Match Detail

Salters made several changes to the starting 11 for our away trip to Abbey Athletic in the Association Cup. In came Dani Muir at right back, Niall Malone at left back, Kevin Cornwall moved to centre half and Blair Mathewson and Kris Murdoch moved in to midfield. Substitutes Paul Milligan and Paul Nelson were forced to start the match at the last minute due to late arrivals.

In a decent first half display from both teams, it was Salters that created the first real chances. Paul Milligan twice went close; the second effort was superbly tipped round the post by the Abbey keeper. Dani Muir made a lung busting run from right back to find himself on the end of a Paul Milligan cross and Dani superbly controlled his shot on the volley however it flew just wide of the far post. Abbey at the other end were threatening and although there weren’t any clear cut openings they always looked dangerous. Salters took the lead through Paul Nelson, Paul Milligan playing a delightful through ball and as ever Nelly tucked away the chance through the keepers legs. Salters second came after good midfield work from Stephen Brown, sending a ball through to Paul Milligan who took a couple of touches and finished it well low and hard in to the far corner. Salters had the better of the first half and the attacking four of Nelson, Brown, Mathewson and Milligan were causing Abbey problems all the time. Half time score, Salters 2-0 Abbey.

Salters knew Abbey would try and step it up a bit second half. However the first chance again fell to Salters, this time Michael Jones fired just over after a scramble in the box. Salters started the half well and went further ahead. Paul Milligan playing a diagonal through ball for Paul Nelson who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball home. Salters fourth and final goal was the pick of the bunch, Stephen Brown with his second assist of the day, played Paul Milligan clean through. Paul composed himself before lobbing the goalkeeper with a deft chip. At 4-0 up Salters started to coast and played as if the game was over. Abbey got back in the match with 22 minutes to play through a penalty. To most of the players on the field it looked like a stone wall penalty, however very much to the Abbey players credit he got up and told the referee it wasn’t a penalty and that he had fallen over. However the penalty stood and they got one back, despite a brilliant effort by John Paget in goals who nearly kept it out. Abbey got a huge lift from this and went forward looking for another goal. It came courtesy of a Steven Illingworth OG, the ball was flashed across the box and Steven had little choice but to slide in sending the ball into his own net. John Paget in goals was forced into to a couple of very good saves, tipping one effort over the bar and one round the post. Salters themselves had some chances, Blair Mathewson went clean through and Paul Milligan had a decent chance, however both times the Abbey keeper produced excellent blocks. After a nervy period of pressure Salters calmed down and seen the game out comfortably in the last 10 minutes.

This was a very good display at times from Salters and for the first hour of this match we bossed it and created most of the chances. The four goals we got were all very good efforts and were pleasing. We dealt with the height and threat from the big centre forward and pressed Abbey all over the pitch. Abbey have some excellent footballers who are all comfortable on the ball and in the second half they looked very dangerous. It’s not often at this level you get the honesty shown by the Abbey forward when the penalty was given, massive credit to them for that.

In all this was a very decent match, two teams only interested in playing football and who both went all out to win it.

Team: John Paget, Dani Muir, Kevin Cornwall, Steven Illingworth, Niall Malone (Darren Smith), Blair Mathewson, Stephen Brown (David Jamieson), Michael Jones, Kris Murdoch (Shane Thomson), Paul Nelson, Paul Milligan. Sub not used, Kevin Robinson.