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LOCHGILPHEAD Red Star have taken the league championship race to the last day with a 3-0 win away to Carlton.
The Mid-Argyll side now must win their top of the table clash with title chasing St Patricks AFC at the Ropework on Saturday Afternoon.
The match, sponsored by Lochgilphead’s Comm Bar, kicks off at 2.30pm. Referee will be R Hughes.
Last Saturday the team travelled to Carlton knowing anything less than three points would be a huge blow to their title hopes. Going into the game the Premier Dry Cleaning side were without Craig and Iain Houston, Chris Broderick and Mariusz Kowalski but were confident the squad would cope.
The game started off slowly for Star with the home side holding a high line and the ball not finding Asen and Russell in the Star attack. Star should have taken the lead on ten minutes as Naisby dispossessed the left back and cut the ball back to Asen whose shot was well saved by the keeper. The ball fell to Russell who could not divert the ball goal wards.
The Star striker did not have to wait much longer for another chance. Phillips crossed to Russell who instinctively poked the ball into the net for his 17th goal of the season. This goal relaxed Red Star who doubled their lead on 20 minutes. Asen collected the ball on the right and crossed to the back post for Phillips to fire a half volley into the goal.
The Lochgilphead side were cruising and playing well with McCulloch in goal almost a spectator as the Star defence shut out the Carlton attack.
The home side pressed more in the second half, committing more men forward, with C. Campbell and Macmillan in the centre of defence having to stay alert. Star added the third of the game when Asen played to Naisby who crossed it ball back to Asen at the edge of the 18-yard box for him to side foot it past the keeper’s right into the bottom corner for the Bulgarian’s 14th of the season.
The game was now won for Star, although they should have added to their goal tally with Docherty, Naisby and Campbell all coming close.
The Red Star management team of Moore and Weir are looking forward to this week’s challenge.
Moore said: ‘We turned in an excellent performance on Saturday the lads gave us a good reaction after the recent poor away game to Rosehill.
‘Whatever happens this weekend the lads should be proud of themselves with the way they’ve played this season.’
