It's Dalbeattie Five-Star as South of Scotland League leaders thrash Lochmaben
For the second week running, Eddie Warwick’s men rattled in five goals on their own patch.
It was Dalbeattie Five-Star on Saturday as the South of Scotland league leaders thrashed Lochmaben.
For the second week running, Eddie Warwick’s men rattled in five goals on their own patch.
But the big difference from the previous week against Wigtown was they kept a clean sheet into the bargain.
Warwick said: “We made less mistakes we concentrated a lot better in certain areas and stages of the game.
“It was a stuffy first half, we created chances but their goalie made two or three good saves and I think he was their man of the match which shows he was busy.
“We broke the deadlock with a good goal from a corner just before half-time. We spoke about having to put the foot on accelerator in the second half and right away we scored a goal that takes the wind our of their sales.
“Most of the second half was probably played in their half.
“I can’t complain, I’m happy with the performance and, most importantly, the clean sheet. We’ve conceded too many goals for my liking, a lot more goals than last year.”
A David Taylor header in first half stoppage time put Star in front at the break, Connor Potts firing in the second just after the interval.
And Phil Middlemiss drilled in the third after an hour to ensure there was no way back for the visitors.
Potts soon added his second from the penalty spot and he completed his hat-trick with another spot-kick late on.
The Star boss said: “The goal before half time changes the team talk, although it wouldn’t have been an angry one. It just might not have been as full of praise.
“We had created three or four chances, the goalie has made saves but if I’m their manager I’m thinking he should make them.
“The team talk was going to be a good one anyway in terms of doing everything right and staying on it, but the goal came before that so it changed to getting a second and third goal quickly and that’s what we did.
“We’ve got a lot of quality in the team and the important thing is they need to rely on their own ability. We’ve lost a lot of quality as well, we’ve lost a lot of goals from the team.
“There probably is more pressure on certain players like Connor Potts to step up and show the magic all the time. He’s a human , he’s not going to do it every game, but he scored another hat-trick on Saturday.
“There are other players stepping up and scoring, which is the best we can hope for at this moment in time.
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Star are three points clear at the top of the league, the big threat coming from Lochar Thistle who could turn a nine point deficit into a nine point lead if they win their games in hand.
The Islecroft side are now gearing up for a double header against Nithsdale Wanderers, who visit Dalbeattie on Saturday in the Cree Lodge Cup before returning there on Tuesday in the Potts Cup.
Warwick said: “They’ll be really tough games. They’ve got a striker in Sean McKenzie whose just scored his 50th goal of the season, which is incredible.
“They’re dangerous, they’ve got good players and they’re an aggressive side. They’ll come and get in your face. It’s always a tough game.”
Star have re-signed Phil Middlemiss, Russell Williamson and Dale Milligan on new contracts for next season.