Match Detail

More points dropped from a winning position from Salters on Sunday at the Gyle. And another well below par show which was disappointing after the excellent performances in the last couple of games.

Salters went 1-0 down after a free kick deflected off the wall and wrong footed JP in goals and Alba deserved to go ahead at this stage. There weren’t many clear cut chances as the game went from end to end. Salters had a few decent chances from corners and long range, however nothing more. Paul Milligan also missed a penalty after a soft award from the referee. We did manage to equalise after Richard Murray raced onto a slack back pass and slotted the ball home. The Paul Nelson raced down the left wing and shot low and hard, the goalkeeper saved but Richard Murray against pounced to score his second. Half time 1-2.

Salters started the second half in much better fashion. We passed the ball much better, created a few chances, had a lot of efforts on goal and closed down Alba much quicker. Richard Murray scored again to get his first hat-trick for the club. All three goals were good finishes and reward for his hard work as the lone front man.  However as soon as Salters went 3-1 up we stopped playing and working as hard as we had been.  Alba came back into the game after another soft penalty award. This time the Alba forward buried the ball to make it 3-2.  Salters heads went down and it was more through our own lack of concentration than Alba’s creative play that we lost the third goal. A long ball was knocked towards the box and confusion between Kenny Adams and JP in goals Kenny headed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. Both teams tried to get the winning goal and Salters had decent chances. Paul Nelson went close with a header from a corner and also shooting straight at the goalkeeper when one on one. Stephen Crawford had a half chance when the ball just wouldn’t sit for him and Steven Illingworth had a couple of chances from set pieces. Alba also had chances as the game went from end to end.

Salters have only themselves to blame for not getting the three points. Had we concentrated on the game and not started arguing with each other we would have got the much needed three points. Silly bookings and dropped points are going to all add up and cost us very dear in the future.

This was very much a step backwards after the promising performances of the last couple of games. The management are looking for a reaction next weekend against Dalkeith. We must improve and play as a team rather than individuals otherwise this will turn into a long hard season.

Team: John Paget, Mikey Thomson, Steven Illingworth, Kenny Adams, Darren Smith (Ryan Newton), Stephen Brown (Kris Murdoch), Stephen Crawford, Shane Thomson (Jon Weir), Paul Milligan, Richard Murray. Subs not used David Jamieson, Dani Muir.