Dalbeattie Star v Crichton

SLOAN HAT TRICK INSPIRES STAR TO MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Dalbeattie Star kicked off 2013 with a resounding win over Crichton that keeps them top of the South of Scotland league. It was the definitive game of two halves as the opening 45 minutes saw the Star struggle for long spells which was perfectly understandable as this was just their second match in six weeks but once they got going in the second period they were irresistible, scoring goals of the highest calibre.
Both teams struggled to find any kind of rhythm early on and the first chance fell to the visitors when Roman Soltys found space in the penalty area but the former Star strikers shot was straight at Graham Wright. The home side opened the scoring three minutes later when Lewis Sloan’s corner from the right was met by Lee Wells whose powerful header from 12 yards was too strong for keeper McColm to keep out. Despite being far from their best Star doubled the lead in 28 minutes with a quality strike as Rab Harkness picked out Sloan’s run in to the penalty area with a superb chipped pass and Lewis chested the ball down and rifled it in to the back of the net.
On the half hour the Star should have made the points safe when right back for the day Richie Maxwell went on a marauding run down the wing and squared the ball across the six yard line to Scott Milligan who with the goal gaping somehow managed to knock the ball over bar when it looked easier to score. The champions were made to pay for this miss as seconds later Crichton were right back in the match. Ross Newlands collected the ball in midfield and let fly from some 20 yards and though Wright seemed to have the shot covered the ball dipped at the last second and landed in the back of the net. This strike startled the home side and Crichton then enjoyed their best spell of the match and though they failed to trouble Wright, the ball did spend a lot more time flying around the Star penalty area than the champions would have liked. However they did recover towards the end of the opening half as Wells twice went close to restoring the two goal advantage.
With the match finely balanced at half time two goals in the first ten minutes of the second period all but ended the match as a contest. In the 50th minute Grant Parker slid in a neat pass to Sloan who from just inside the penalty area produced a finish of sheer quality as he beat the keeper with an exquisite chip that was worthy of the entrance money alone.  If this goal had a touch of class then the next one it has to be said had a touch of good fortune about it as Sloan completed his hat trick with a cross that evaded everyone and ended up in the goal. With the points all but secure the Star continued to look for more goals that would ensure they remained top of the league on goal difference and both Maxwell and Parker came close to netting number five.
However it has to be said it wasn’t all one way traffic and Crichton pushed forward when they could and in the 64th minute they had a great chance when a cross from the right just evaded Soltys at the back post and when he cut the ball back Newlands dragged his shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post. With 15 minutes remaining Jak Dingwall made it 5-1 when just seconds after coming on as a substitute he scored with a neat finish after fine work from Cameron. The winger helped himself to number six in the 83rd minute when he was found by a good pass by Jordan Muirhead down the left and Scooby cut inside and drilled the ball home for a goal he thoroughly deserved. The match finished on a high in the gathering gloom as Cameron’s crossfield pass send Craig Fergusson scampering down the right wing and his first time cross fell perfectly for the trialist whose volley thundered past McColm in the Crichton goal.
All in all a fine afternoon for the Star and a good workout for everyone involved. It would be nice to think there could be a run of matches now instead of the usual stop start action we have endured the last few years, but that is outside anyone’s control.  All going well Star travel to Sanquhar next Saturday in the Potts Cup and no doubt they will be looking to build on this performance.   
DALBEATTIE STAR 7         CRICHTON 1 Wells (13)                        Newlands (31) Sloan (28, 50, 55) Dingwall (75) Cameron (83) Trialist (90)
DALBEATTIE STAR: Wright, Maxwell, Wilson (Muirhead 81), Wells, MacPherson, Fergusson, Cameron, Harkness ,  G Parker (Trialist 80), Milligan, Sloan (Dingwall 73) Subs not used: Cathro Yellow Cards: Wilson, Dingwall CRICHTON: McColm, Sneddon (Bedford), Clark, Currie, Potts (Carmichael), Swan, Thomson, Newlands, Soltys, Wallace, Turner (Johnstone) Subs not used: Tait Yellow Cards: Newlands, Potts Ref: M Denne