Report – Glenrothes v Dalkeith Thistle – Saturday 18th November 2017

Glenrothes 2 Dalkeith Thistle 2

Dalkeith were in the unusual position of being able to name an unchanged side for their visit to Glenrothes on Saturday. Manager Kevin Haynes sticking with the guys that did so well at Forfar the previous week.

The big wide and open pitch at Glenrothes wasn’t condusive to silky football but the Jags were doing their best to zip the ball about without causing the Glens keeper too much trouble. While at the other end Jack Findlay had a narrow escape when he tried to punch clear but Napier got there first only to see his header bounce wide of goal.

The Jags looked to have a grip on the game but found themselves behind after 25 minutes when a lucky break of the ball gave Lornie possession just inside the box and he wasted no time in dispatching an effort into the top corner.

Stung into action The Jags should have equalised straight from the restart when Mark Moncrieff laid the ball on a plate for Tansey, however, from a yard out he somehow blasted over the bar. John Hall was next to threaten when his overhead kick struck the inside of the Glens post, however, the referee had blown for an dubious offside call.

The Jags weren’t to be denied though and just 2 minutes before halftime equalised. Mark Moncrieff once again made it to the byline and both Tansey and Devlin had stabs at goal but when the ball finally fell to Darren McGlashan he blasted home through a ruck of players.

With their tails up the Jags started the second half brightly and on 56 minutes took the lead for the first time. James Laing sent a looping cross into the box and with the Glens defence pushing out, Blake Wales timed his run to perfection nipping in fron of the glens keeper to prod the ball home.

The game was starting to get a bit towsie now and littered with bookings as The Glens tried to force their way back into the match, however, John Hall and Ross Connell were standing firm as long ball after long ball was shelled down the middle.

With time running out Glen were throwing everything at The Jags and it took a super stop from Jack Findlay to keep the lead intact but then deep into stoppage time a corner was won and Glen gigantic centre half Gavin Moffat rose above everyone to plant a header past Findlay.

There was still enough time for Blake Wales to hit the inside of the Glens post but it wasn’t to be the Jags day and whilst they left with a point it felt like two points lost.

Next week sees The Jags host Kirriemuir Thistle at Kings Park in their first home game for over a month – 1:45pm KO.

Dalkeith: Findlay, Murray, McQueenie, McGlashan, Hall, Connell, Wales, Laing, Tansey, Devline, Moncreiff. Subs: Whitson, Leslie, Bain, McNeill, Combe

(From the Dalkeith Thistle website)