Sunday 14th February 2010 

This was a crucial game against the league leaders 21st Allstars from Darlington on a cold and damp day and played on a heavy pitch.  If Saltburn were to have any chance of winning the league title this was a must win game.

Saltburn started well playing up a slight slope and a should have taken the lead when some excellent passing interchanges gave a chance to Hudson but his well struck shot whistled past the post. This was and end to end game with both teams creating the odd chance or two and Saltburn were playing well against a team who at the beginning overplayed the physical game but good refereeing allowed the game to settle down after one of their players was booked for dissent. The tackles kept coming from both sides but were fair and robust. Allstars did hit the crossbar near the half whistle but the ref gave nothing and Saltburn's stand-in keeper Naughton did well with a diving save to his left. Half time score being 0-0.

The second half was the same as the first and considering the muddy and heavy conditions this was a good game. Chances came and went and Saltburn were awarded a penalty when Hudson was brought down but unfortunately Whiley missed when his kick hit the post. Allstars then scored from a corner when one of their players glanced in a header. Saltburn never gave up and influential displays by centre backs Graham and Whitfield and the two central midfielders Whiley and Atkinson gave the opposition a hard time and the others in the team also responded but in the end one goal was enough to win the match for Allstars.

This was a good team effort in contrast to last weeks game and if we continue to play this way, we will get our rewards. Well done lads a good effort. Man of the match was difficult to pick and it was decided to split it four ways between Graham, Whitfield, Whiley and Atkinson.