Latest news with #LocharThistle
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Dalbeattie Star retain Cree Lodge Cup to finish season on a high
The Islecroft side triumphed 2-1 over South of Scotland League champs Lochar Thistle thanks to a late David Taylor goal. Dalbeattie Star finished the season with silverware after retaining the Cree Lodge Cup. The Islecroft side triumphed 2-1 over South of Scotland League champs Lochar Thistle on Wednesday to finish the season on a high. Assistant manager David Taylor said: 'It was a really good way to finish it. 'All credit to Lochar for winning so much over the last three seasons – and to every team that's won a cup. They've beaten us in the last three finals and it's a great way to get over the line. 'It's a great way to finish. Chris Jardine and all the guys deserve so much credit for what they've done in his three seasons there. 'They became a bit of a winning machine and all credit to them. "The table doesn't lie and they've beaten us in the last few cup finals. 'It was important, more for the players, to beat them in a game that matters like a final.' Declan Rogerson put Star into an early lead but Rory Copland equalised for the league champions. Star won it with just a few minutes to go when David Taylor – the assistant manager's son – headed in a corner. He said: 'I wouldn't have cared who scored but it was nice, we had family down at the game so it was a nice feeling. It was a proud moment managerial wise and parental wise. 'It was a typical cup final. Both teams creating enough chances and had it gone to extra time nobody could have complained. 'To get the winner late on makes it hard to come back and I'm delighted to get that one over the line.' Star have already begun their preparations for next season by signing goalie Taylor Hall. The keeper had a successful spell at the Maryfield Park side, being one of the top performers in the South of Scotland League. Phil Middlemiss and Jack Palmer have also pledged their futures to Star.
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Party time as Lochar Thistle win first ever South of Scotland League title
It was party time for Lochar Thistle after they won their first ever South of Scotland League title. The Dumfries side beat Creetown 3-0 on Saturday to lift the trophy for the first time. And the full-time whistle sparked wild scenes at Wilson Park – and elsewhere. Boss Chris Jardine said: 'We had nothing planned but we just spent the weekend in The Lochar pub! It was an enjoyable couple of days. 'I'm just glad to get it done on Saturday and we can relax when we play Dalbeattie Star this weekend. 'We've still got three semi-finals to play so it means we can rest boys a wee bit. 'We scored pretty early, which settled the nerves quickly, and the players were able to relax a wee bit. 'The first half wasn't that great. We told the boys it would be a bit flat if that was how we went out. 'The second half was better, we could probably have won by a bit more, but we were happy with that.' Goals from Jordan Muirhead and Rory Copland had Lochar looking good at the break, with Scott Milligan getting the third in the second half to ensure the party could begin. Lochar have been in contention for the title all season but it wasn't until the last few weeks of the season that Jardine felt it was really on. He said: 'It's wasn't until we beat Nithsdale up there as that's always a hard place to go. 'I think when we won that, knowing we had two home league games to come before Dalbeattie in our final game, I felt as though we had one hand on it. 'I was still nervous on Saturday right up until we scored the third goal – I wasn't relaxed. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. 'We've had a ridiculous run of fixtures, the catch-up we've had to play has been unbelievable. 'I always knew it would be difficult. We lost the first two - against Newton and Abbey Vale – and I was worried at that point. 'The boys have done really well to just go on that win to clinch it. 'The league was the target at start of the season. When I came in three years ago I said to Russell Caskie the secretary, who was the one that got me into the club, that I wanted to win the league for Lochar. 'That's always been the ambition since we came in.'
