Dalbeattie Star v Threave Rovers

 
IMPRESSIVE STAR MARCH ON
Dalbeattie Star produced an excellent performance to oust old rivals Threave Rovers out of the Cree Lodge Cup in the first of a double header against the Castle Douglas side. Manager John MacBeth made seven changes to the side that beat Creetown two days earlier and his decision was vindicated with every player putting in a first class shift. Despite getting off to the worst possible start the team recovered to record a victory that was probably more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.  
Both teams kicked off in unfamiliar strips, with Star resplendent in all blue and Threave in all white. It was as early as the 3rd minute that the visitors took the lead when a quick free kick caught the Star cold and James Baty ran through to beat Ally Cathro with a powerful low shot. It was exactly the start this new look Star line up would have wanted but they quickly regrouped and took the game to Threave. In the 6th minute there was a scramble in the visitors penalty area and the ball fell to Grant Middlemiss who looked certain to score but was denied by an excellent block from Wilby. Middlemiss then became the provider when he squared the ball to Alex Maxwell but the big striker totally miscued from 6 yards and keeper Parker was able to smother. Four minutes later Jak Dingwall had another great chance but again he failed to connect properly and the chance was gone.
Despite trailing, the home side was playing well and creating good opportunities and they pinned Threave in to their own half. The visitors were dealt a blow when Baty had to go off with a knock in the 25th minute and just after the half hour Middlemiss was very unlucky to have a goal chalked off for handball, when the ball struck him from close range and he then lobbed the keeper with a touch of style. Ten minutes from the interval Threave almost doubled their lead with a rare attack when  Warren blasted over from close range and despite continuing to press, the home side went in at half time a goal down.
Six minutes after the interval Lee Wells saw his fine strike brilliantly touched on to the post by Parker as Threave hung on by their fingertips to the slender lead. In the 53rd minute Star at last got the goal their display deserved when Maxwell slipped a superb pass inside fullback Kerr and Hugh Cameron calmly rolled the ball across the six yard line to Middlemiss who had the straightforward job of putting the ball in the net. After working so hard to get level Star nearly fell behind minutes later but Cathro pulled off a fine save to stop Warren scoring at the back post. Just after the hour Star took a deserved lead when the ever dangerous Middlemiss controlled a through ball with his chest and fired in an unstoppable shot high past Parker from 12 yards.
Star always looked the more likely side to score again and Threave keeper Parker had to be in top form to keep his side in the match. Maxwell and Milligan both had chances to clinch the victory but couldn’t score and at the other end Threave’s Middlemiss had the ball in the net but the flag had already gone up as Warren was in an offside position. The nearest Threave came to an equaliser was 12 minutes from time when Cathro produced a top drawer save to keep out a Wilby free kick.
In the end it was a thoroughly deserved win for Star and proves what an excellent squad John MacBeth has assembled at Islecroft. The big problem for the manager now is what team does he pick for the League Cup Final but that is a choice all managers would like. With all the prizes due to be handed out in the next few weeks the Star seem to be hitting form just at the right time.    
DALBEATTIE STAR 2   THREAVE ROVERS 1Middlemiss (53, 61)    Baty (3)
DALBEATTIE STAR: Cathro, Wilson, Muirhead, Wells (R Maxwell 71), MacPherson, McMurdo (Sloan 66), Cameron, Harkness, Dingwall, A Maxwell, Middlemiss (Milligan 83)Subs not used: G Parker, CookYellow Cards: Wilson, DingwallTHREAVE ROVERS: V Parker, Wilby, Kerr, Bembo, Watson, R Parker (Wilson 71), Thom, Baty (Swan 25), Middlemiss, Kay, Warren (Milligan 66)Subs not used: NoneYellow Cards: ThomRef J ThomsonAssistants B Park & F Cameron