West End Waste Winning Opportunity

After falling behind in the first forty five minutes, Forfar West End laid siege on the Dalkeith goal and if they had shown any real poise in front of goal, would have won this match comfortably. In the end they were beaten but will have made the long journey home knowing what might have been.

Forfar West End came to Kings Park on the back of a good cup win last Saturday,  whereas Dalkeith's promotion bid has hit the buffers in recent weeks with consecutive defeats - the most recent last Saturday at home to Tayport.

The game started slowly with both teams trying to gain the upper hand in midfield.

Dalkeith won a corner in the sixth minute.  When the ball was was cleared, it only went as far as Tansey twenty five yards out on the right side, he had ages to shoot and his across goal effort was cleverly deflected in by Liddle to open the scoring. Dalkeith were buoyed by taking the lead and Linton found Lally on the right but his cross came to nothing. Dalkeith doubled their lead after 27 minutes. Tansey played a great through ball which sent Morris in on goal and he made no mistake.

West End had a half chance a minute later, but Scott was too slow to get his shot away. However, after 31 minutes the visitors did score and it was Scott again with a fine finish. Lally was off the field at the time and perhaps Thistle were disorganised at the back.

Around this point both teams were forced into making changes through injury.

After 42 minutes the home team restored their two goal advantage. Tansey who was having a big influence on the game,  crossed to Morris who looked set to volley the cross. Instead he controlled it and laid it back to Flynn,  who shot home.

Just before the break substitute Fullerton had a chance for West End but he fired just wide.

Half Time: Dalkeith Thistle 3; Forfar West End 1

Forfar came out in the seconded half as if they really meant business.

They pinned Dalkeith back and won a series of corners and free kicks. After forty nine minutes, a Morris shot brought out a fine save from Paterek in the home goal, the ball broke to Fullerton who shot wide. It was just one of a number of missed chances for the visitors. 

Chances fell to Bell, Ramsay and Smith but they couldn't find the target. After seventy five minutes, a Robertson free kick rebounded off the wall for a corner. From that corner Smith  blasted over when he looked certain to score.

Dalkeith were seen only sporadically as an attacking force with the occasional flurry forward.

After eighty three minutes, a good through ball let substitute Reynolds in on goal. Two Dalkeith defenders converged on him and he was send sprawling. Referee Kevin Lindsay pointed to the spot although from the terraces it looked a very harsh decision. Goalscorer Scott stepped forward and gave Paterek no chance - 3-2 now and it looked like the visitors might rescue a point.

However, it was not to be and and the only notable incident in the last few  minutes was a straight red for Farquarson for an off the ball incident.

It was a towsey affair and Dalkeith will be very relieved to take all three points. Their promotion challenge is still a live one but they will have to play better.

Best for the home team was Tansey, particularly in the first half. The visitors deserved more for their second half performance and in their struggle against the drop this was vital points dropped. 

Full Time : Dalkeith Thistle 3; Forfar West End 2



Gordon Baird  Neutral  Reporter