Red Star reeling after shootout exit from cup

LOCHGILPHEAD Red Star made a dramatic exit from the Hall Cup at the hands of East Kilbride YMCA in Hamilton last Saturday.

Star, playing against a strong wind in the first half, struggled to get to grips with the home side’s longball game.

The Lochgilphead side were forced into an early change when Lee MacLean went off injured to be replaced by Gregor Peacock.

It was the home side who ended a close first half on a high. An East Kilbride midfielder reacted well to a Red Star mistake in defence and curled his effort home.

Star made a couple of changes early in the sec- ond half. Although they were seeing more of the ball, clear-cut chances were proving hard to come by.

Kieran Moore went close with a free kick after an hour but his effort cannoned back off the bar. A Ciaran McPhie effort from the left also rattled the post.

As the match entered stoppage time, Star finally got the equaliser when after some pinball in the East Kilbride box, the ball fell to Rab Docherty, who turned and finished well to force the match into a penalty shootout.

Unfortunately for Star, it was East Kilbride who edged the penalty shootout 4-2, firing them in to the semi-finals.

Red Star look to end the season on a high tomorrow, Saturday, when they travel to play Carlton YM in their final league match.