|
a36sta01 |
RED STAR played host to newly promoted and division 2 champions Carlton YM last Saturday.
The home side were almost at full strength with only MacMillan, Craig and Iain Houston missing through suspensions. With this being the first home game of the new season Star were looking to build on last week’s performance and come away with another three points.
In the opening five or ten minutes neither team really settled and the game was very congested in the middle of the park, but it was Red Star who grabbed the first goal of the game on twelve minutes. As Russell collected the ball 20 yards from goal his only thought was to shift the ball to his right and curl a fantastic shot into the top left hand corner, for the Star striker’s third goal in two games.
After this clear cut chances were at a premium, the star defence of MacDougall, Broderick and C. Campbell cutting out all of the visitors attacks and restricting them to just one shot on goal in the first half, through a 22 yard free kick which was well held by Baxter. The Stag hotel sponsored side had two great chances to double their lead through Asen, who could only find the Keeper with his shot after being played through on goal and Russell who was inches away from a Morrison cross across the face of goal.
In the second half Star knew that if they managed a second goal the game would be over as Carlton were providing very little threat going forward but Lochgilphead didn’t cash in on chances from Phillips and Asen who both came close with efforts. In the 62nd minute star did add a second when the ball was swung into Asen who controlled the cross and smashed a low drive just inside the post.
The Café 35 sponsored side grew in confidence and inside ten minutes had added a third after Russell hit a shot across the face of goal the keeper could only parry the ball into the feet of Morrison for the easiest of goals. The game was over now as a contest and a minute from the end a fourth was added as the ball was spilled by the keeper after a stinging shot from Broderick, the ball fell to Russell who side footed it home for his second of the game.
Star are in league action again this weekend as they travel away to face another newly promoted side, Port Glasgow Amateurs.
