Dalbeattie Star v Selkirk

ONE DOWN ONE TO GO
Dalbeattie Star went into this, their penultimate league match of the season, knowing victory in both games would guarantee their Lowland League status and after this excellent victory, it was halfway to job done. To anyone not at the match this could look like a win for a team with everything to play for against another with nothing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Selkirk more than played their part in another fine game of football between the two sides after they shared four goals a couple of weeks ago, and they will probably feel the final scoreline was a bit on the harsh side.
Star lined up with Tommy Muir back at number nine after serving his suspension, and he led the line superbly with great enthusiasm and drive, obviously trying to make up for the three matches he had to sit out. Ewan Gourlay was also back in the starting line up and he had his finest 90 minutes in a Star jersey with an accomplished performance against a dangerous forward line. This was a vital match for Star but it couldn’t have got off to a worse start as the Yarrow Park side started brightly. Their attack is one of the best in the league with pace and trickery on the wings and striker Daryl Healy is more than a handful for any defence. As early as the 3rd minute he went close with a near post header form a corner and within 60 seconds the visitors were ahead. A free kick was launched from the halfway line into the Star box which was missed by a number of heads but the ball landed at the feet of David Banjo who took a good first touch, swivelled and turned before shooting low past Vinnie Parker giving the keeper no chance at all. It was a bit off a shock to the system for the home side and it could have been a lot worse five minutes later but the assistants flag was raised long before the ball hit the back of the home net again.
Star began to get themselves back into the match and in the 15th minute they were back on level terms. Again it was route one stuff as Parker fired in a free kick from his own half deep into the Selkirk penalty area. Muir managed to keep the ball in play and his flick landed perfectly for Lewis Sloan some 12 yards from goal and he smashed the ball past Gregor Amos much to the delight of the majority of fans inside Islecroft. It was a rub of the green that has not been going for Star for most of the season as Tommy’s touch was not intentionally played back to Lewis but the chance still had to be taken and it most certainly was. Star quickly set about trying to get their noses in front but it took a super block by Hugh Cameron at the other end to keep the score at 1-1. Just after the half hour though the home side went ahead when they worked the ball well down the left wing. The ball was played to Muir near the touchline and he cut the ball back to Sloan who fired high past Amos from just outside the corner of the six yard box.
It was a great comeback by Star but they were not resting on their laurels as they began looking for a third. Muir twice went close producing good saves from Amos but a minute from the break the vital third goal was scored. A Sloan free kick was sent towards the back post and there was Curtiss Wilson who ghosted in behind the defence and beat the keeper with a downward header that bounced high into the roof of the net. This certainly put the home fans in good fettle for their half time pies and bovril and it was the first time this season they have enjoyed such a luxury of a two goal lead in the league at the break.
Selkirk came out strongly for the start of the second half but there was a steely determination about the Star’s defending as they didn’t want to give their opponents a glimmer of hope. Healy went close with a volley early on but Star looked dangerous on the break with the pace of Muir and Liam Park causing countless problems. Indeed a Sloan chip picked out Park on his own at the far post and his looping header beat Amos but Ryan Sclater did really well to head the ball off the line despite appeals that it had crossed the line. Selkirk continued to press and from a Ciaran Chalmers free kick Parker had to claw the ball from off the line and soon after Banjo had another chance but he fired wide. As Selkirk pushed more men forward to get back in the match, so Star had more space to hit them on the break and Muir set up Jamie McHarrie but his effort was well saved by Amos at full stretch. As the match entered the final quarter the next goal became more crucial. One for Star and it was surely game over and one for Selkirk it was game on as if they could get one then they could easily get another. Thankfully for the home side the goal came their way 12 minutes from time and again the rub of the green went their way when Scott Milligan’s free kick from over 20 yards took a wicked deflection that completely wrong footed Amos and it nestled nicely in the back of the net.
Star’s determination and never say die attitude was never better exemplified than by two tremendous last ditch blocks from Curtiss Wilson and then seconds later from Hugh Cameron, as they kept Star’s three goal advantage intact. Substitute Curtis Telfer then crashed a shot off the bar and fellow sub Corey Thomson also had a good chance two minutes from time for Star, but there was to be no more scoring.
An excellent performance with an excellent result completed an excellent afternoons work for the Star. Our final league match does not take place until 2nd May when Vale of Leithen visit Islecroft and the worst case scenario for Star would be a victory needed to keep our place in the Lowland League. If that is the case then a repeat of this performance would go a long way to keeping us in the league that we feel we belong.
DALBEATTIE STAR 4                                         SELKIRK 1                                                                            
Sloan (15, 32)                                                     Banjo (3)
Wilson (44)
Milligan (78)                                                       HT 3-1
DALBEATTIE STAR: V Parker, Gourlay, Thorburn (Telfer 80), Todd, Cameron, C Wilson, McHarrie, Milligan, Sloan (Thomson 86), Park (O’Sullivan 59)
Subs not used: Mason, G Parker, R Wilson
Yellow Cards: McHarrie
SELKIRK: Amos, Sclater, Banjo, Fleming, Baxter, McKirdy, Christie, King (Davidson 68), Healy, Chalmers, Hopkinson (Addison 53)
Subs not used: None
Yellow Cards: Christie, Addison
Ref: P Timmons
Assistants: A Brown & E Pow