Dalbeattie Star boss insists it's 'back to business' as league games set to resume
Dalbeattie Star boss Eddie Warwick insists it’s “back to business” against Lochmaben on Saturday.
After two cup defeats to Lochar Thistle, the South of Scotland League champs are gearing up for their first league game since early January.
And Warwick said: “It’s back to business. I love the league – you want to do well in a cup, and if you get to a final you want to win it, but the leagues are what I’m there for.
“I love all the permutations and I’m excited already, I’m looking forward to getting back to it.
“It’s what I care most about and it has been since day one. I’m more gutted losing league games than cup games.
“Lochmaben are a young team with loads of energy. Every time we’ve played them they’ve been buzzing about and they’re not easy. They’ve pulled some good results out so we won’t be taking anybody likely.”
Warwick is hoping to have some players back after having to make do without six of his starters for Saturday’s Tweedie Cup semi-final against Lochar.
New Queen of the South loan signings Finlay Millar and Alex O’Hagan started along with Farrel O’Sullivan, who answered an SOS call to make a one-off appearance.
Seven days earlier, Lochar had thrashed Star 8-1 in the South of Scotland Challenge Cup and they went in front through Robbie Ferguson’s penalty.
However, Star responded and Millar marked his debut with the equaliser before Russell Williamson’s penalty had them in front at the break.
Lochar equalised through Marcus Zygaldo with around 20 minutes left to take the game to extra time, even though Rory Copland was sent off.
And for the second week running it was the Dumfries side who triumphed, Ferguson scoring the crucial winner.
Warwick, who missed the game, said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game because we knew we’d have players missing.
“We were without six of our starting players and if you take that out of any team it’ll be hard.
“We’ve a good squad with a lot of good players and we showed faith in them.
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“I believe they did very well and you can see the week before was a freak one.
“We’re disappointed to be out, but very, very proud of the players. We asked them to give us everything and run to they dropped, which happened with a couple of them - unfortunately we may have a couple of injuries on the back of it.
“We almost pulled it off, we almost caused the upset, but we just ran out of steam at the end and I think extra-time was just too much.
“We’ve lost a semi-final but there were a lot of positives in terms of the loan boys coming in and guys restoring a bit of pride from letting themselves down the week before.
“Once we get players back we’ll be stronger for it - not only on the pitch but on the bench.”
