Dalbeattie Star’s last two home matches has seen them trail 1-0 at half time, see both teams convert second half penalties and ultimately end up losing 3-1. This time though there was a bigger feeling of disappointment as with just over ten minutes remaining this match was finely balanced at a goal apiece with both teams fancying their chances at grabbing a winner. Unfortunately for Star it would be the visitors who would find the back of the home net twice in that time as the Shire used all their guile and cunning to ensure victory.
There was some good news for Star fans going into the match with the news that Queen of the South youngsters Connor Potts and Ryan Muir had signed on loan which was much a needed boost as no fewer than six players were either injured or unavailable. It was a fairly tame start from both sides as Shire had the better of possession but neither keeper was remotely tested. Shire centre back Tyler Fulton headed over in the 12th minute and Lewis Sloan did sting the palms of Ross Connelly with a 25 yard free kick. Midway through the half Shire was given a golden opportunity to open the scoring when full back Lewis Dunn was harshly penalised for a challenge on Jack Healy when he seemed to play the ball. That didn’t worry Jamie Hamilton in the slightest and he stepped up to send Darren Holt the wrong way. Star did threaten once to equalise before the break but the ball just wouldn’t fall right for a number of players before Calvin Cowie fired over.
The second half began the same way as the first but at 1-0 Star just needed one break to be right back into the game. That moment did indeed come in the 63rd minute when Russell Currie was completed wiped out just after shooting wide. Incredibly the referee awarded a goal kick but after consulting his assistant the correct decision was eventually reached and a penalty was awarded. One defender argued that although he agreed a foul had been committed, the ball was out of play and a penalty could not be given, but the photographic evidence shows that not to be the case. Currie dusted himself down and calmly sent Connelly the wrong way and it was very much game on.
For the first time Shire were beginning to look a wee bit rattled but they had yet another loud penalty appeal when a rasping shot struck the arm of Scott Phillips but it was clearly accidental and his arm was not in an unnatural position. Ten minutes from time Star fell behind for a second time when a hopeful long ball over the top found Dean Watson and his flick over Holt struck the post and Healy had plenty of time to collect the rebound and shoot into the empty net. Minutes later Currie burst through the Shire defence and as he evaded one challenge he was nudged in the back just as he was about to shoot inside the area but keeper Connelly rushed out to make a crucial brave save. Russell was perhaps too honest for his own good as the majority of strikers would have gone down looking for a penalty. Unfortunately a minute later and it was game over when substitute David Churchill rounded Holt but his shot seemed to be brilliantly blocked by the sliding Dunn on the line. When the ref blew his whistle almost all the fans thought it must have been for handball which seemed harsh and even the Shire players and supporters seemed surprised when a goal was awarded. In the last seconds of stoppage time Star produced their best move of the match which ended with Lewis Sloan’s slide rule cross along the six yard line being knocked inches past the back post by the fully stretched Lewis Todd.
There is no time for Star to sulk and they are back on duty on Tuesday night when Vale of Leithen visit Islecroft. The Innerleithen side has suffered a number of heavy defeats recently but they have shown on their day they can make life difficult for the opposition, in fact they only lost 1-0 at the Falkirk Stadium earlier in the season so be warned.

After Saturday’s 3-1 defeat against East Stirlingshire, coach Chris Jardine said the performance had been difficult to take.
“We’d a chance to get back into the game, not through much of our own doing but from the officials whether it was right or wrong, I don’t know.
“We got back into the game and we lost two really bad goals. That’s not bad luck it’s just basic mistakes which is really disappointing.
“It’s a sore one, for the performance was not good and it wasn’t a very pleasant place to be at half time which is the first time it’s been like that this season.”
He added: “The first half was really poor for we didn’t start well and it just didn’t get any better. Obviously we were down 1-0 at half time and there were a few harsh words.
“We didn’t deserve anything and it was a huge disappointment. That’s the worst, and I think the manager will say the same, we’ve played this season.
“That’s the last two home games that have been really disappointing but we’ve got to put it right quickly for as much as we’ve had a great start with five wins in a row, we’ve just said in there that we could easily go five defeats in a row, so we’ve got to turn it round pretty quickly.”

DALBEATTIE STAR 1 EAST STIRLINGSHIRE 3
Currie (63pen) Hamilton (24pen)
Healy (80)
Churchill (85)
HT 0-1
DALBEATTIE STAR: Holt, Brotherston (Emmerson 87), Dunn, Cowie, Phillips, Dickinson, Orsi (Potts 81), Todd, Currie, Sloan, Cairnie (Muir 54)
Subs not used: Graham, Smith
Yellow Cards: Dunn, Maxwell, Cowie
EAST STIRLINGSHIRE: Connelly, Crooks, Rodden (Greene 81), Kay, Fulton, Gibbons, Healy (Churchill 83), Barr, Turner, Hamilton, Watson
Subs not used: McColm, Young, Henderson, Akobeto, Ure
Ref R Thomson