McBookie Championship

KELLO ROVERS 0

DALRY THISTLE 3

THISTLE got off to a flyer as the District League champions overcame the Kirkconnel hosts in a one-sided match.

This game at Nithside Park was played on a good day with a wind blowing left to right.

The pitch, though looking good, was quite uneven which made passing quite difficult at times.

It was always going to be a difficult challenge for Kello against a team who went through their league campaign last season undefeated, especially as the hosts started with three of their regular first team players missing through injury and then lost another, Robert Hampson in the first 10 minutes. This was due to an injury sustained in the midweek game becoming aggravated and he had to be substituted.

Thistle were totally dominant with this performance suggesting they will be no mugs in the second tier of the Junior game.

On target with some fine finishes were Mark Archdeacon, Lewis Kirkwood and Jordan Stewart.

While Dalry were slick and command, it was a day when nothing seemed to go right for Kello, with passes inaccurate and first touches being poor. The most frustrating thing about this is that this team can play much better and at times there was fleeting glimpses of how they can play.