Match report: Dalkeith 1-2 Sauchie

SAUCHIE battled back from a goal behind to see off Dalkeith Thistle as they got their title challenge back on track on Saturday afternoon.

Paul Tansey put Dalkeith in front midway through the second half, but a Stephen Higgins equaliser and a late header from Jordan Tapping secured the three points after what was a hard-fought encounter against a side who had beaten then-top of the table Kennoway Star Hearts last time out.

There was a flashpoint in the opening minute, with Anthony McTaggart and Paul Tansey involved in some afters after a heavy challenge from the Dalkeith forward.

McTaggart was Sauchie’s main threat in the opening stages, and he nearly gave his side an early lead when he was played in by David Morrison, but his effort was well saved by James McQueen.

The home side’s first chance of note arrived shortly afterwards. Greig Maitland couldn’t hold a cross and the ball fell to Dalkeith’s captain Dean Whitson, but he was unable to capitalise as he blazed his effort high and wide.

McTaggart went close again with a speculative effort from distance. McQueen was scrambling but the shot flew just a couple of inches over the crossbar.

Whitson was keen to make amends for his earlier miss and almost made the breakthrough twice in as many minutes.

First he hit the post after making a late run to get on the end of a corner, before he sent an effort just wide in similar circumstances moments later.

At the other end, McQueen was called into action again when Higgins latched onto a slide-rule pass which sliced open the Dalkeith defence. The striker looked odds-on to score but the keeper reacted sharply to keep the game goalless.

Josh Flood was next to go close, just failing to steer his effort on target after good work down the right from Stuart MacFarlane and David Morrison, and the winger would have another chance just before the interval when his effort was kept out by the impressive McQueen.

Much like the first half, Sauchie began the second period on top and Flood, Higgins and McTaggart were causing all sorts of problems for the Dalkeith backline.

In the opening moments of the half Flood’s shot from distance broke to Higgins who laid it off to McTaggart, but the young midfielder could only curl his effort over the bar.

The visitors’ goal came under increasing pressure, and Darren McGlashan was not too far away with an effort from distance which fizzed over Maitland’s crossbar.

There was another decision for the referee to make soon after. Dalkeith striker Paul Waugh had the ball in the net but was denied by the offside flag, and as he got up the forward appeared to throw an elbow in the direction of Maitland.

Things threatened to boil over until the official took the Thistle frontman aside and showed him a yellow card – a fortunate decision for the hosts as it could have been a different colour.

Sauchie began to pile the pressure on at the other end, and Flood was unlucky to see a decent effort flash just wide.

There was a feeling that the opening goal was not far away but when it did come it was the home side who got it.

Tansey received the ball on the edge of the box, turned and struck a fine right-footed shot beyond Maitland and into the bottom corner.

The goal sparked Sauchie into life and they did not have to wait too long to draw level.

Higgins raced onto a through ball, beating the Thistle defence for pace, and slammed a stunning drive beyond McQueen and into the top corner via the inside of the post.

Nobody inside King’s Park could deny that the leveller was deserved and from that point onwards the visitors had the vast majority of the play as they searched for a winner.

However, they were almost caught out on two occasions, with Tyron McLean finding the side netting despite being in acres of space in the box, before Maitland pulled off a remarkable save to deny Whitson from close range.

From that point onwards Dalkeith’s heads dropped and there was only ever going to be one winner.

The decisive goal arrived with just four minutes remaining, Tapping rising highest to head home a wonderful delivery from McTaggart and seal a crucial victory for his side.

The importance of the result was plain to see, and as a result Sauchie now lie just a single point of the top of the Premier League table with three games in hand over league leaders Forfar West End.

Sauchie Juniors: Maitland, MacFarlane (Dolan), Sharp, Tapping, Fleming, Shields (Millar), Hutchison, McTaggart, Higgins, Morrison, Flood. Not used: Allan, Tully, Syme.