For the 2nd year in a row, the Stan travelled to Scotland to play Lowland League opposition and the match again ended in an entertaining 3-3 score line. The visit to Islecroft Stadium saw the Stan’s team bus containing more supporters than players as only 12 were available including new keeper Mahamad Shajari. The team took the fixture seriously though and so did Dalbeattie who start their league campaign next Saturday.

When it comes to Scotland versus England there is no such thing as a friendly! Fans of both teams were also able to see and hold the FA Cup although some young locals had to be informed that it was the English version and not the Scottish Cup! Of equal curiosity to the Stan army was a contraption that resembled a Hannibal Lecter mask on a long stick which was used to retrieve the ball from a fast flowing stream behind the dugouts. Its effectiveness is such though that only 3 balls have been lost in 30 years!

The match started well for the Stan and after only 4 minutes there was a contender for goal of the season. Philipson ran forward on the left side, turned a defender and from 40 yards and sent a curling shot in that fooled the keeper and made it 1-0 to the Stan. From the restart Dalbeattie had a shot caught by Shajari. Each team had then had 2 shots each.

The match was beginning to get more physical and in 22 minutes the Stan keeper was fouled. 3 minutes later and Philipson made a good tackle to prevent a home player from crossing the ball into the box. From the resulting corner, the ball was only partially cleared and James Baty tapped it in from 6 yards to make it 1-1.

Dalbeattie’s Tommy Muir should have been sent off in the 29th minute when he and Shajari ran towards each other and the ball and he caught the keeper badly with his studs. In the 33 rd minute, Buzzeo cleared poorly and from the resulting corner the ball went along the goal line and was missed by everyone in the box. McHarrie sent the ball back in low through the crowd of players and it was thumped in from close range by Dean Fyfe. After a Stan corner was headed away, there were 3 more Dalbeattie attacks. Just before half time, and with tempers fraying, Deagle pulled a muscle and had to be replaced by Billy Walker.

From the restart, Dalbeattie shot well wide. In the 57th minute, Shajari blocked a home attack but missed the follow up effort which luckily went just wide. Their first clear effort of the half saw the Stan equalise when a ball in from Philipson on the left saw McCabe, who as on the right, head it into the box for Gary Yates to confidently put the ball away.

Dalbeattie were back in the lead after 65 minutes when a tackle by Scott just inside the box saw a penalty awarded. Danny Dunglinson confidently put the ball to the keeper’s left. The Stan then attacked but this was followed by Dalbeattie hitting the bar. In the 71st minute, a Stan attack saw Yates pass to Bailey just inside the box who had his feet taken away. From the penalty, Yates again scored confidently. 4 minutes later and a great effort by Walker saw him hit the crossbar. 5 minutes after that, the home team skimmed the Stan crossbar. Bailey then saw a speculative long shot go wide. Scott and Buzzeo then blocked home attacks followed by Johnson shooting wide.

Both sides continued to attack and there were 3 further efforts at either end before the match ended 3-3. This was a good performance from an under strength Stan team that did both the manager and their nation proud and, unlike the England national team 50 years ago this month, they did so away from home and without the help of a Russian linesman!

Team: Shajari; Buzzeo; Philipson; Stoddart; Scott; Imray; Bailey; McCabe; Yates;Johnson; Deagle (Walker, W).

Sub: Walker

Goals: Philipson 4, Yates 61, 71.

Yellow card: Buzzeo.

Attendance:

Kevin Mochrie