Star came so close to securing their first win of the season but were denied by a bizarre late own goal that just about sums up the kind of luck they have endured so far. A corner from the home side took a couple of deflection off Star defenders before somehow finding the back of the net. So the Islecroft side had to eventually settle for their first point of the campaign and this is certainly something they can build on.

They trailed at half time in this match thanks to a Daniel Hatfield effort midway through the half but a quick start to the second period saw them score through Gravine Kalala and Kyle Higgins to turn the match on its head. Unfortunately they were uanble to hold on to the lead but the spirit in the camp is good and they can take this forward to the next match away to Johnstone Burgh.

CUMBERNAULD COLTS 2                                  DALBEATTIE STAR 2                                                                                         

Hatfield (22)                                                          Kalala (50)

D Taylor og (82)                                                   Higgins (62)

                                                                                     HT 1-0   Att.

CUMBERNAULD COLTS: Wilson, Fernie, Hynd, Home, Walker, Semple, Brown (Osemeke 71), Stevenson (Devlin 83), McLaughlin, Freel (McDonald 8) (McMillan 71), Hatfield (Howe 71)

Subs: Kearney, Mann

Yellow Cards: Semple

DALBEATTIE STAR: McIlvaney, Muir, Suleyman (Downie 72), HIggins, Harkness, D Taylor, Kalala, Armstrong (Woods 63), Paterson (Shaw 83), McConnell (Barney 83), Hunter (Weir 63)

Subs not used: Trialist, R Taylor

Yellow Cards: Downie

Ref: J Wilkie

The current Lowland League West table makes for pretty grim ready for those of a Dalbeattie Star persuasion but it surely has to be taken in context. It reads four defeats in four matches, though thankfully the goal duck has now been broken because of Kyle Higgins' sensational second half free kick against Celtic B. However the four matches were against the four sides currently occupying the top four places in the league and in each Star had some more than decent moments during the match, though a couple ended in hefty defeats.

Star went into this match missing a number of first team regulars but the team could not be faulted for their efforts against a talented side. Conditions were perfect which suited the visitors down to the ground and they certainly relished the opportunity to put on a show. They were quick, sharp and totally relentless for the complete 90 minutes. Star though worked so hard to keep their shape and deny the young bhoys the openings they craved. The first chance came in the 5th minute when the ball broke to Liam Kennedy inside the Star box and his shot smacked off keeper Michael McIlvaney's right hand post. Star continued to frustrate their opponent but the deadlock was eventually broken midway through the half when a number of passes created an opening that allowed Conor Daly to go through and he slipped the ball past the advancing McIlvaney and into the net. Just after the half hour Celtic doubled their lead  much to the annoyance of the home side. A ball was played through to Lucas Clearie who was clearly in an offside position and with the assistant about to raise his flag, the striker left the ball to the onside Francis Turley who went through and coolly rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. It was a blow to Star but you couldn't deny the visitors were deserving of their two goal advantage.

As an attacking force Star's forays into the Celtic penalty area were limited though they forced a couple of corners which were well cleared. A free kick from the right found Stevie Harkness on his own beyond the back post and the big defender went for a header back across goal when he may have had time to take a touch and have an effort on goal. The half time whistle came with Celtic B  two goals to the good but everyone knew one goal for the Star would change the whole complexion of the match. We didn't have long to wait for the third goal and unfortunately for Star it was Celtic that scored it within seconds of the re-start when the home defence was cut open and Lucas Clearie has the simplest of tasks of putting the ball into the net. In the 55th minute Kylan Hunter went close for Star when his low drive was saved by the left boot of Celtic keeper Corey Shaw and the Glasgow side immediately broke away and again Clearie was in the right place to score to make it 4-0. For Star it was now a question of whether they could score what would not just be a consolation goal, but also their first of the season. That moment came in the 74th minute and it came in spectacular fashion. Substitute Godspower Oguama was clipped more than 20 yards from goal and up stepped Kyle HIggins to find the back of the match with a superbly struck free kick that gave Shaw no chance in the Celtic goal. Star then had their best spell in the match and they enjoyed some good possession, Shaw was called into action again when he saved well from Conor Barney. The final word would go to the visitors though and in the 81st minute the scoring was completed when a ball over the top was collected by Calvin Keenan and his low right foot shot across goal sneaked inside the far post.

So another defeat for Star but again the players could not be faulted for their efforts against a young and talented opponent. We now face a run of three away games in a row, two in the league and one in the SFA South Region Challenge Cup and wouldn't it be good if we were to collect our first point or points of the season next week at Broadwood when we face Cumbernauld Colts.  

DALBEATTIE STAR 1                                             CELTIC B 5                                            

Higgins (74)                                                           C Daly (23)

                                                                                    Turley (31)

                                                                                     Clearie (46, 55)

                                                                                     Keenan (81)

                                                                                    HT 0-2   Att. 257

DALBEATTIE STAR: McIlvaney, Muir, Suleyman (Barney 71), HIggins, Harkness, D Taylor, Kalala (Armstrong 57), McConnell, Shaw (Oguama 71), Downie (Dillon 57), Hunter  (Wright 84)

Subs not used: R Taylor, Mitchell

Yellow Cards: Muir, Armstrong, Harkness

CELTIC B: Shaw, Dembele, Haney, Cameron, Sedwell, Kennedy, Dargie (Anderson 65), Turley (K Daly 58), Clearie (Watt 74), C Daly (Meechan 58), Obidiwe (Keenan 65)

Subs: Lyall, English

Yellow Cards: K Daly

Ref: E Birch

Star slipped to the bottom, of the Lowland League West after they fell to a narrow defeat away to leaders Largs Thistle. Yet again Star were highly competitive in the match but they lost to a fine volley from Liam McVey just after the half hour. The home side had most of the play but Star dug in deep and were right in the match up until the final whistle but they could not create the clearcut chance that may have given them an equaliser. The closest they came was in the final minute when Kylan Hunter was denied by home keeper George O'Connor,

Next up is Celtic B who visit Islecroft on Saturday as Star continue to look for their first goal and point.

LARGS THISTLE 1                                                  DALBEATTIE STAR 0                                           

McVey (33)                                                                               

                                                                                    HT 1-0   Att.

LARGS THISTLE: O'Connor, McMaster, Brady, McVey, Martin (McLeod 73), Sewell, Stracey (Gilmour 73), Lapsley, Aird, Little, Rodger

Subs not used: Hughes, Bradley, Forbes, Leitch, Strain

Yellow Cards: None

DALBEATTIE STAR: McIlvaney, Muir, Suleyman (Harkness 74), Higgins, McConnell, D Taylor, Carmichael, Woods (Armstrong 46), Oguama (Paterson 56), Kalala (Wright 56), Hunter

Subs not used: Barney, Weir, Mitchell

Yellow Cards: McConnell, Higgins

Ref: L Barnie

Dalbeattie Star remain pointless after two matches in this season’s Lowland League West, but this latest outing against Pollok offered far more encouragement than the bare scoreline suggests. Seven days on from the heavy six‑goal defeat at Auchinleck,  a result that understandably stung players and supporters alike, Star produced a display of far greater organisation, belief, and competitive edge. They pushed the league leaders all the way, matching them stride for stride for long spells, and showing the kind of resilience that will surely serve them well as the campaign unfolds. The improvement was clear to anyone watching: the tempo was higher, the pressing more coordinated, and the overall confidence noticeably restored. Unfortunately, despite all of that, it still wasn’t quite enough to secure their first points of the season.

If last week’s early penalty concession felt like a cruel blow, this week’s came even quicker. Star had barely settled into their defensive shape when Pollok earned a corner, and from the resulting set piece the ball was cut back to the edge of the area. As Kyle Higgins sprinted out to close down the shot, the ball struck his arm, an incident that looked harsh on the Star skipper, who had little time or space to react. The referee pointed to the spot after only a minute of play, leaving Higgins once again the unlucky culprit. Ethan Mitchell guessed correctly, diving the right way, but Lee Gallacher’s penalty was struck with enough power and precision to find the net despite the keeper’s efforts.

For the home support, it was a moment that might have triggered unwelcome memories of last week’s early collapse. Yet full credit must go to the players, who responded with admirable determination rather than deflation. Instead of retreating into their shell, Star pushed forward bravely, taking the game to a Pollok side widely expected to be among the title challengers come the end of the season. The midfield worked tirelessly to disrupt Pollok’s rhythm, and the front line carved out some promising openings. In fact, Star created as many clear chances than their visitors, showing a level of attacking intent that had been missing in the previous fixture.

When opportunities arise though, they must be taken, and this was one of those afternoons when the ball simply refused to fall kindly inside the penalty area. On the rare occasions it did, Pollok’s defence somehow managed to produce a last‑ditch block or a perfectly timed interception. Star’s build‑up play was encouraging yet the decisive touch continued to elude them. It was a performance full of endeavour but lacking the moment of luck or clinical finishing that might have changed the complexion of the match entirely.

As the second half wore on, Star grew increasingly confident that an equaliser was within reach. They pushed bodies forward, committing to the attack with a sense of urgency and belief that lifted the crowd. Pollok, for the first time in the match, looked slightly rattled as Star forced them deeper and deeper. The home side’s energy levels remained high, and there was a genuine feeling around the ground that a breakthrough was coming.

But with just two minutes remaining, a lofted ball forward found Liam McGonigle. His first touch was excellent, cushioning the ball into his stride, and with Mitchell rushing out to narrow the angle, McGonigle calmly poked the ball past him for a well‑taken goal. It was a finish of real composure, and it extinguished Star’s hopes of salvaging a point from a performance that had deserved more.

So Star remain in search of both their first point and their first goal of the new season. Next up is a trip to Largs, another side who have started the campaign brightly and will pose a stern challenge. Yet if Star can reproduce this level of performance on a consistent basis, the organisation, the work rate, the bravery in possession, then the results will surely come. There were genuine signs of progress here and the attitude and improvement on display suggest that better days are not far away.

DALBEATTIE STAR 0                                             POLLOK 2

                                                                                    Gallacher (2pen)

                                                                                    McGonigle (88)

                                                                                    HT 0-1   Att. 220

DALBEATTIE STAR: Mitchell, Muir (Harkness 78), Woods, Higgins, McConnell (Weir 78), D Taylor, Kalala, Armstrong (Downie 60), Oguama (Shaw 78), Paterson (Carmichael 70), Hunter

Subs not used: Suleyman, McIlvanery

Yellow Cards: Muir, Oguama

POLLOK: McAlister, Walsh, Doran, McLaughlin, Trialist, Leyden (Boyle 46), Cameron (Millerick 76), Gallacher, Watt (O'Rourke 76), McGonigle, McCann (McHugh 57)

Subs not used: Dachnowicz

Yellow Cards: McGonigle, Boyle

Ref: C Livingstone

Photos courtesy of Bobby Geddes

Star's brand new adventure in the Lowland League West began with a hefty defeat to one of the favourites for the title. Whilst many would not have been surprised at the loss, but the size of the defeat was nonetheless disappointing. Star began the match brightly on a perfect playing surface and in the 4th minute Aaron Weir almost made it a scoring debut but he was denied by a brilliant goal line clearance and two minutes later Kylan Hunter saw his thumping drive from 20 yards fly narrowly over the bar. The visitors had settled into the match well but it all fell apart when they conceded three goals in a  horror nine minute spell. Firstly they gave away a penalty which was converted by Luke Main and soon after some slack play allowed Austin Sime to double the lead. In the 18th minute Terek Abed broke clear, rounded keeper Ethan Mitchell to roll in number three.

It was fast turning into a nightmare for Star but they managed to stop the bleeding for most of the remainder of the half though the home side added a fourth, minutes from the break when Weir knocked the ball into his own net, but to be fair to the midfielder had he not gone for the ball it would have been a simple tap in to a Talbot forward. Come the break the visitors were somewhat in a state of shock as they found themselves four down and not having played that badly. They had simply been overpowered by the strength and pace of the home side especially in the final third.

Star came out for the second half and made a couple of changes which showed there was no thought of damage limitation and parking the bus, as they came out with a more attacking line up than they had in the first. However it only took four minutes for Talbot to add a fifth when Abed drilled the ball home from the edge of the box. Despite Star's best efforts the home side piled on the pressure and only added one more when Abed completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute. Star had a couple of chances late on to at least get themselves on the scoreboard but Kyle Higgins saw his goal bound shot blocked by a defender and David Taylor volleyed a good chance from a free kick, inches wide from close range.

So a disappointing start to the campaign but there is no time to feel sorry for ourselves. There is plenty of ability in the squad and they will be doubly determined to get some points on the board when Pollok come to Islecroft in what will be another physically demanding match.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 6                                     DALBEATTIE STAR 0

Main (9pen)

Sime (14)

Abed (18, 49, 64)

Weir og (43)                                                           HT 4-0   Att. 391

AUCHINLECK TALBOT: Ecrepont, Wood, Sime, Boyd (Clocherty 71), L Gillies, Main, Clark (Thomson 65), Abed (J Gillies 65), Brew (Galasso 46), Crooks (McAvoy 71), Maguire

Subs not used: Schoneville, Kerr

Yellow Cards: Clark

DALBEATTIE STAR: Mitchell, Muir, Woods, Higgins, McConnell, D Taylor, Carmichael (Oguama 53), Downie (Kalala 46), Paterson, Weir (Armstrong 46), Hunter (Barney 80)

Subs not used: Shaw, Suleyman, McIlvaney

Yellow Cards: Oguama, Taylor

Ref: E Birch

A more familiar looking Star side ran out comfortable winners against the new South League side Saltire City with goals from trialist, Gravine Kalala, Kylan Hunter(2), Reece Paterson (2) and another trialist.

A Star side loaded with a number of trialists begin their pre-season matches with a heavy home defeat. Reece Paterson scored Star's only goal on the half hour with a fine header.