Match Detail

Salters were looking to put last weeks disappointing result behind them with a good display against Liberton United at Dalkeith. Again we were missing several players with injury and suspensions so we were expecting a very hard tie.

The match started evenly on a brick hard pitch and both teams struggled to get a hold of the ball for long. Salters then began to take control of the tie and created a few chances. We went 1-0 up after good work down the left hand side from Paul Nelson saw him break into the box; the defender leaned in and pushed him over giving away a penalty. It was a soft decision, however having been denied two stone wall penalties last Sunday we were never going to complain. Paul Nelson himself stepped up to roll the ball home. Salters second came from Paul Nelson again, this time Paul Milligan crossing from the left hand side, the ball breaking to Paul Nelson who controlled the ball before flicking it up and volleying home. Salters third goal was excellent link up from the front two players. A first time pass to Paul Milligan was flicked over the defenders head for Stephen Brown who coolly lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper and in to the net. Salters got a fourth and final goal of the first half, again Paul Milligan crossing to the back post, Daniel Muir putting pressure on the defender who miss kicked the ball straight to Stephen Brown who tapped home from 6 yards. Half time 4-0 to Salters.

The second half started a bit slow from Salters. However once we got into it we started to play some very nice stuff. We created a lot of chances and kept the ball on the ground passing and moving it well. We went 5-0 up through a Stephen Brown header after another excellent delivery from a Paul Nelson corner. Paul Nelson made it 6-0 with a superb lob from the edge of the box, the ball going high over the goalkeeper and in off the cross bar on the opposite side of the goal. Salters 7th goal came after good work down the left hand side put Paul Nelson through; his cross was slotted home at the back post by Paul Milligan. Paul Milligan quickly got two more very similar goals soon after, both times breaking the offside trap to run down the right hand side and slot in the ball into the back post. Salters final goal came from Richard Murray, a long Shane Thomson throw in was tapped home from 6 yards by the striker, a well deserved goal for Richard who has had a lot to deal with lately and all the Salters players were delighted for him. We created several other good goal scoring opportunities, however it finished 10-0 to Salters.

This was much better from Salters. A clean sheet was demanded by manager Paul Milligan before the game and John Paget and his back four defended superbly and began many attacks from the back. Both full backs Dani Muir and Kris Murdoch were excellent, getting up and down the whole game. Central defensive pairing Ryan Newton and Steven Illingworth done exactly what they do best, defend first, lead the team from the back and start the attacks from the back. The wide players were different class, Blair Mathewson, Richard Murray and Paul Nelson in particular running riot at times. Shane Thomson had a brilliant game in central midfield alongside Michael Jones, who has had an amazing season. Paul Milligan linked play and took his goals well. But for Salters the main man was Stephen Brown, who on the day was the best player on the park and got himself a well deserved hat trick.  

Salters manager Paul Milligan said after the game:

“We were excellent tonight. I am very proud off the boys for bouncing back the way we did after last weeks disappointing result. The aim was to finish with 5 straight wins and this was a tricky tie that I am delighted not only to get the 3 points from, but 10 goals and at times some brilliant football. Every player enjoyed that match and it showed. Unfortunately we are missing several key players for Sunday including Paul Nelson and Stephen Brown, who were at times unplayable tonight. So we are going to have to dig in and be counted on Sunday. But if we continue just to play football and enjoy the games as we did tonight we will be fine. Well done lads, that’s the way it’s done!”