Match Detail

Once again Salters were involved in a high scoring draw at the Jack Kane Centre. On this occasion the opposition were Balmoral, formerly Station Tavern who finished joint 3rd in the first division last season.

The game started brightly with both teams trying to pass the ball around despite the puddles in the middle of the park. Salters forced a couple of early corners and had some decent play.  However Balmoral soon took charge of the game with the impressive centre midfielder and centre forward controlling the pace of the game.  Balmoral opened the scoring around the 10th minute after a cross deflected off Steven Illingworth and rolled into the near post. Salters were under the cosh for the next 10 minutes.  However in the 20th minute a good long diagonal cross from Steven Illingworth saw Paul Milligan out jump the goalkeeper and head home from 15 yards.  Salter’s piled on the pressure and in the 27th minute scored again.  A good ball into Paul Milligan around 25 yards out, he turned the defender and shot low into the far corner to make it 2-1 Salter’s.  However Balmoral hit back with two goals in 35th and 40th minutes, one of the goals was a stunning dipping volley in to the far top corner.  Balmoral went in 3-2 up at half time and on the balance of things they probably deserved to.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were the best Salter’s have played for a while. We created a lot of chances, passed the ball well and were on top of the game. Then we were awarded a penalty after the full back fouled Paul Milligan. Paul got up and rolled the ball home for 3-3.  Richard Murray then made it 4-3 to Salters with a fine finish from a Darren Smith through ball. We were awarded another penalty on the 70th minute after a hand ball in the box.  At the second time of asking Paul Milligan slotted home to make it 5-3.  However Balmoral then got back in the game and were on top for most of the remaining 20 minutes.  Balmoral scored a penalty in the 78th minute after full back Ryan Newton fouled the outstanding centre forward in the box: the penalty gave Shane Thomson in goals no chance.  Then in the 83rd minute Balmoral make it 5-5 after a through ball was controlled at the edge of the box and the shot from the Balmoral striker landed in the bottom corner.

So it finished 5-5. Both teams missed several other chances. For Salters Darren Smith was clean through but the goalkeeper saved well, Richard Murray had two outstanding chances he would bury every other week, Paul Milligan hit the bar and had a fresh air shot from 10 yards and even centre half Kenny Adams hit a 25 yard effort that was deflected just over the bar.  Balmoral had shots across goal, a one on one that produced a good save from Shane, a header at the back post which should have gone in and a few other decent chances.  The Balmoral centre forward was always a danger and some of the Salter’s backline thought he was the best player they have come up against so far.

All in all this was a decent game.  Two teams concentrating on football with hardly a single foul to mention in the whole game.  Either team could have snatched the victory, but both had to settle for the draw.

Best of luck to Balmoral in the coming season, they were a good bunch of lads.  Salters meanwhile look to turn draws into a win against Dalkeith next Sunday.

Team: Shane Thomson, Dani Muir, Steven Illingworth, Ryan Newton, Paul Nelson, Mikey Thomson, Jon Weir, Darren Smith, Richard Murray (Kenny Adams), Matty Rose, Paul Milligan. Subs not used, Kris Murdoch, Duncan MacDonald. (SUBS IN BRACKETS).