Dalbeattie Star v Whitehill Welfare

NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Dalbeattie Star suffered only their second league defeat of the season and their first since August in this mauling by Whitehill Welfare at Islecroft. It was a day to forget for all involved with the Star as it was an afternoon when nothing went right and will simply be put down as a bad day at the office. However the important thing now is the reaction to this setback and with a big break from the league as the League Cup sections take over, it gives everyone a chance to regroup.  
However it has to be said the players and coaching staff have done the club proud so far this season and hopefully this will be seen as a blip and normal service will be resumed next week. And yet it all started so well for the home side against Whitehill, who for once scored an early goal rather than the usual conceding. In the 4th minute Sam Warren’s corner was knocked out to the edge of the box and Jamie Struthers driven shot was flicked in by Lee Wells. It was the perfect start and the Star soon went looking for a second as two minutes later Jack Steele saw his flashing header brilliantly saved by Bryan Young. Stuart Robinson then had a great chance when he dispossessed a defender but then dragged his shot wide with just the keeper to beat.
Within seconds though Whitehill equalized when a defensive mix up allowed Steve Manson to nip in and score with a simple finish. Worse was to follow in the 18th minute when a free kick from the right was headed home by Wayne McIntosh with the minimum of fuss. Star was clearly rattled by this and Aaron Somerville had a great chance for a third but his lob over Darren Martin hit the side netting. Just before the half hour there was a half hearted penalty shout when Scott Milligan was bundled over but it would have been a soft award at best. Star’s best chance for a leveller came 6 minutes from the interval when Lewis Sloan broke clear and squared the ball across the 6 yard line and in the scramble that ensued keeper Young made a great save which was then headed off the line by Darren McGlashan with only inches to spare.
With seconds of the half remaining the visitors struck a near fatal blow when they caught the Star on the break and McIntosh was then allowed to run across the penalty area unchallenged and he planted his left foot shot low past Martin. Trailing at half time is not an unfamiliar position for Star to find themselves in but against a side as good as Welfare it was imperative they scored the next goal and the earlier the better. Unfortunately ten minutes into the second half they shot themselves in the foot yet again when they somehow gifted possession away having been awarded a free kick on the edge of their own penalty area, and McIntosh couldn’t believe his luck as he scored his hat trick. To be fair Star battled on but try as they might nothing would come off for them and it was no surprise when Manson completed the scoring in the 77th minute with a clever lob over Martin.
Despite their position in the league this was always going to be a difficult match against Whitehill but they must have been surprised at the ease in which they were able to score and eventually win. For Star it’s simply a case of dusting themselves down and getting back to work and hopefully winning ways, when East Kilbride visit Islecroft next week in the League Cup.
DALBEATTIE STAR 1    WHITEHILL WELFARE  5
Wells (4)                     Manson (10, 77)
                                   McIntosh (18, 44, 55)
DALBEATTIE STAR: Martin, Cameron, Warren, Wells, Maxwell, Fergusson, Robinson (Dunglinson 46), Steele, Milligan (Handling 76), Sloan, Struthers (MacPherson 62)
Subs not used:  Cook, Drysdale
Yellow Cards: Fergusson, Warren, Steele, Handling
WHITEHILL WELFARE: Young, Hall, Sproule, Dodds (Thom 58), McLaughlin, McGlashan, Manson (Finnie 80), Kidd, McIntosh (Shearer 80), Somerville, Martin
Subs not used: McGurk
Yellow Cards: Martin
Ref: G Irvine
Assistants: O Blackstock & M Williamson