Match Reports
Dalkeith Thistle 3 v Sauchie 1 25/4/09
Dalkeith extended their unbeaten run to 4 matches with a fine win at home to Sauchie.
On a gloriously sunny afternoon The Jags took the game to their fancied visitors and took the lead inside 7 minutes. Johnny Kelly picked up a loose ball and as the Sauchie defenders backed off, the wee midfield man struck another of his trademark shots low into the bottom left hand corner from around 22 yards.
The early strike unsettled the visitors but they were thrown an unlikely equaliser on 15 minutes when John Jeffrey slammed home from 8 yards following some hesitancy in th Dalkeith box.
Undeterred by this set back Dalkeith regained the lead in 17 mins when Steven Macdonald scored with a neat finish following a mazy run.
In the second period Sauchie pinned the home side back for long spells, however, it was the home side that created the best chances.
Fisher found the back of the net but was controversially rulled out for a hand ball only seen by the referee, then MacDonald sliced wide when Fisher was possibly better placed to receive a pass in a scoring position.
With time running out for the visitors they pressed men forward, but Dalkeith were always a good bet to hit them on the break. So it was no surprise when they scored the third. Bonthrone picked up the ball just inside his own half and went rampaging in on goal - a last chance tackle seemed to have prevent a scoring opportunity but sub Peter Keenan - picked up the loose ball and fed it back to Bothrone who dispatched the chance with a scuffed effort which tricked over the line.
In the last minute Dalkeith still found time to miss another glorious chance with Bonthrone, Keenan and MacDonald all attempting to score.
Dalkeith Thistle v Livingston Utd.
The Jags coasted to vistory with a comfortable win against bottom side Livingston at a windswept Kings Park.
After a scare in the first minute Dalkeith settled into the match with Fisher and Boggie both coming close to breaking the deadlock.
Dalkeith were reocked when midfield stalwart C Lynes was forced to go off after a nasty blow to the head, however, home hopes were raised a few minutes later when Thomas Watters struck a sweet left foot free kick over the wall and past the visiting keeper.
Livingston were on the rocks and it was no surprise when the Jags extended their lead midway through the half when Nade's cross found McAllionin space and he wasted no time in dispatching the ball via the insdie of the post.
The Jags further extended their lead with halftime approaching when Watters deep cross from a short corner looked to be too heavy,however, Liddle stretched to turn the ball back across the face of goal, where Rapheal Nade was on hand to bundle home.
The second period was a more even affair as the visitors had the wind at their backs, however, the home side still looked dangerous on the break.
Livingstone found a way back into the match when Park netted from close range after the home defence had failed to clear their lines, however, this provd to be their only threat in the second period.
The points were finally sewn up with minutes remaining when McAllion struck again in the final minute.
Dalkeith Thistle v Haddington Athletic 7/3/09
Dalkeith slumped to defeat in a dour game where chances in front of goal were scarce. The game was settled right on the stroke of halftime when home goalkeeper Kesson somehow allowed a n inoccuous cross to squirm from his grasp, allowing Slight to side foot into an empty net.
Kesson atoned for his error midway through the second period when he tipped a thunderbolt over the bar Steven Macdonald had a chance to equalise with minutes remaining, however, his tame effort was easily gathered by the visiting keeper.
West Calder Utd V Dalkeih Thistle - 28/2/09
Dalkeith came from behind with two late goals to take all three points and exact some revenge for losing their home fixture earlier in the season.
The Jags started the brighter of the two sides with Fisher and Kelly causing problems for the home defence without troubling Watson in goal.
The home side went ahead in 15 mins when Daniel Wolfe powered home a header following Cauther's first corner kick of the match. Dalkeith tried hard to reply but long range efforts from Mcalion and F Lynes were well wide of the goal.
In the second half Dalkeith changed formation in an efort to get back in to the game and Cauther seemed content to sit in and trie to hit The Jags on the break.
It looked like it wasn't going to be Dalkeith's day when Kelly's snapshot was brilliantly parried by Watson, however, with fifteen minutes remaining the equaliser arrived.
Fine play down the right wings saw Wilson deliver an inch perfect cross to the McAllion who planted a header into the top corner past Watson.
Better was to come with 5 minutes to play when a loose ball fell to Kelly some 25 yards from goal. The wee man caught the ball sweet as a nut and his first time volley looped over the despairing fingertips of Watson.
Cauther tried to get back into the match,however, failed to trouble Kelly and the Jags held out for all three points.
Dalkeith:
Kesson, Fell, Maxwell, Hunter, Liddle, Lynes, Wilson, MacDonald, Fister, Kelly, McAllion Subs: Nisbet, Waters, Boggie, Keenan,
Dalkeith Thistle v Dunbar - League 24/1/09
Dunbar's three game winning streak was brought to halt by Dalkeith thanks to Craig Lynes last minute winner.
In truth the reult should never have been in doubt as The Jags missed a succession of gilt edged scorring opportunities particularly in the first half.
Twice in the oppening exchanges Fisher found himself in good positions only to be thwarted by dogged defending just as he was about to pull the trigger. Fisher missed another chance when clean through with the keeper to beat only to slide the ball wide of goal. Steven MacDonald was next to offend when he too failed to hit the target when through on the keeper.
Dalkeith finally too the lead when Maxwell delivered a fine freekick from the right into the six yard box where Liddle pounced to volly the ball high into the roof of the net.
It was really one way traffic and Fisher , Macdonald and Hunter all missed geat chances, before the visitors had their first chance chance of the match when Cheetham beat Kesson to a high ball and Robertson knocked the ball into the net from an offside position much to the frustration of the visiting supporters.
With time running out in the first half Dunbar won a free kick on the edge of the box and Josh Hebdon deceived Kesson with a trundler which somehow found the back of the net.
The second period was a more even affair, however, Dunbar rarely threatened Kesson's goal while at the other end the frustration continued with another series on chances going a begging.
Dalkeith introduced Ali and Boggie for Fisher and Hunter in attempt to win te match and chances kept on coming and coming.
Ali gave the Dunbar defence a torrid time with his trickery but Boggie was first to threaten when he burst clear only for the visiting keeper to block at the near post with his feet.
Boggie then had a fabulous shot turned over the bar by the overworked Dunbar keeper - and then had the home supporters on the feet when he looked to have won the match when he directed an inch perfect Bonthrone cross from the left inches wide of the goal.
Then in the final minute the much deserved winner arrived when Ali went on another of those mazy runs before slipping the ball to Craig Lynes on the edge of the box. The Dalkeith captain took the ball in his stride and clipped an exquisite shot into the top corner to the delight of the Dalkeith players, supporters and management team.
Dalkeith: Kesson, Nisbet, Maxwell, Fell, Liddle, F Lynes, Hunter, Macdonald, Fisher, C Lynes, Bonthrone. Subs: Ali, Wilson, Boggie, Kelley, Laurie.
Dalkeith Thistle V Sauchie - Scottish Cup 2nd Round Replay - 8/11/08
The Jags started this match with the same 11 who had done so well in the 2nd half the previous week with Millar dropping to the bench.
Dalkeith were clearly fired up for the match and started at a blistering pace taking the lead with only two minutes played.
Omar Ali was fouled wide on the left and from the resultant well worked free kick the same player found space inside the penalty area before unleashing a shot that struck a Sauchie hand. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot in awarding a controversial penalty which Johnny Kelly duly converted.
Fisher and Ali were causing the visitors defence all sorts of problems with their trickery on the ball, however, Sauchie were looking dangerous on the break and Kesson had to look lively to parry away a fierce shot by Jeffrey.
The first period fizzled out with neither keeper troubled but with the home side comfortable with their slender lead.
Dalkeith almost extended their lead early in the second half when an Ali corner Fisher found unmarked at the back post, however, his volley flew just over the bar.
Fisher was not to be denied for long though and extended the Jags lead on the hour mark.
A long kick out from Kesson was missed by the Sauchie defence and Fisher found himself in a race with the visiting keeper to get the ball first. The diminutive striker nipped in first and poked the ball past the keeper and the ball rolled into the back of the net.
In an effort to get back into the game Sauchie replaced their influential centre half Beaton with a forward, however, this move backfired almost immediately.
MacDonald was fouled wide on the right and Kelly's free kick found Craig Lynes with time and space to plant a free header past the depairing Sauchie keeper.
Sauchie were a demoralised outfit at this point and had a player red-carded for speaking out of turn to the referee.
Deep into injury time the Jags made it four goals without reply when debutant Martin Cook slammed the ball home from six yards following another corner.
Soon after the referee blew for time up and the Jags marched into round 3 for the first time in many many years.
Dalkeith: Kesson, Wilson, Nisbet, Fell, Liddle, MacDonald, F Lynes, Kelly, Fisher, C Lynes, Ali. Subs: Millar, Cook, Laurie.
