Match Detail

This was a typical game of two halves, Salters the better team for most of the first half and St Vincent’s the better team for a lot of the second half. However Salters fought hard and battled to get the three points in a very decent game.

Both teams played the game in the correct manner and the referee Graham Hall was a breath of fresh air, allowing the play to flow, explaining his decisions and demanding respect. This is how refereeing should be done at our level, and with not a single yellow card or bad tackle in the whole game both teams should take great credit, as should the referee.

Salters were able to get a strong 11 on the field despite the suspensions, injuries and holidays. We welcomed back Kevin Cornwall, Michael Jones and John Paget in goals. Darren Smith came in to the starting eleven to fill in for the absent Paul Nelson and Paul Milligan returned to centre forward. Steven Faughnan and Richard Murray returned from long term injuries to take a place on the bench, Richard playing for the first time in months with a huge hernia to help the team out and will face an operation very soon.  The game started well for Salters and we passed the ball well. We were a lot more solid than we have been lately and we put pressure on St Vincent’s all over the park. The pressure paid off when Blair Mathewson chased the ball down and forced the goalkeeper to miss kick his clearance, the ball fell to Paul Milligan in the centre of the pitch 35 yards out and Paul hit it first time, the ball trickled very slowly back towards the goal and into the net just before the goalkeeper could get there. Salters second goal came after a free kick from Niall Malone was palmed out by the goalkeeper, Stephen Brown reacting quickly to calmly slot the ball into the net. There were a couple of other chances and a very good move involving several players let to Paul Milligan sending Darren Smith down the left wing, Smithy advanced half the length of the pitch before delivering a magnificent cross that Stephen Brown got up to and headed just wide. This was a very good move that summed up the first half for Salters. John Paget in goals pulled off a magnificent save to push the ball away after a great shot from the St Vincent’s forward, and although St Vincent’s played some neat passing football Salters deserved to go in 2-0 up at the break.

St Vincent’s came out in the second half determined to get back in the game. They were pushing forward looking for a goal. They made a couple of changes and were moving the ball well. They got a goal back after a good pass to the right wing, the forward turned back on to his left foot and bent a great shot past John Paget and right in to the top corner. St Vincent’s equalised after they took a quick free kick which resulted in a penalty award, the referee ruling that the ball had struck Steven Illingworths arm. John Paget in goals guessed the right way but the ball went in off the foot off the post to made the scores level. St Vincent’s centre midfielder also had a magnificent 30 yard volley flash just over the bar. With the scores level and 5 minutes left on the clock both teams were really going for it. It was Salters that got the late winner, a throw in was flicked on by Kevin Robinson and bounced at the back post, with the chance seemingly gone Paul Milligan turned and from an impossible angle and with several defenders on the line he chipped the ball over them all right into the top corner. A brilliant finish fitting to win any game. With 5 minutes plus injury time left it was a nervy finish. A brilliant late effort from the right hand side full 35 yards out flew right across the Salters box and just past the far post, however Salters held on for the win.

It was a tough match for Salters and after the farce of the last match we just wanted to get back to working hard and enjoying playing football. Salters manager Paul Milligan asked his team to be solid and compete for every ball whilst making sure we did not pick up any bookings and every player done exactly that. The defence were back to being solid and organised, the midfield were compact and played some good football and up front we were always a threat. Darren Smith had his best game for months, Blair Mathewson was always a threat down the right and Stephen Brown was Salters best player with a tireless display covering every inch of the park for 90 minutes and getting his first goal of the season.

St Vincent’s were a very good team and it was great to be involved in a proper football match. We put the farce against Spartans behind us and now find ourselves in the unbelievable position of 2nd place in the Premier League with 19 points from 8 games, much better than we could have hoped for in our first season at the top level.

Best of luck to St Vincent’s for the season, except in the League Cup and Association Cup, as the two teams will again meet at Dalkeith in both competitions!

Team: John Paget, Steven Illingworth, Ryan Newton, Niall Malone, Blair Mathewson (Steven Faughnan), Stephen Brown, Michael Jones, David Jamieson (Kevin Robinson), Darren Smith, Paul Milligan (Richard Murray). Sub not used: Dani Muir.