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Sat 16 Feb 2013
Newton Stewart
Dalbeattie Star
0
5
S MacPherson (0'), G Kerr (0'), S Milligan (0'), L Sloan (0'), Unknown (0')
Dalbeattie Star v Newton Stewart
David McDonald16 Feb 2013 - 16:00
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Match report
MUDDY MARVELOUS FOR SUPER STAR
Dalbeattie Star began their defence of the Southern Counties Challenge Cup tie with a superb display at Newton Stewart. Trips to Blairmount Park are among the most difficult for teams in the South but yet again this Star team not only know how to go about getting a result, but even in the most difficult of circumstances they can do it with a bit of style.
The Wigtownshire side were the latest to ask questions of the champions, and to be fair they had a spell in the first half when they caused a number of problems, but yet again the Star came up with all the answers and more. Manager John MacBeth made one enforced change to last weeks starting line up with Gary Kerr replacing the injured Grant Parker. There were problems reaching Newton Stewart with roadworks on the A75 meaning that some players didn’t arrive until near kick off but that didn’t hinder the Star as they got off to a flyer. As early as the 4th minute Lewis Sloan pounced on a mistake by the home defence, rounded the keeper and slipped the ball in to the empty net. Full marks must be given to Newton for getting the pitch playable but it was soon evident that the surface would cut up badly and it was not going to be a game of silky soccer.
In 20 minutes the home side came close to equalising when a rare mistake by Stuart MacPherson let in former Star player Jack Steele and though he got the ball past Graeme Wright, Lee Wells got back to clear the ball off the line. Star retaliated immediately and two minutes later Scott Milligan released Craig Fergusson goal but Fidler in the home goal saved well. However he was left helpless soon after when Richie Maxwell’s cross fell at the feet of Milligan 8 yards out and he did his usual job with a clinical finish low past the keeper.
Newton had a spell when they put the Star defence under some pressure and in fact are the only South team this season to score more than one goal in a match against the Star. But this Dalbeattie team is miserly when it comes to letting in goals and this clean sheet, their 13th of the season already, means they have conceded just 9 goals in 22 matches against South teams. Star withstood this pressure and in the 38th minute excellent play by Sloan nearly produced goal number three but Fidler saved well to deny him but two minutes later the goal duly arrived as MacPherson powered a header home from a Sloan free kick. Right on half time the home side almost got a foothold on the match when Hill’s 25 yard free kick produced a fine stop from Wright.
Early in the second half Steele again went close for Newton but yet again Wright did well and minutes later the match was all but won when Gary Kerr scored his third goal of the season to make it 4-0 with an 18 yard shot that flew high in to the net with yet another assist for Sloan. Manager MacBeth then made the wise move of making some substitutions giving some players some game time and others a deserved rest. With 20 minutes left Wright produced the save of the match with a stunning stop from Dunn denying the home side of any kind of consolation. In the 82nd minute the scoring ended when substitute Grant Middlemiss did well down the left and his pass allowed fellow sub Jack McMurdo the chance to fire home from 18 yards to score his first goal in a Dalbeattie star jersey.
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record but this was yet another fine day at the office for the Star. This was a tie that posed a lot of questions for the champions but yet again they answered them in grand style. Next week it’s back to the important business of the league with a tricky match at Crichton as Star will look to maintain their healthy lead at the top of the table.
NEWTON STEWART 0 DALBEATTIE STAR 5 Sloan (4) Milligan (24) MacPherson (40) Kerr (54) McMurdo (82) NEWTON STEWART: Fidler, Henry (Dunn 60), Hill, Richardson, Gallacher, Blain, Muir, Fisher, Sutherland (Beggs 82), Steele, Dunn Subs not used: Murray, Hyslop Yellow Cards: Muir DALBEATTIE STAR: Wright, Maxwell, Wilson, Wells, MacPherson (capt), Fergusson (McMurdo 65), Cameron, Harkness, Kerr, Milligan (Middlemiss 68), Sloan (Dingwall 76) Subs not used: S Parker, Cathro Yellow Cards: Maxwell Ref L Wilson Assistants E Walker & F Cameron
Dalbeattie Star began their defence of the Southern Counties Challenge Cup tie with a superb display at Newton Stewart. Trips to Blairmount Park are among the most difficult for teams in the South but yet again this Star team not only know how to go about getting a result, but even in the most difficult of circumstances they can do it with a bit of style.
The Wigtownshire side were the latest to ask questions of the champions, and to be fair they had a spell in the first half when they caused a number of problems, but yet again the Star came up with all the answers and more. Manager John MacBeth made one enforced change to last weeks starting line up with Gary Kerr replacing the injured Grant Parker. There were problems reaching Newton Stewart with roadworks on the A75 meaning that some players didn’t arrive until near kick off but that didn’t hinder the Star as they got off to a flyer. As early as the 4th minute Lewis Sloan pounced on a mistake by the home defence, rounded the keeper and slipped the ball in to the empty net. Full marks must be given to Newton for getting the pitch playable but it was soon evident that the surface would cut up badly and it was not going to be a game of silky soccer.
In 20 minutes the home side came close to equalising when a rare mistake by Stuart MacPherson let in former Star player Jack Steele and though he got the ball past Graeme Wright, Lee Wells got back to clear the ball off the line. Star retaliated immediately and two minutes later Scott Milligan released Craig Fergusson goal but Fidler in the home goal saved well. However he was left helpless soon after when Richie Maxwell’s cross fell at the feet of Milligan 8 yards out and he did his usual job with a clinical finish low past the keeper.
Newton had a spell when they put the Star defence under some pressure and in fact are the only South team this season to score more than one goal in a match against the Star. But this Dalbeattie team is miserly when it comes to letting in goals and this clean sheet, their 13th of the season already, means they have conceded just 9 goals in 22 matches against South teams. Star withstood this pressure and in the 38th minute excellent play by Sloan nearly produced goal number three but Fidler saved well to deny him but two minutes later the goal duly arrived as MacPherson powered a header home from a Sloan free kick. Right on half time the home side almost got a foothold on the match when Hill’s 25 yard free kick produced a fine stop from Wright.
Early in the second half Steele again went close for Newton but yet again Wright did well and minutes later the match was all but won when Gary Kerr scored his third goal of the season to make it 4-0 with an 18 yard shot that flew high in to the net with yet another assist for Sloan. Manager MacBeth then made the wise move of making some substitutions giving some players some game time and others a deserved rest. With 20 minutes left Wright produced the save of the match with a stunning stop from Dunn denying the home side of any kind of consolation. In the 82nd minute the scoring ended when substitute Grant Middlemiss did well down the left and his pass allowed fellow sub Jack McMurdo the chance to fire home from 18 yards to score his first goal in a Dalbeattie star jersey.
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record but this was yet another fine day at the office for the Star. This was a tie that posed a lot of questions for the champions but yet again they answered them in grand style. Next week it’s back to the important business of the league with a tricky match at Crichton as Star will look to maintain their healthy lead at the top of the table.
NEWTON STEWART 0 DALBEATTIE STAR 5 Sloan (4) Milligan (24) MacPherson (40) Kerr (54) McMurdo (82) NEWTON STEWART: Fidler, Henry (Dunn 60), Hill, Richardson, Gallacher, Blain, Muir, Fisher, Sutherland (Beggs 82), Steele, Dunn Subs not used: Murray, Hyslop Yellow Cards: Muir DALBEATTIE STAR: Wright, Maxwell, Wilson, Wells, MacPherson (capt), Fergusson (McMurdo 65), Cameron, Harkness, Kerr, Milligan (Middlemiss 68), Sloan (Dingwall 76) Subs not used: S Parker, Cathro Yellow Cards: Maxwell Ref L Wilson Assistants E Walker & F Cameron
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