Selkirk 2

Dalbeattie Star 2

By Callum Hodgson

at Yarrow Park

SELKIRK had to settle for their first draw of the season on Saturday.

Jordan Hopkinson put the Souters in front early on, before relegation threatened Dalbeattie fought back with goals from Liam Park and Scott Milligan.

But in the 76th minute, the home side’s quality prevailed when Dale Baxter popped up with a header to ensure they claimed a point.

After the game, gaffer John Coughlin told us: “It’s a fair result as far as I’m concerned. It was an even game and Dalbeattie are fighting and scrapping right until the end.

“I think we created enough chances in the first half. However, missing those chances made it difficult and it was a bit precarious at 1-0 – but fair play to them, they got back into it.

“The games are coming thick and fast for us now, there are a lot of midweek ties coming up. The big concern for me is that we have a small squad, but hopefully we can stay fit and fresh and enjoy the remainder of the season.”

It took the Souters just seven minutes to open the scoring. A wonderful corner from Baxter found Hopkinson, who was able to turn in at the near post, despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it.

Selkirk showed their quality throughout the first half. Sean McKirdy saw two efforts expertly saved by Ross Wilson before the interval.

And they could have been at least two up early on in the second half, with two identical efforts.

Former Hearts man Baxter whipped in two corners, both found the head of Ricky Millar – but the first went narrowly wide and the second smashed against the crossbar.

Selkirk were then dealt another injury blow. Reece Donaldson was forced off with a shoulder injury after being brought down by full-back Park.

And on 58 minutes Park was involved in the action again, this time grabbing an unlikely goal for Star.

He drove forward and smacked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from about 25 yards out to get his side on level terms.

And just seven minutes later, the game was turned on its head. Milligan burst down the left, cut inside and powered an unstoppable effort into the far corner.

It could have got worse for Selkirk soon after, had Lewis Sloan’s free-kick been two inches lower.

But the Yarrow Park team showed why they are on course for a fifth-place finish in a highly competitive league.

In the 76th minute Hopkinson crossed in from the left, and there was Baxter to head in – an effort which boss Coughlin joked was a “collector’s item”!

Dalbeattie, who are desperately trying to avoid finishing second from bottom, did create a few more chances before the whistle.

Sloan and Farrell O’Sullivan came close, but Selkirk’s back line stood strong.

Selkirk: G Amos, R Sclater, R Donaldson (J Davidson 56), R Millar, D Healy, C Chalmers, J Hopkinson (A Fleming 80), D Banjo, D Baxter, S McKirdy, R King. Subs not used: P Addison.