DALRY’s disappointing start to the season continued as they fell to a defeat against Annbank.

Both sides settled well and the first chance of the game fell to Dalry when a pass into the box by Archdeacon was just inches too far in front of McLintock and the chance was cleared.

At the other end a header from Baird went well wide.

First blood went to Annbank when they took the lead in 14 minutes. With the Dalry defence claiming offside, Darren Baird ran from deep and scored with a low shot. There was an immediate reaction from Dalry when a free-kick was sent into the box by Mark Archdeacon and it caused an almighty scramble before being cleared.

Annbank thnen caused problems with a long throw into the box and a header from Baird was touched over by keeper Burns. The visitors then had another chance with a free kick which was headed towards goal by was saved by Burns.

Dalry drew level in 22 minutes and at that stage it was no more than they deserved. However there was a little bit of luck as a shot from Liam Hood some 20 yards out took a deflection and the ball spun away from the keeper and into the net.

This gave Dalry a boost and a 20-yard shot from Brian McLintock went just over the bar.

However on the half hour, and against the run of play at that stage, Annbank regained the lead.

Dalry made a bit of a mess in clearing their lines and Baird was given too much time to hit a low shot from 15 yards and make it 2-1.

This in turn swung the game in favour of Annbank and a 22-yard shot went wide before they increased their lead in 38 minutes. A ball was fired in to the near post and Robertson got in front of Butler to flick a shot into the net.

Both sides had chances before the break. Burns did well to save a shot at the expense of a corner, and then a powerful 30-yard shot from Archdeacon was well saved.

Into the second half and a 25-yard rocket from Jordan Stewart dipped over as Dalry looked to get back into the match. Then an Archdeacon shot from 18 yards went just the wrong side of the far post.

A shot from Brown was parried and then gathered by visiting goalie Marc Fisher. Then an inswinger of a corner for Dalry went right across the face of the goal with no takers.

The killer goal came on 72 minutes when a quick break saw Robertson, who was well offside, run on and score to make it 4-1.

To complete a miserable day for Dalry the referee gave a second yellow card to Stewart.

In challenging for the ball the defender landed on the ball and fell. The referee adjudged that Stuart had been guilty of a foul but the sending off seemed very harsh.

DALRY THISTLE: Burns; McMunn, Irvine, McLuckie, Butler, Brown, Hood, Stewart, Archdeacon, McLintock, Lamont. Subs; Mills, Marshall, Crombie, Millan, Summers ANNBANK UNITED: Fisher; Sloan Ferry, Roy, Cairns, McCreadie, Lavan, Wilson, Baird, Robertson, Tait, Subs; Barr, Hainey, Simpson, McDowall, Callaghan.