2-5 Well beaten in the end. No happy. Should probably stop my post there but obviously I won't.

First half: despite losing Alex King after 5 mins or so to a knock Spartans played the best they have done all season. A rasper from Donal for the first, a very good goal from Star to equalise and then some great work from Nicky Walker and a brilliant finish by Keith McLeod - the man is definitely back.

HT - 2-1 and playing well.

Second half: Don't know what happened but we found ourselves under several spells of pressure from Star. Never a penalty but that didn't make the difference in a game where Star scored 5 goals. Last 20 mins they looked like scoring every time they went up the park.

As we all expected, Ross Archibald was a big miss today but he'll be back next week.

Annan did all we hoped in pummeling Elgin but next week we definitely start as underdogs.

Underdogs,your having a laugh

I'm extremely serious WJR when i say i spoke to at least a dozen Annan fans who can't wait to throw their money on Spartans to beat Elgin. They are by far the worst team in that division and feel that if you put in a performance like you did in the second half at Galabank then you will be home and dry.

I've never seen a defence play such a high line against a three man attack as they played today.

Tell Mickey to go 3-4-3 and then bring on the big boys in round four.

Not a bad shout Hugo re the 3-4-3. Ross Archibald will be back and he's worth 2.

Our first half today was even better than the second half against you boys and Star were no mugs. Obviously.

Sam and Mickey will remind the boys for next week of the good things they are doing.

Did Stenny forget to show up for the second half when they lost to Elgin?

Star have come from behind to win on numerous occasions to win this season - they are the Turkey from Euro 2008 of the East of Scotland.

The worst things Spartans could probably have done was take the lead

Fair comment Stu - Mickey said as much after the first equaliser but that was more to gee our boys up. Our boys have a lot of pride though so they won't take this one lightly.

Apparently also a bit of a "Boruc incident" in the first half with the Star keeper.

The dalbeattie penalty was never one...their players didn't even cliam but the way our guys collapsed is worrying...not just for next week but for the rest of our league campaign.
A week to regroup before the trip north, despite the Elgin score today they've got to be strong favourites. With Robbie, AK, Gav and Struan all carrying injuries we will have our work cut out.
I fancy Dalbeattie to beat Forres next week, if they can carry on the way they finished today the Mechanics will need all the tools in their toolkit.

Underdogs? No chance.

Of course we are - were EOSL league - your lot are SFL - we have a long journey to your neck of the woods to play on a pitch we have never played before.

I think it should be a good game though

Was at the game yesterday. My 100% winning record of seeing Spartans (4 out of 4 before the game) has unfortunately disappeared! Still, it was a cracking game though.

Spartans came out and for the first 15-20 mins or so absolutely dominated the game. And what a goal the opener was. A great cross despite the bobble and then a superb finish at the back post. Dalbeattie's first half equaliser was very much against the run of play and it didn't take long before Spartans restored the lead.

2-1 at half time and looking comfortable.

Now I don't know what the Dalbeattie manager said at half time but it worked a treat. Spartans had a good chance from a free-kick early on but after that it was all Dalbeattie. They definately deserved to win on their 2nd half showing, but there's no doubting the penalty decision was wrong. I was sat (or stood) behind that goal and it was never a deliberate handball. As Sam said after the game to the referee "That is called a chest, referee!" The worry is just how badly Spartans heads dropped after the penalty went in. As WJR said everytime Dalbeattie went forward they looked like scoring.

Next week will be interesting with Elgin and Spartans both coming off the back of awful beatings, but Spartans can hopefully do the business and land a great tie in Round 4!

Still disappointed and that was a classic 6 pointer and no mistake. But there's a long way to go yet and we're not out of the league by any means. There were also some real positives to take from bits of the game yesterday. Keith McLeod is looking sharper every game back and our second goal was a great example of what I had been hoping for when we signed Nicky Walker. Some great work from Nicky to set up Keith for a brilliant finish.

We'll be back to our more settled back line next week although no doubt the ever uncomplaining Stewart Fowlie will still be doing his running through brick walls act and can't be properly fit again yet.

Alex and Robbie will have a full week to shake off their knocks and no doubt as a group there will be a fair bit of wounded pride.

But if we can play like we did in the first half yesterday with the commitment of the Pollok and Annan games we'll give a good account of ourselves.

2 teams losing 5 apiece though, wonder that means for Sat? 12 players strung across midfield? Hope not.

See Easty, clouds and silver linings. Easy when you know how. But your comments about City Park were well placed yesterday. Amazing that both teams managed to play the football they did.

Are Star now one of the favs for the title? good young squad who Gordon has playing attacking football............heard Skin was back involved too......can only be a good thing

Star will have a good chance of winning the league, if they play like they did in the last 20 minutes of yesterdays game.They have a good keeper & Spartans were made to work hard for both their goals.They are a mainly young very fit side & always threatened on the counter attack with their pace up front.However there was not a 3 goal gap between the sides.The penalty kick was of the very soft variety as the ball very obviously struck a Spartans player on the arm but it was a case of ball to arm & not arm to ball.Star got a lift from the equaliser & then 2/3 Spartans players went to sleep when Star took a quick free kick at the edge of the box.Im not sure if the players were still debating the soft penalty but they certainly were not concentrating on the game & were punished.By this time Spartans had lost their shape & went chasing the game & were twice caught on the break by 2 clinical finishes.
The turning point in the game for me was the injury to Robbie Manson as he was winning most of the tackles in mid-field & providing great cover to the defence.Once he went off Star started to find more gaps & in the end deserved their victory. I hope Star go on to win at Forres next week & Im sure with Archibald back & yesterdays casualties making a good recovery then Spartans will give a good account of themslves at Elgin.Im sure Mickie & Sam will get a good reaction from the players & move on from the dreadful finale to yesterdays game.The capitulation brought back unhappy memories of the City game earlier in the season when Spartans were leading 3 nil & in the end were a shade fortunate to take a point.
Good luck to City & Vale next Saturday, it would be great if at least 2 of the 4 EOS clubs can make it through to round 4 & a money spinning draw against one of the big guns

Anyone be able to tell me who scored all the goals for Dalbeattie on Saturday?

re - dodgy penalty decision - How did Mike Scott manage to be in two places at the same time !!! ???

Was he reffing on Sat as well as sending one of our youth team off on the Sunday? In true Wenger fashion I didn't see it as I wasn't there but it was described as very harsh.

Milligan 21' Sloan 72' (pen), 88, McBeth 74' Kerr 80'


BTW - Skin is NOT back involved with The Star..........Yet!!!

Thanks mate much appreciated!