Salvesen U16’s vs. Eskmills Boys Club
Venue: Kirtliston Leisure Centre Kick Off: 2pm
A well deserved, 2-1 win for Eskmills away to Salvesen. With both teams lining up in 4-4-2 formations an enjoyable game was forecast. With the damp ground and the continuous drizzle, conditions were not optimal for either side and this was evident as the first 5 minutes were extremely scrappy with neither side able to get a foothold in the game and three consecutive passes would have been an achievement for either side.
Eskmills were however beginning to take control on the left side of midfield with Jack Hay having plenty of joy against the opposing right back Dylan McLaughlin. Hay’s movement and early running gave Eskmills the first real chance of the game with his cross from the left reaching striker Andrew Lawson who tapped in for 1-0. Terrible defending by Salvesen left Lawson unmarked on the goal line.
Salvesen unable to make themselves a force in the game resorted to long nigh balls that were being easily dealt with by the Eskmills defence. With Salvesen struggling to make an impact, Finlay Muir make a lovely jinking run through the opposing defence but there was no one in the middle to connect to an inviting cross.
Salvesen then started to get more involved in the game with Gregor Hutchison showing great skill to bring down and control a high ball and running from the left drilled in a powerful shot which was excellently parried by Goalkeeper Steven Bald.
After an early scare Eskmills produced an excellent period of dominance, with Andrew Lawson through on goal, an excellent last ditch tackle from Daniel Lockhart keeping the forward from making it 2-0. Eskmills continued to pressure the Salvesen goal with Liam Morrison heading wide from a corner. Jack Hay continued to cause Dylan McLaughlin problems down the left, putting in inviting crosses and winning a plentiful amount of corner kicks, from which giant defender Liam Morrison was a constant threat. David Gallagher cut a great ball back from the left of the 18yd box to Andrew Lawson who should have put Eskmills up 2-0 but Ross Stewart produced a fine save to deny him.
Salvesen at this point looked extremely disillusioned with passes not finding their intended targets. Constant use of long balls lead to the Salvesen attack being rendered obsolete. However, the best chance Salvesen had in the first half feel to Douglas Kellock as he was put through 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper who deflected the shot enough so that the defence could clear comfortably. A corner from Salvesen swung into the penalty area was headed wide, as another good chance went begging.
As Salvesen switched from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 in an attempt to control the midfield and achieve some standing in the game. Eskmills continued to exploit the left through Hay. Hay put through by Liam Morrison, then forced another excellent save from the keeper who tipped his shot wide for a corner. Ross Stewart was again called into action just before half time when the increasingly busy Stewart tipped David Gallagher’s cross/shot onto the bar.
Salvesen came out in the 2nd half with much more purpose in their play, Gregor Hutchison playing through Robert Moffat who shot wide. This determination was shown once more when Daniel Bertram ran 25 yds to commit a cynical foul on David Gallagher, purposely taking the legs away from the forward as he advanced. With Salvesen pressuring a sturdy Eskmills defence, Douglas Kellock hit a rasping 18 yd shot which Bald spilled.
Eskmills, shaken from the fantastic start to the 2nd half made by Salvesen produced a comeback of their own. Jack Todd and Andrew Lawson combining well down the right and Liam Morrison becoming increasingly dangerous at set pieces. A cross form David Gallagher was spilled and a goal line scramble ensued with the ball being turned in giving Eskmills a 2-0 lead against the run of play.
Salvesen rallied late on to grab a consolation through Finlay Muir who expertly headed in a cross from the right, rising above the defence giving the keeper no chance as the header was placed with power and precision into the top corner.
Salvesen might argue they deserved more from their 2nd half performance but Eskmills on the day were more than a worthy match and thoroughly deserved their win.
Booked
Salvesen: Daniel Bertram
Eskmills: Callum Kerr
Man of the Match
Andrew Lawson - Eskmills
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