Too Close for Comfort !

A first return to Kings Park the home of Dalkeith Thistle since our league decider two years ago saw us start with some vigour. Three minutes in Jamie Gallagher was yellow carded for a crunching tackle as we set about not giving Thistle time to settle on the ball, we were competing all over the park and closing them down at every opportunity. As early as ten minutes in we were rewarded when big Jamie headed out of defence to Gary Shanks, he carried it a further ten yards before slipping an inch perfect pass to Craig Chilton and he sent a rocket of a shot past the big keeper to put us up 1-0. Fauldhouse were well on top with Mark Wilkins and Craig running the Thistle defence ragged and Ross Donnelly buzzing about the midfield, Clark Campbell and Sam Scott had the midfield area well controlled. Twenty five minutes in Ross Donnelly got himself on the scoresheet to put us 2-0 up when he was first to react and latch onto a ball bouncing just inside the 18 yard box he sidestepped the keeper and calmly tucked it away for our second. Ross was involved again minutes later when his shot from the outside of his boot took a deflection and out for a corner. Gary Shanks should have increased our lead ten minutes before the break when Chilton squared a pass across to him but he shot by the upright. The next goal was not far off and five minutes later from a free kick Rees Smith found Jamie Gallagher and he bulleted his header to nestle in the back of the net for 3-0 United. Dalkeith couldn't keep up to the pace Fauldhouse were setting and wilted again just minutes from the break, Ross Donnelly found the ever willing Mark Wilkins and he squared to Shanksy who couldn't miss to tap in, 4-0 United and as good a first forty five minutes there has been all season... Half Time  Dalkeith Th. 0 Fauldhouse Utd. 4.  A good start to the second half saw Ross and Shanksy going close to try and increase our lead. Clark Campbell was up next to sting the goalies fingers but the big keeper blocked Clarks shot. Dalkeith pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when we got sloppy allowing a cut back across goal for 4-1. A good move involving Rees, Sam and Chilli saw it end with Chilli shooting straight at the goalie. A slack pass intercepted in the middle of the park allowed Dalkeith to break up the park but it came to nothing. Sixty five minutes in Ross Donnelly who had been superb but was out on his feet was substituted with Jayson Alexander coming on, shortly after another player to have put in some shift Mark Wilkins was taken off and Shaun Martin on. Just before we got ourselves sorted after the two substitutions...disaster ! with 20 minutes to go Jamie Gallagher was yellow carded for a second time and sent off. Dalkeith seemed to sense a bit of disorder in our defence and were winning most of the ball now, forcing us to concede the midfield and play much deeper. Shanksy was next to depart with Michael Browne coming on. Just as we should have been seeing the game out we were hanging on, and the jitters set in when Dalkeith scored another two goals in six minutes to reduce the defecit to one goal. Craig Chilton was still chasing every lost cause playing on his own up front at this point as we aimed to hold on, the last four minutes was edge of the seat time but we held out for a final score of... Dalkeith Thistle 3 .... Fauldhouse United 4.

What a turn of events after being four goals in front but a great 3 points nonetheless, Craig Chilton and Ross Donnelly were contenders for the man of the match performance but Chilli shaded it , how he was still on his feet at the final whistle after the shift he put in for the whole ninety minutes...incredible ! ... more displays like that in the first 45 minutes and not many teams will be able to live with us ... keep it up.

Fauldhouse United: Stewart, Deans, Smith, Ross, Gallagher, Campbell, Shanks, Scott, Chilton, Donnelly, Wilkins, (subs: Peace(gk), S.Martin, Browne, Alexander)

                                           "The Parkview"