COLTS avoided any potential Friday the 13th horror show after booking their place in the third round of the South Region Challenge Cup with victory against Dalbeattie Star.

It wasn’t exactly a Friday night footballing feast at Broadwood, but Gregor Johnston’s solitary strike was enough to secure the win for Colts against their Lowland League rivals.
Colts made at least six changes from the previous weeks starting eleven against East Kilbride, as they entertained their visitors from the Borders.

The hosts had a great chance to open the scoring in 16 minutes when the ball broke to Jordan Pirrie unmarked in the box, but the midfielder couldn’t angle his shot past visiting keeper Ryan Gibson from 10 yards.
Colts had the ball in the net in 27 minutes when Fraser Team got onto the end of Craig Murray’s reverse pass and lashed the ball past Gibson from the right angle, but the striker had strayed narrowly offside.

But it was Colts who got the breakthrough their dominance deserved in 38 minutes when a long deep cross from Cameron Dickson found its way to Johnston, and the young striker did well to keep his eye on the ball before directing a controlled volley low past Gibson from six yards.

The visitors came out at the start of the second half with much more intent, and almost drew level on two occasions with close efforts from Farrel O’Sullivan and Philip Middlemiss.

Colts top scorer Marty Wright replaced scorer Johnston and in 55 minutes it wasn’t long before Pirrie threaded a lovely pass into Wright’s path and the striker almost doubled the Colts advantage, but Gibson made a great low save.

Dalbeattie went close again to levelling the tie in 62 minutes when Middlemiss found himself in front of goal with only Alex Gilchrist in the Colts goal to beat but the striker blasted high over the bar.

And in 67 minutes Steven Tart thought he had put the tie beyond Dalbeattie when he bulleted a header past Gibson after getting onto the end of Pirrie’s clever free kick, but as the net bulged the far side assistant referee flagged for offside against the defender.

Colts were unable to add a second goal to give them some breathing space, but other than a couple of scary moments near then end when Dalbeattie threatened to force extra time the hosts looked comfortable as they held on to secure their place in round three.

The Cumbernauld men will now turn their attention to next week’s massive William Hill Scottish Cup tie when they host East of Scotland League side Penicuik Athletic at Broadwood.

Dalbeattie Star; Gibson, Green, Thomson, Cowie, Degnan, Sloan, Ferguson, O’Sullivan, Park, Middlemiss, Tremble. Subs; Parker, Kerr, Brotherston, Thorburn, Graham, Wilson, Telfer.