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LAST Saturday Red Star hosted Shawlands at the Ropework Park and were hoping to keep up their fantastic run with another win.
In the first half the Stag Hotel sponsored side were making all the running looking for the first goal. The wide men of Phillips and Naisby were used with good effect but the final ball was lacking in the early stages.
With crisp passing the midfield pairing of D Campbell and C Houston were running the middle of the park and maraudering runs from MacDougall at left back were giving the away side problems.
The home side eventually took the lead on 20 minutes as a good ball by Phillips from the left found Asen who headed across goal for Russell to knock in his 12th of the season, the front pairing of Star combining well again as they have done all season.
The top scorer should have grabbed another five minutes later as Broderick slipped a brilliant through ball to the feet of Phillips.
The winger crossed the ball to Russell who managed to control the ball behind him, but lost his footing and the chance was gone.
The home side got a little edgy in the first half and Shawlands had a couple of efforts on goal with Mcculloch in goal having to stay alert to save well to his right hand side.
Things did settle down for Red Star as they doubled their lead before the break. As a Star attack broke down the ball fell kindly to Phillips twenty yards out, who hit a spectacular volley into the top corner, the Star midfielder adding a goals to his fine performances this season.
Going into the break Star had done all the hard work and now just needed to remain focused to pick up another victory.
The second half was much tighter with very little chances for either side as Star did not push as many men forward and stayed more defensive.
A strange third goal was scored for Star on 65 minutes though. As C Campbell lined up a free kick just inside the Shawlands half, he swung the ball to the back post with the keeper misjudging it and the ball flew into the top corner. The defender claimed it was a shot and not a cross for his second of the season.
The away side seemed to be cruising and were passing the ball around well while not offering much up front, but they did pull a goal back however as C Campbell played a dangerous ball across the face of his own goal it landed to a Shawlands player who smashed the ball past Mcculloch and Houston on the line.
Despite a nervy finish Star held on for the victory and will look for another three points this weekend as they travel to Paisley Reid Kerr and will look to keep up the pressure on St. Patricks at the top of the table.
Match Ball Sponsor for Star’s recent home game against Port Glasgow was Jim Hunter from the Empire Travel lodge and last Saturday’s game against Shawlands was sponsored by L & A MacKay Homes.
After the Match Red Star`s Management team of Moore and Weir were delighted with the three points.
Dougie Moore said: ‘We played some good football at times although we need to be a bit more clinical and concentrate a bit more when the opposition have the ball.’
Red Star: Mcculloch, Broderick, MacDougall, I. Houston, C. Campbell, D. Campbell, Phillips, Naisby, Russell, Asen, C. Houston, Morrison,
