Dalbeattie Star gaffer hails players after South of Scotland League title triumph

Dalbeattie Star gaffer Eddie Warwick has hailed his players after they lifted the Utility Hut South of Scotland League trophy.

A 1-1 draw against closest rivals Creetown on Wednesday night saw them take the title by just two points.

Warwick said: “It’s an amazing feeling what the young boys have achieved and every one of them deserves it. I don’t think anyone is arguing.

“In any division in the world, the league title everybody is desperate to get it and that trumps any cup competition. To do it in our first year gives us a target for next year.

“It’s been a project, we’ve had 10 months against teams that have been established for two or three years. The likes of Abbey Vale, Lochar Thistle, Creetown and Newton Stewart have had their core team together for a few years.

“We’ve just built a team and they’re very young compared to other teams. Other teams have some good experienced senior players, in our ranks we’ve maybe only got one or two.

“My private goal was to win the league, it was a big ask but we did it.

“Could we have done it a little bit easier? Yes, but we don’t have a divine right to win every game.

“Beating Creetown was a big result, beating Abbey Vale in the first game of the season and beating Newton Stewart both times were massive

“We won all the games against the teams that were challenging and that’s what’s been the difference. We’ve not dropped points against teams from sixth down and you can’t win leagues if you do that.

“It’s the big games where we stood up and were counted.

“I’ve a lot of time for Creetown, they’re a very good side, and I feel for them as they’ve only lost three games in two seasons and finished runners-up twice.”

After relegation from the Lowland League, Star