Dalbeattie Star’s Lowland League campaign ended in defeat on Saturday.
The Islecroft side, who have finished bottom of the table, went down 5-0 at Cumbernauld Colts.
Their cause wasn’t helped by the dismissal of Franny Kilpatrick early on, the Star man reacting badly to a challenge from Marky Munro – who also saw red.
An own goal then gave the home side the lead, Cole McIntyre adding the second before the break.
The Colts then had Munro sent off before half-time but they remained in control, Luke McCarvel getting the third just after the hour mark.
The fourth came from Ewan MacPherson before Daniel Hatfield finished things off.
Star boss Eddie Warwick said: “I think the red card hurt us more.
“You lose a man after 18 minutes and it’s your seventh game in the space of three weeks.
“It killed us more than it killed them, for sure.
“They’ve not had a lot of midweek games and were fairly fresh. It would have been difficult at 11 v 11 but when it goes down to 10, they’ve got fit players and you have guys on the pitch carrying knocks.”
Star went into the game off the back of a midweek 0-0 draw against Hearts’ youngsters, having already picked up a point against Celtic’s kids earlier in the month.
Warwick said: “We probably should have won it, we had the better chances in the game and didn’t take them.
“We’ve had three draws and a cup win in the last four midweek games, then it comes to a Saturday and we’re a bit short, we’re short for legs and are struggling.
“The games catch up – that was number seven for April and we have more to go.”
Despite finishing their league games, Star’s season isn’t quite over as on Saturday they host Stirling University in the Lowland League
Cup.
Star will face Lochar Thistle at home in the semi-finals of the Utility Hut South of Scotland Challenge Cup on Wednesday
night.
