Red Star move off bottom with a hard-earned point
Port Glasgow 3 Lochgilphead Red Star 1
SAFL Premier Division One
Red Star played host to Kings Park Rangers on Saturday March 2 in this league clash which was due to take place at the Ropework, however referee Jimmy Litster wisely suggested the match be moved to the Joint Campus 3G as weather and pitch conditions deteriorated badly before kick-off.
Thankfully the match went ahead at the Joint Campus 3G and Red Star kicked off, attacking the Lochgilphead end with the wind at their backs in the first half.
It was the home side who looked the most likely to open the scoring as they pressed Kings Park high up the pitch with their defenders struggling to play the ball out from the back. Star should have been ahead on the half hour mark when Andy Weir broke forward from right back, he got to the byline following a neat passing move and squared the ball to Ryan Caskie, however Caskie’s shot sailed over the bar with the wind from eight yards.
Star were made to rue this miss almost immediately as Kings opened the scoring with a scrappy goal. Star cleared a corner which was recycled before Connor Crawford’s clearance deflected back towards his own goal and fell kindly for the striker to chip over Kalache from close range 0-1.
Star were dealt an injury blow when player manager Luke Naisby had to go off, Coll McCallum slotted in to the central defensive position and young Gregor McGeachy came on up front to partner Caskie in attack.
The Lochgilphead side forced a corner before the break and the equaliser came after Colin Weir’s whipped delivery was met by Aaron Moore, the Star captain’s effort was saved but the ball broke to Martin Bonar who scored from close range and the sides went in level at 1-1.
With the wind against them in the second half Star knew they would be under more pressure, however the back line of Andy Weir, Ben Forbes, Coll McCallum and Connor Crawford kept a high line forcing the visitors into long balls over the top which were not causing too many problems for Luke Klache in goals.
Star still carried a threat on the break and it was from one of these moves where they took the lead.
Kyle Selfridge picked the ball up in midfield before a neat floated delivery found Gregor McGeachy – the young forward did well to remain composed and carry the ball into the box and slot under the Kings keeper to give his side the lead at 2-1.
Kings challenging near the top of the table were desperate to get back into the game and after some nice play on the right their forward found space in the box to finish well and pull his side back into the game at 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining.
Both sides pressed for the winner towards the end and things boiled over towards the end, with Neily Russell Jr seeing red for a lunge on the Kings keeper, and the goalkeeper followed for his reaction to the challenge as the match finished with 10 players a side and honours even.