09:07
Whitletts delivered a cup upset as they overcame Lowland League side Dalbeattie Star in the first round of the South Challenge Cup at Islecroft Stadium. Manager George Grierson only had eleven recognised first team squad members to pick from – and two of them were goalkeepers, with young Connor Yair earning a starting place in the side following his performance last week at Shotts. But Star, who currently sit in fifth place in the Scottish Lowland League, two tiers above Whitletts in football’s pyramid structure, had no answer to the Vics who ran out worthy winners to set up a second round tie at Muirkirk next month. The match was open from the kick off with both sides looking for an early breakthrough. Louis Kerr fired in a corner kick across the face of goal that found no takers while Star centre half Jack Dickinson should have done better when he failed to connect properly with a header in front of goal. However it was Vics who began to take a grip on the game and look the more threatening. Louis Kerr saw his diving header blocked and Cammy Ross was inches away with a shot from 30 yards that left Star keeper Darren Holt rooted to the spot. Holt then also reacted well to save a shot from just outside the box by Scott Dempster as the visitors applied the pressure. A Louis Kerr free kick drifted inches wide but Whitletts finally made the breakthrough in the 36th minute. From a Dempster cross on the left, Louis Kerr got in between the two central defenders and appeared to hang in the air for an eternity before heading past Holt from six yards. It was no more than Whitletts deserved but the goal stung the home side who quickly looked to make amends. Connor Potts tried his luck from distance, but his shot went just over the bar and just before half time Vics keeper Ally McInnes tipped a Steven Degnan shot round the post after the visitors had struggled to clear their lines. But at the start of the second period, Whitletts were back on the ascendancy. Kieran McLaughlin intercepted the ball and broke into the box but his low driven cross found no takers and then the Vics wide man was denied by the keeper and Adam Gordon cleared the danger before Dempster could capitalise. It was all Whitletts at this stage. A Cammy Ross drive was parried by Holt who reacted well to save as Jamie Henderson seemed set to score, a netbound header by Isaac Kerr was cleared by Dean Brotherston and then Dempster was denied as his shot in a crowded six yards box was deflected over the bar. Isaac Kerr then saw his header from a corner kick cleared off the line but despite their superiority, Vics couldn’t add to their tally and the home side started to work their way back into the match. McInnes turned a Degnan shot round the post whilst Louis Kerr was relieved when his attempt to head clear lashed inches wide across goal. McInnes then saved well from a Ryan Muir shot as Star pressed for the equaliser. In a Vics counter attack, Marc Dyer had claims for a penalty waved aside as he went down under a challenge from two Star defenders. Star striker Russell Currie, top scorer in the Lowland League this season with 14 goals so far, had been kept quite all afternoon but he had a great chance to equalise with nine minutes remaining to a Brotherston cross at the back post. Henderson had a great opportunity to seal the game for Vics in the 84th minute after he was set up by McLaughlin but Holt made a fine diving save to thwart the Vics midfielder with his legs. With Star now desperate for the equaliser that would have taken the game into extra time, McInnes made a fine save in a goalmouth scramble before Currie had a fresh air swipe at the ball with the goal at his mercy. In a match that was played in great spirit from both sides, referee Gary Hanvidge found six minutes of added time to add on and in the final minute Currie again had a great chance at the back post but his effort was deflected wide for a corner kick. A thoroughly entertaining match in which both sides played their part but it is Vics who march into the next round with the perfect boost ahead of next Saturday’s trip to high flying Arthurlie on league business.
2021-10-09
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