Dalbeattie Star’s Scottish Cup run came to an end on Saturday.
The Islecroft side were in the third round for the first time since 2008, having seen off Newtongrange Star and Rothes in replays in previous rounds.
But their hopes of making the fourth round – and the possibility of a glamour tie against a Premiership club – were dashed by Lowland League rivals East Kilbride.
Boss Ritchie Maxwell said: “I thought we played very well. Over the 90 minutes I thought we were the better team. We definitely created the better chances and we were a bit unlucky on the day. We hit the post, their keeper has made a superb save from a header early on and then we’ve missed a couple of chances in the second half.
“I think the first goal was always going to be important and losing the penalty just before half-time was always going to be a massive blow.
“They have lots of experience, especially at the back, and when they get the goal up they’re well organised and use that experience to slow the game down and see the game out. We’re disappointed but the performance was pleasing.”
In three of their four previous Scottish Cup games this season, Star have started slowly but that wasn’t the case on Saturday as they created plenty of early chances.
Steven Degnan went close with a header and then thought he’d given the home side the lead only to see his shot hit the post.
However, just before the break Kilby edged in front when Ryan McChesney was controversially deemed to have brought down Jack Stainrod inside the box and Neil McLaughlin did the honours from the spot. Maxwell later admitted he had “no major complaints” about the decision.
When Steven Saunders headed in the second just after the hour mark it looked like game over, but moments later Star were back in it, Degnan heading in Lewis Sloan’s cross to spark hopes of a comeback.
This weekend it’s back to Lowland League business for Star as they head to East Stirlingshire.
