Match Detail

Salters finished 2009 with a very hard fought win away against a very good Pentland Roadhouse team. As in the first game between the two sides it was very tight match that could have gone either way. In the end though it was Salters that got the three points.

The match was in doubt due to the freezing weather conditions, however at kick off the pitch was in surprisingly good condition. Both teams started by trying to play football and there was some decent passing and moving from both sides. The first half chance fell to Salters, Paul Milligan shooting wide from 20 yards. Pentland then got themselves ahead. A long ball forward wasn’t dealt with by the Salters defence and the impressive centre forward shot first time from 20 yards and the ball went in off the post. Pentland were well on top at this point and looking to go further ahead. There were a couple of long range efforts and some very good crosses into the box with the number 12 causing us all sorts of problems. Despite being on the back foot Salters got level soon after. Good play led to a corner, Paul Nelson’s delivery wasn’t cleared and Paul Milligan reacted first to volley home on the turn from 12 yards. Pentland didn’t stop attacking and went forward again. They took the lead after an excellent delivery from a corner was headed home by the unmarked centre midfielder. Pentland kept coming at us and only an unbelievable point blank save from John Paget kept the score at 2-1. Salters had a couple of decent chances, the best of which came after good play from Paul Milligan sent Blair Mathewson down the right hand side, Blair’s perfect cross to the back post saw Paul Nelson bullet a header off the top of the Pentland cross bar. Pentland finished the half the better team and were unlucky not to be more than one goal ahead.

At half time Salters were asked to battle harder and keep better possession of the ball. We did this much better second half and were the better team for most of it. We got level right after kick off with a brilliant team goal. Right from kick off we kept the ball, several passes from forward to midfield then defence and back again finally lead to Daniel Muir and Blair Mathewson linking up down the right hand side, Daniel's pass to Paul Milligan was inch perfect and Paul turned the defender with his first touch before shooting from 22 yards on the right hand side of the box in to the far corner of the net. This was a very very good goal all round from Salters and much more like us. The game opened up and there was plenty of space. Despite this John Paget in the Salters goal didn’t really have anything to deal with. Salters were looking the more likely team to score and when we did it was another real beauty of a strike. A great ball into the box by Kris Murdoch was headed clear by the defender and Stephen Brown from 22 yards hit it first time on the volley and it went like a rocket right into the corner of the net, stunning strike from Broonie and much deserved for all his hard work. Salters kept going and had another couple of half chances but couldn’t get that important next goal. Pentland came back into the match and got level with an unbelievable strike of the highest quality. The Pentland centre midfielder picked up the ball 40 yards out, skipped past a couple of challenges then from 30 yards smashed a sensational dipping bending effort right into the top corner and in off the bar. There wasn’t a better goal scored at any level all weekend, and it looked like it was a goal that would get Pentland a share of the points. However Salters dug in and went looking for the win. Paul Milligan sent a delightful ball through to Paul Nelson and from 6 yards out on the angle Nelly shot millimetres past the far post. Steven Faughnan sent over a stunning low cross that went right across the 6 yard line and just missed the oncoming Salters attackers. With hope fading and Salters resigned to getting a draw up steps Paul Nelson. A corner kick is awarded and Nelly shoots directly from the corner, it went like a bullet right over everyone and into the top corner. Play went on and with the last kick of the ball a Pentland header was cleared off the line and Salters held on for the win.

What a great game this was. Two teams going all out to win the game and playing some great football at times. Pentland will consider themselves very unlucky not to get something from this game. Some of the goals were brilliant and the third Pentland goal was unbelievable. But once again Salters stood up and were counted; battling away and we kept going right to the final whistle. It was a very good second half performance from Salters and it had to be having gone in at half time 2-1 down. To win the second half 3-1 was a great reward for all the hard work.

Suspensions now kick in for key players like Micheal Jones and Blair Mathewson who were outstanding once again. However this gives other guys a chance to prove themselves after the xmas break.

It’s a very well earned break for all concerned at Salters, when we get back in January the hard games come thick and fast as we look to finish as high up the league as possible.

Well done lads.

Team: John Paget, Daniel Muir, Steven Illingworth, Ryan Newton, Kris Murdoch (Darren Smith), Blair Mathewson (Steven Faughnan), Stephen Brown, Michael Jones, Shane Thomson (Kevin Robinson), Paul Nelson, Paul Milligan.