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Last Saturday, after a break of three weeks due to poor weather, Star were back in action as they faced Cambria AFC at the Ropework Park. It was Cambria who inflicted Star’s only defeat of the season in the away fixture, beating them 3-1. As Manager Moore was on holiday, team duties were left with Alan Weir, who had a strong squad of 15 to choose from with only Naisby absent through suspension.
As the game kicked off the A&D Watt-sponsored side were looking fresh and playing some exciting attacking football with the playing surface not holding them back at all. The only thing missing from their play was an end product as several chances just went wide with Russell and D. Campbell coming close in the opening twenty minutes.
The home side’s best chance to break the deadlock came with a powerful free kick from Asen which looked to be heading to the top corner only to be somehow headed off the line. The Bulgarian came close again as he powered a near post header towards goal with the keeper saving well to his right.
At the other end of the park, Star’s defence remained strong and only let Cambria have one shot on goal in the whole half with Mcculloch saving at his near post. Going into the break, the score remained goalless although the home side had the lion's share of possession.
The second half began as the first with the Hire-a-Joiner-sponsored side on top and looking for the breakthrough. They had to wait until the 53rd minute to open the scoring: as D. Campbell was slipped through on the left hand side of the box, his cross was met by the diving header of Morrison for his third of the season.
Getting the goal seemed to relax Star and they began to sit a little deeper and invited Cambria to search for an equaliser. However, they weren’t creating many clear chances with I. Houston and C. Campbell terrific in the centre of defence.
The Lochgilphead side did then add a second as C. Houston played through Russell with a neat flick. His shot across the keeper was diverted through his own net by the Cambria number 2, although the Star striker will claim the goal to add to his tally of eight this season, this one will have to go to the dubious goals panel.
With just a quarter of the game to go, it seemed as though Star had wrapped up another three points but in the 75th minute, the away side pulled one back. As a corner was swung in, the ball fell into the six yard box and ricocheted off a few players before being bundled in by the Cambria number 8.
With just ten minutes left the game sparked into life. As Cambria pushed for an equaliser, they left themselves short at the back. In a Star counter-attack, the ball was played up to Russell who played in Asen with the only the keeper to beat. His first shot was well saved but he tucked away the rebound into the empty net. This kept up his record of a goal a game with six in six for the Star striker, and made it 3-1 to the home side.
With another three points this keeps the Premier Dry Cleaning-sponsored side in second place with three games in hand. This Saturday Star play host to Eaglesham at the Ropework Park with a 2.30pm kick off, Assistant Weir should have a full squad with only Naisby absent through suspension.
