Dalbeattie Star facing 2021 fixture pile-up as two more games called off due to bad weather

Dalbeattie Star are facing a fixture pile-up in 2021.

In the last week, they have seen games against East Kilbride and Vale of Leithen called off due to the weather, meaning they have played just 10 Lowland League games this season.

And there is more uncertainty over when games will be played due to severe coronavirus restrictions coming into force across the country on Boxing Day.

Gaffer Ritchie Maxwell said: “It’s one of the downsides of having a grass pitch. I think the majority in the Lowland League are artificial surfaces which is good as it means we can get games on.

“However, the likes of ourselves, Vale and Bonnyrigg have grass pitches so there is always the potential for matches to be called off.

“We’ve had a few more than other teams so it looks like we’ll have a busier start to the New Year or the rest of the season.

“With level four being announced from Boxing Day, it’s a waiting game to see what’s going to happen with football. Will we continue to play or will be forced to pause? It’s all up in the air again.

“I expected tougher restrictions in England but I didn’t expect the whole of Scotland to go into level four.

“That could have a significant impact on football as well. I’m hoping the SFA will come out with something that will let us know where we stand.

“Our training facilities have already let us know where we stand for the next three weeks.

“We now don’t have any 3G surfaces available to us so we’ll have to look at grass pitches.”

Star did get a game in Tuesday night as they faced Dumfries and Galloway rivals Gretna 2008 at Islecroft, the game ending in a 2-2 draw.

Star opened the scoring in the first half through Ryan McChesney only for Joe Jackson to equalise before the break.

The scoring in the second half took on a similar pattern.

Dan Orsi restored Star’s lead with Sam Muir scoring Gretna’s second equaliser of the evening shortly after.

The two sides will do it all over again on January 2, the game not being moved to a midweek date due to floodlight issues at Raydale.

Maxwell said: “It’s a massive double header for both teams and both teams have got a lot to play for.”

Tuesday night’s draw was just Star’s fifth point of the season but it was enough to move them a point clear of second bottom Edinburgh University, who have played three games more.

It also moved them further ahead of basement boys Vale of Leithen, who are still looking for their first points of the campaign.