Dalbeattie Star gaffer pleased as training ground work eventually pays off

Dalbeattie Star gaffer Eddie Warwick was pleased his side’s work on the training ground eventually paid off against St Cuthbert Wanderers.

The South of Scotland League champs ran out 5-0 winners at St Mary’s Park, a week after beating the same opposition 8-0 at home.

But it wasn’t until the second half that the goals began to flow, with Star only one goal up at the interval.

Warwick said: “We weren’t pleased with the final third and our decision making. We had a word at half-time and at least three of the goals were right off the training pitch, so it was worth it!
“That for me is more pleasing – when you see them taking something from it.

“We knew it was going to be a narrower pitch and a plastic pitch and we’d need to be more drilled in terms of breaking them down.

“We reduced the size of our training pitch to congest the middle area to take our play round the sides and reduce our touches.

“I’m not saying we didn’t do that in the first half, it just wasn’t quick enough. There were too many touches at the back and before we could cross the ball, there were eight or nine jerseys in front of us. You’ve got to build play quickly and move into the danger areas and that’s what we did in the second half.

“They were hard to break down in the first half and well drilled. Their goalie had to come up trumps a few times and we crashed the bar. The message was take what they do on the training field and start taking their opportunities.”

Kyle Higgins had given Star the lead after just nine minutes but the second didn’t arrive until Dale Milligan found the net five minutes after the break.

Cammy Shaw secured the points when he scored 20 minutes from the end, Ross Hunter also getting in on the act before Shaw rounded off the