Last Saturday Star played their first league fixture since October 12 as they travelled to take on Division one pace-setters St. Patricks. Saints are currently sitting at the top of the table and went into this game with a 100 per cent record with 10 games played and a massive 45 goals scored. Red Star was without the services of C.Houston, Broderick and Asen with injuries and bans respectively.
Despite the harsh conditions the game was played in, Star seemed determined to come away with the three points and opened the scoring inside three minutes.
With the home side conceding a free kick on the halfway line, Captain I.Houston curled a wicked long ball into the box. The keeper came out to collect and made a real mess of it, spilling the ball up into the air for S. Crawford to side foot the ball just inside the post. This was a great start for the Premier Dry Cleaning-sponsored side and they could have gone two up not long after as Crawford opted to shoot when the cut back to Naisby was the better option.
Star were growing into the game but just inside 15 minutes a lack of concentration cost them the lead. As the left winger was allowed to travel down the wing, he whipped a cross in which just eluded the centre backs and the St. Pats number nine nodded in for the equaliser. With Star's history against St. Pats things looked ominous as the home team have won in the last four meetings between the two clubs.
Star seem to have a new found belief this season though and restored their lead on 25 minutes. Russell had a speculative shot from 25 yards which the keeper could only tip it onto the bar. The rebound was tucked in by the centre back Kowalski for his first goal for the Stag Hotel-sponsored side.
The remainder of the first half was tight with Star looking to hold their lead till half time. The home side almost got a sniff at goal with a ball being played through into the box but Mcculloch came out bravely at the feet of the attacker to deny him.
Into the second half it was the home side that were doing most of the attacking as they looked to equalise, with Star relying on the hard work of Russell and Macfarlane to defend from the front. St. Pats were relying on their number eight on the right wing to create something but C.Campbell was marking him superbly and the whole team was working hard to defend.
On the break away, Star could have grabbed a third with Morrison playing a neat one two with Russell to get in on goal and release a left foot shot which was well saved by the keeper.
Going into the last 10 minutes Moore brought off goal scorer S.Crawford and replaced him with the fresh legs of Docherty to help cover defenders and run the clock down. Although it was backs to the walls for Star as they fought to hold onto the lead, the team was working hard and St. Pats were finding it hard to break them down. Any high balls in the box were being dealt with by exceptional handling by Mcculloch in the Star goal.
The last chance of the game came in injury time as a ball was floated into the box which just eluded the toe of the St. Pats winger. The referee blew for full time and a 2-1 victory for Star.
Manager Moore was delighted with the win and performance of the team. He said: ‘Myself and Alan were proud of the effort and determination the lads showed in the game, It has always been a tricky place to come and get a result. Although it being a good result its still only 3 points and we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent. We have another tough fixture away to Kings Park Rangers this Saturday whom have also started the season very well.’
Team: 1 Mcculloch, 2 Macdougall, 3 C.Campbell, 4 I.Houston, 5 Kowalski, 6 Naisby, 7 S.Crawford, 8 D.Campbell, 9 Macfarlane, 10 Russell, 11 Morrison. Subs: 12 Docherty, 13 Weir, 14 C.Crawford
