Goalkeeper Darren Dolan reckons Sauchie proved that they are up for the fight in the MacBookie.com Super League this season as they battled to a 0-0 draw with Penicuik last weekend.

The Beechwood Park side were put under some severe pressure by the physical nature of their high-flying opponents, but their number one was delighted to not only see them hold their own, but also to create some brilliant chances themselves.

Dolan told Advertiser sport: “Last weekend was more of a scrap than a match. We had to fight for every ball and really battle for the point. Penicuik were a big, tough and physical side. They have been on a real role recently and scoring goals for fun so it was really pleasing for us to get the clean sheet.

“We started the game really well and were on top in the first half. We hit the bar through Danny Ashe and had a number of other chances to grab the lead. After that it became a game where we just had to dig in and battle for each other, but I think we did that very well. It was just one of those games where one goal was always going to win it and so both sides were focused on not conceding.

“The clean sheet is vitally important for us, but then we have been defending really well for the last few weeks. All of Penicuik’s goals tend to come from set pieces and so from every free kick or corner they were bombarding our goal with balls right on top of me. It is great for us to be able to stand up to that and handle it well.” The goalless draw saw Sauchie extend their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions and the 22-year-old reckons they can draw on the confidence of that run as they prepare for a tough trip to Musselburgh this weekend.

Dolan said: “We are five unbeaten now and you can see the confidence flowing now where we have the believe that we can beat any team on our day. We just have to roll our sleeves up and go again as we look to keep our recent run going. It is a great run we are on at the moment and it is pleasing to see us climbing the league table, but we know how quickly things can turn around so we just take things one game at a time for the moment and see where it takes us.

“The Musselburgh game will be a tough one for us, and while we are a great passing team when we get going, we also now know that we can hang tough and grind out results when we have to. We can take confidence from beating Musselburgh at Beechwood earlier in the season, but they are a good team and we know it will be another battle.” Dolan was pleased with his own performance as he grabbed a third clean sheet on the spin to earn his side a crucial point and he admits he would love to keep that form going.

He added: “I was happy with my own display and to get three clean sheets on the bounce is even better for me.

“I think Penicuik’s free kick late on was the only point blank I really had to make in the game because other than that it was just coming for crosses and commanding my area.

“That’s an area I have been working hard to improve on and I would love to add a fourth this weekend, but I know how difficult a test it will be there.”