Dalbeattie Star boss Eddie Warwick has praised this weekend’s opponents Stirling University for their Scottish Cup heroics.
The students head to Islecroft this weekend off the back of a trip to Tannadice to face Dundee United.
And despite being four divisions below their full-time opponents, they were far from embarrassed, eventually going down 3-0.
Now they return to league business with a trip to bottom of the table Star.
Warwick said: “They’re coming off the back of a very, very credible result on Saturday.
“It’s not a disgrace by any stretch of the imagination to go to a full-time professional team and only be on the end of a 3-0 defeat. By all accounts they did themselves proud.
“It’ll be really tough for us. They’re one of the top teams and can go top if they win their two games in hand.
“It’ll be a hard, hard game for us. Our battle isn’t really with teams in the top four this season. These games are free hits in a way.
“If we get anything at all it’s a bonus as they’re certainly not games we expect to get anything from and they’re not the game we’re targeting as a three point opportunity. You just have to try your best.
“They might not like it down on the grass at Dalbeattie. We need the weather to be kind – we’re hoping it’s on but it’ll be a very difficult team against a very good side which has had an excellent season so far.”
The Star ranks have been boosted by the arrival of Airdrie youngster Jay Riley on loan for the rest of the season.
He’s the latest new arrival at Islecroft, with Peter Mendy joining on loan from Queen of the South and Harry Hay coming in from Albion Rovers.
Warwick said: “I’m really excited to work with him (Jay Riley).
“He’s a wingback, he’s in at Airdrie full-time and has been on the bench for the first team.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have got him in. It’s an area we needed to fix and improve. I think he’ll give us what we’re looking for on that side and to challenge for wins in the league.
He’s young, energetic and pacey so I’m excited with him.”
Not so exciting was Star’s weekend as the weather got the better of them.
They had switched their Utility Hut South of Scotland Challenge Cup clash with Creetown to Palmerston but even the artificial surface couldn’t beat the Scottish weather.
“The sun wasn’t on it at that stage, which would have helped.”
