Star out of drop zone after comeback win

Red Star travelled to Clydebank for a first ever meeting with Parkhall Amateurs and returned home with three points after an excellent second-half display.

It was the home side who started on the front foot, enjoying a swirling breeze at their backs that worked in their favour as a cross evaded everyone in the box and ended up in the back of the net to put Parkhall ahead.

Star looked to get back into the game and were playing some nice football but were hit with a sucker punch on the break, just after half an hour, as the hosts doubled their advantage with a slick passing move, where their forward made no mistake with the finish.

Star didn’t give up, though, and sensed that there were goals for the taking, with

Aaron Moore causing problems in his more advanced position up front. The visitors got the goal their play deserved when Stuart McLean found himself in on goal and finished low underneath the keeper to half the deficit at 2-1.

Into the second half and Star began to take control. They were awarded a penalty when Aaron Moore’s free kick was stopped by a hand from the Parkhall wall. Andy Weir stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to bring the sides level at 2-2.

Star tails were up and they managed to put themselves ahead after 55 minutes when Parkhall failed to clear a corner, the ball fell to Coll McCallum, whose powerful effort beat the keeper.

The home side’s task was made even harder when a lack of discipline saw their midfielder ordered off for a second bookable offence for a daft tackle in the middle of the park.

Seeking their second win in a row, Star made the game safe when Lee MacLean was upended in the box after an incredible solo run from his own half. Andy Weir once again dispatched the penalty in identical fashion to his first to put Star 2-4 up.

The fifth goal came with 20 minutes still remaining when Stuart MacLean worked himself into a good position down the channel, his driven cross was turned into an own goal by the unfortunate centre back to make it 2-5.

Parkhall were reduced to nine men when they lost another player for a nasty looking challenge on Lee MacLean. The player received his second yellow when a

straight red seemed a more appropriate outcome.

Unfortunately, it ended the afternoon early for MacLean, who came off with a knee injury.

Star made it six when Callum McGuinness raced clear of an exposed Parkhall defence and finished smartly to round off a good afternoon for the Lochgilphead side.

Manager Colin Weir had the luxury of being able to use his full bench with the team in a commanding position. However, Parkhall did pull a goal back late on to make the final score 3-6.

Star have moved off the bottom after winning their last two games and will look to carry this confidence into the second half of the season after the Christmas break.