Match Detail

Salters were down to the bear bones to start with against Spartans. Missing key players like Kevin Cornwall, Michael Jones, Paul Nelson, Richard Murray, Mikey Thomson, Steven Faughnan and both goalkeepers John Paget and Calum Ewart made it a hard enough task to begin with, however finishing the game with 7 players and having to put striker Paul Milligan in goals for the second half made it impossible in the end. However it was only 3-2 with 20 minutes left and the 7 Salters players battled away hard for the second half, Paul Milligan in goals letting some very easy shots as we conceded 5 late goals.

We now face the prospect of having to face the next 5 or so games with half the team suspended. Getting 11 players on the field is unlikely so we are going to have to dig in and fight for each other.

Manager Paul Milligan said: "The discipline went out the window today due to frustration at the decisions. We are not a dirty team however we let ourselves down on this occasion. Nearly every player was booked and I have to congratulate the 7 men who finished the game for not getting sent off. The next few weeks will be very testing for us with Kris Murdoch and Paul Nelson both already out and the suspensions we have picked up as a result of this match.

Spartans kept the head and done what they had to do, however we should never have allowed ourselves to get dragged into this farce.

Having not had a player sent off for months and having never had a straight red card in 3 seasons we know we are not a dirty team and can put this down to a one off that will never happen again.

The aim is simple now. Get back to basics, be hard to beat and most important start enjoying playing again as we did at the start of the season. If we do that we will be fine.

Best of luck to Spartans for the league campaign ahead".