for the club inside 30 seconds, netting with a clever lob over Birchtree keeper Ben Crompton. Number two came in the 14th minute when Ross Hunter set up Sam McConaghie whose composed finish gave Crompton no chance. Just after the half hour Farrel O'Sullivan made it 3-0 when his left foot strike went in off the back post. There was then an early contender for save of the season when Crompton pulled off a stunning stop from his own defender Fraser Henderson's attempted clearance that was heading for the top corner of his own goal. The only downside for Ben was that our photographer failed to capture his moment of glory, much to the keepers disgust.

Both sides made a number of changes at the break and it was Birchtree who would have their best spell in the match playing some good football. Their fine play was rewarded in the 54th minute when Frazer Drummond netted with a perfect header from an excellent cross from the right wing. Things got even better for the Dumfries Sunday AFL champions when a bizarre own goal brought the score back to 3-2. Star stepped up a gear and a minute later Dale Milligan converted a penalty to restore Star's two goal advantage. Olly Meechan made it five in the 81st minute with a tidy finish as he beat the Birchtree offside trap. The visitors were playing a dangerously high defensive line especially considering there were no line officials and they were caught out again two minutes later when Milligan ran clear to finish the scoring.

So a good  first run out for Eddie Warwick's side with every player getting a good run out and getting some game time into their legs. We would also like to wish Birchtree the best of luck for the rest of the season as well.