Dalbeattie Star v Gala Fairydean Rovers

 
ROVERS RETURN HOME WITH POINTS
Star lost for the third time in a week after they were beaten by the odd goal in three to Gala. Despite being down to the bare bones, this was a match the home side should have taken something from but as has been happening recently, they are not getting the rub of the green just now.
Manager Darren Kerr was even forced to list himself as a substitute as Star’s injury list continues to grow and grow. Graeme Bell nearly got Star off to a flier when in the 4th minute he tried an ambitious shot from some 40 yards as keeper Wilson was off his line, but the strikers effort missed the target. Dean Fyfe was next to threaten but his shot at the back post was blocked. Midway through the half Star fell behind when the ball fell perfectly for Taylor Hope from a corner and he fired home from 8 yards. You have to go back to the 7th of November to find the last time Star scored first in a league match.
Just after the half hour Jamie Gibson almost doubled the lead for the visitors but he shot wide from 20 yards. Ten minutes from the break the home side had their best chance when Bell broke clear but Mark Wilson in the Rovers goal made the first of a number of important saves. At the break David Proudlock, who had just returned from a loan spell at Abbey Vale, came on for the unwell Stuart MacPherson. Six minutes after the re-start Gibson found the side netting from 12 yards and soon after Lewis Sloan released Greig Thorburn but his effort was well saved by Wilson. On the hour things went from bad to worse for Star when from another corner they went 2-0 down, and again the ball fell nicely for Gala and this time it was Scott Main who shot home from inside the six yard box.
However just seven minutes later Star was right back in it when Tommy Muir’s cross was blocked, then Bell’s shot was blocked before Sloan reduced the arrears by shooting home from close range. Keeper Wilson required lengthy treatment after this goal and he was able to continue to good effect. With 20 minutes left Bell again went through but yet again Wilson saved well at the edge of the box. In a rare breakaway Gibson broke clear but he shot over the bar and minutes later Sloan’s free kick was met by substitute Darren Kerr but he shot wide. In the final minute Sloan had a chance to equalise but yet again keeper Wilson came to the rescue of his side and the points headed back to the border.
Next up for Star is a trip to Raydale on Friday night as we face Gretna 2008 in Groundhoppers weekend. Hopefully Star will have a number of players back for this fixture as well as a wee bit of luck.      
DALBEATTIE STAR 1                         GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS 2       
Sloan (67)                                            Hope (24)
                                                                Main (60)
DALBEATTIE STAR: Morton, Todd, Thorburn, Wells, MacPherson (Proudlock 46), Wilson, Fyfe (Kerr 62), Fergusson, Bell, Sloan, Muir
Subs not used: Cook, Neill, Trialist, Drysdale
Yellow Cards: None
GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS: Wilson, Stephen, Lamb, Hope, Main, Herdman, Miller, Bonnar, Hay, Gibson, McColm
Subs not used: Clapperton, Scott, Galbraith, Steele, Allan, Noble
Ref: X Harrison
Assistants: M Williamson & J Brown