Match Detail

A depleted Salters team travelled to face third place Duddingston Athletic at Calvary Park looking to keep up the pressure on Abbey. However it was “one of those days” for Salters and in the end perhaps just a bridge to far for such a young team.

Forced into chances to due suspensions and injuries a patched up starting 11 knew it was going to be a very difficult game. The extent of the players missing meant a first appearance of the season in goals for Calum Ewart and even club chairman Allan Hogg had to strip up for the first time in years. That said however Salters can be extremely proud of the effort they put in from start to finish.

The match started evenly, both teams trying to settle without any real quality. However after the first few minutes Salters firmly took control of the game and looked to get the crucial first goal. We created many chances and looked dangerous all over the pitch. Paul Nelson bent in a low free kick that was somehow tipped round the post by the goal keeper. Shane Thomson crossed for Stephen Brown who headed the ball into the far corner and again somehow the goalkeeper managed to tip the ball on to the post and wide. Paul Milligan curled a free kick over the wall and off the post and wide. A succession of corners let to one or two half chances, again Paul Milligan rising at the back to head off the post. Duddingston were lucky to keep 11 men on the park after Paul Milligan won a 50/50 ball 18 yards out and was taken out by the last defender, however not even a yellow card was shown even though a foul was awarded. The ball was in the Duddingston box for nearly the whole first half. However the goal didn’t come and Duddingston went up the field, one long throw was allowed to bounce in the box and the big striker slotted home at the back post. Duddingston somehow lead 1-0 at half time and by their own admission “it’s a miracle we got away with that”.

The half time break came at the wrong time for Salters and the right time for Duddingston. They regrouped and came out fighting second half. The match was fairly even and both teams were giving everything they had. The best chance for Salters came after Paul Milligan dropped deep and played Stephen Brown clean through, he took his touch past the goalkeeper then was clearly wiped out in the box. The referee somehow waved play on with Stephen lying injured on the ground. Even some of the Duddingston players stopped expecting the penalty; however it never came and play continued. Frustration grew and Stephen Brown was then sent off leaving Salters with 10 men and really up against it. However we dug deep and went in search of a goal. A well placed free kick from Shane Thomson was parried by the goalkeeper and Paul Nelson reacted quickest to bundle the ball into the net. Salters now had to go all out for the win and basically left two at the back and flung everyone forward. On the counter attacked a long ball into the Salters box was headed clear and fell to the on coming Duddingston player who from fully 30 yards volleyed the ball first time right into the top corner. It was an amazing strike of the highest quality and had Salters put 3 goalkeepers in goal we still wouldn’t have kept the ball out. Duddingston got a late third, breaking 4 on 2 the big striker took the ball down well and placed and unsavable low drive in the far corner of the net. Calum Ewart in goals had no chance with any of the three Duddingston goals.  Salters continued to battle right to the end and late on a Paul Milligan header was only just cleared off the line by the defender.

It was in every sense just one of those days for Salters. Has one of those countless first half chances went in the game would have been very different. However they never went in and full credit to Duddingston they had three scoring opportunities and took them, therefore Salters cannot complain about the result. It means it’s now virtually impossible for Salters to win the league. However we will battle right to the very last kick of the ball and if Abbey do slip up we will be right there chasing them.

Manager Paul Milligan was full of praise for his team and would not allow any negative words after the game.

He said “When you look around the dressing room after this game you can see an exhausted group of mostly young guys who have given every single last drop of energy, fight, determination and quality they have. Over the course of this season we have so far played 19 league games and only lost twice. That is a remarkable record for any team. When you consider most of the players are only roughly 20 years old this is just another learning curve for them and I hope they remember the feeling we had having lost this game. The only negative I will agree with is the indiscipline we had had lately in mouthing off to referees. It’s not acceptable and has led to a sending off at crucial times in the last two matches. That aside I am extremely proud of every single member of this squad and regardless of what happens between now and the end of this season we have been brilliant at times. We might still end up winning the league; however the focus now changes to making sure we finish second and enjoying playing together as a team in the remaining games. Keep the heads up lads, it’s a pleasure working with every one of you and we will be back winning games very soon.