Match Detail

Salters lost out 2-1 to Dalkeith Town in a hard fought match at Dalkeith on Sunday. It was played in a typical local derby style with tackles flying in and good ‘banter’ between both sets of players.

The first half belonged to Dalkeith. With the wind at their backs they passed the ball well and played some good football. They deservedly took the lead when the best player on the park, Dalkeith’s David Knox took a pass on the far corner of the box, beat his marker and slotted the ball home low to the far corner. Dalkeith went 2-0 up after a stunning free kick went over the wall and into the back of the net from 25 yards. However after the second goal went in Salters woke up and had more of the ball in dangerous areas. We always looked like we could get something from set pieces and Paul Milligan should have scored after rising to meet a Paul Nelson corner, however the headed went over the bar from 6 yards.  Half time 2-0 Dalkeith.

The second half was better from Salters, although it took a long time to break an excellent Dalkeith defence down. Salters hit the bar with headers from Paul Milligan and a David Jamieson free kick and Paul Milligan had another header saved on the line by the legs of the goalkeeper, calls that the ball went over the line were in hope rather than expectation. We got into a couple more shooting chances and couldn’t make the most of it. Dalkeith looked dangerous on the break and had 2 brilliant chances to score, one a shot from 18 yards that went wide and the other a header from 2 yards wide at the back post.  Salters finally got a goal back, substitute Steven Duncan running down the left hand side of the park and squaring for Richard Murray to slot the ball home.  In the very last minute of the game a Paul Nelson corner was swung in and just clipped the angle of post and bar but went wide.

It was probably a fair result in the end; Dalkeith looked organised and played some good stuff. Dalkeith are now in a straight race for the title with Redhall, the up and coming 6 point match between the two sides will be vital.

Salters have to look at Dalkeith and see that if we play as a unit like they do rather than 11 individuals we would be right up beside them at the top of the league. Far too often we are putting ourselves ahead of the team. If this doesn’t get cut out changes will be made for the games ahead.

Team: John Paget, Mikey Thomson, Steven Illingworth, Jon Weir, Kris Murdoch (Darren Smith), Stephen Brown (Shane Thomson), Richard Murray, David Jamieson (Steven Duncan), Stephen Crawford, Paul Nelson, Paul Milligan. Sub not used: Ryan Ramsay.