Lowland League: Civil Service Strollers top the table

Civil Service Strollers are riding a crest of a wave as their 1-0 victory over Dalbeattie Star took them top of the Lowland League.

Steven Froude is back in Strollers colours

While the majority of the other sides in the division were on Football Nation Qualifying Cup duty, Strollers took full advantage to grind out their third consecutive league win.

Strollers were given a huge boost ahead of Saturday’s clash at Christie Gillies Park with the news that Steven Froude had agreed to rejoin the club following a short spell with East of Scotland side Leith Athletic. And last season’s top scorer went straight into Gary Jardine’s starting line-up for the visit of the Borderers.

The hosts scored the only goal of the game in the first half when a long throw-in was flicked on at the near post and there was Robbie Laird to steer his header beyond goalkeeper Vincent Parker from just a couple of yards. It was the defender’s first goal since 2015. The win takes Strollers one point clear of undefeated East Kilbride, although the South Lanarkshire side do have two games in hand.

Strollers begin their defence of the South Region Challenge Cup with the visit of Wigtown and Bladnoch on Saturday.