Tag: Spartans FC

Home draws for local clubs in Scottish Cup

North Edinburgh’s two representatives both received home ties in yesterday’s Scottish Cup First Round Draw at Edinburgh Castle, with Spartans drawn at home to Wick Academy and Civil Service Strollers hosting Newton Stewart.

Wick, who finished eighth in the Press & Journal Highland League last term, will travel to Spartans’ Ainslie Park at the end of next month and clock up some 600 miles on the day.  The Strollers’ opponents Newton Stewart finished a respectable sixth in the South of Scotland League last season, and The Creesiders make the journey to Silverknowes from Dumfries and Galloway.

Both East of Scotland League clubs have home advantage and will be relatively pleased with the draws they were given.

Douglas Samuel’s Spartans will want to finish the job at Ainslie as a draw would mean a replay at Wick’s Harmsworth Park, with the extremely long journey to get there. The ground is the most northerly professional football stadium in the United Kingdom. The embarrassment of being thrown out last year after fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 second round win at Culter (and thus missing out on hosting Partick Thistle) will more than likely inspire the side this year to go on another famous run.

Civil Service will hope the travelling affects Newton Stewart too as they welcome the South of Scotland club to Edinburgh. Strollers will be hoping to do better in the national cup than they did last year – Fraserburgh defeating them 4-3 in the first round.  That defeat denied the Strollers’ a home tie against Third Division Elgin City, so recently appointed manager Chick McAleavey will hope his side can progress into the next phase of the tournament.

Last season’s victorious Heart of Midlothian captain, Marius Zaliuskas, joined Scottish FA Commercial Director Kenny MacLeod, and David Russell, William Hill Group HR Director, to conduct the draw. Here is the full draw:

1. Threave Rovers v Vale of Leithen
2. Bonnyrigg Rose v Girvan
3. Huntly v Wigtown & Bladnoch
4. Shotts Bon Accord v Edinburgh City
5. Irvine Meadow v Gala Fairydean
6. Edinburgh University v Keith or St Cuthbert Wanderers
7. Formartine United v Brora Rangers
8. Civil Service Strollers v Newton Stewart
9. Spartans v Wick Academy
10. Glasgow University v Selkirk
11. Clachnacuddin v Lossiemouth
12. Hawick Royal Albert v Golspie Sutherland
13. Fraserburgh v Coldstream
14. Whitehill Welfare v Inverurie Loco Works
15. Buckie Thistle v Rothes
16. Hermes v Deveronvale
17. Fort William or Preston Athletic v Nairn County
18. Turriff United v Burntisland Shipyard

Ties are due to be played on Saturday, 25th August 2012.

Leith leave it late to earn deserved point against Spartans

Ten man Leith Athletic battled hard for a well earned point again Spartans on Saturday at Muirhouse.

Spartans manager Mike Lawson said his team should have put the game to bed in the first half. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

Spartans started strong and took the lead in just the 10th minute. A corner was only half cleared by the Leith defence. The ball fell to Keith McLeod on the edge of the box and his shot was then flicked over Iain Gordon in the Leith goal by Chris Anderson.

Spartans looked to build on their early lead and dominated the first half in terms of possession, however, they created a limited number of chances and found Leith keeper Gordon in fine form as he kept out Gavin Malin, Keith McLeod and the impressive Donal Henretty.

The second half was a different game altogether as Leith started much stronger than they had in the first. Spartans were still creating chances though in what was an end to end game and Gordon was once again in fine form as he got his fingertips to a Gavin Malin freekick which looked destined for the top corner.

Leith’s task looked to have been much harder when they were reduced to ten men after about the 70th minute. Captain Gary Black receiving his 2nd yellow card for a late challenge on Omar Kader. Rather than hinder Leith this seemed to galvanise them and they went on to play better with 10 men than they had with 11.

Leith had several opportunties to equalise giving Spartans plenty warning that it was on the cards and therefor it was no surprise when they eventually did get the goal they deserved in the 89th minute. A freekick was played long into the box, the Spartans defence could only half clear and Lewis Tracey headed home.

Spartans started to push forward and Malin, Beesley, Kader and McLeod all looked to create goal scoring chances however good defending  meant they were unable to find a winning goal.

In the end a draw was probably the right result and leaves Spartans twelve points clear of Stirling Uni, however the students have four games in hand, the first of which is this tuesday, at Leith Athletic.

Spartans co-manger Mike Lawson said “we had chances to put the game to bed in the first half but paid the penalty as Leith stepped things up after the interval and deserved their late point saving goal. There is still everything to play for at the top of the table and we now have to concentrate on our game next weekend.”

Spartans Win Second Trophy Of The Season

Spartans picked up their second trophy of the season with a convincing 3-0 win over Edinburgh City in the final of the South Region Cup.

Co-manager mike Lawson said “Sam and I were delighted with what was a very professional performance by our experienced squad at Tynecastle yesterday. Apart from two small spells in the middle of either half where we needlessly kicked the ball away too often, we in the main controlled the game and kept possession of the football.  It was a very hot afternoon for both sets of players and the team chasing the ball were always going to have the harder job and so it turned out.

It took Spartans only 15 minutes to open their account when a Dean Hoskins corner was whipped in and Omar Kader got his head on the end of it and his delicate header from close range beat Alan Stobie in the City goal.

City almost equalised on the half hour mark when a Robbie Ross corner was played in and the Spartans defence didn’t clear the danger, the ball landed at Ross Macnamara and his scissor kick effort went just over the bar.

Just before the interval Spartans were awarded a penalty kick when Danny O’Donnell broke down the wing and his cross was blocked by the hand of City defender Ruairdh Scott. Gavin Malin stepped up and fired the ball past the keeper and into the net to double Spartans advantage.

Kader got his second of the afternoon when Ross Archibald went on a run down the wing and squared to unmarked Kader in the six yard box, Kader was left with the simple task on knocking the ball into the net.

Lawson added” The first goal was always going to be crucial and with the game in the balance Deano’s delivery, Towner’s header towards goal and Omar’s flick in front of the keeper were all top drawer. From then on it was always going to be very difficult for the Meadowbank boys and so it proved. Despite the distractions Gavin riffled home the penalty and Omar scored a simple third after the best move of the match. Their is no sentiment in football but I hope City break their cup drought some time soon but only if it’s not at our expense.”

“The Premier League trophy and two cups are now safely at home in the Academy Boardroom and we have two more cups to try to retain. Before that comes three league games in the five days and Sam and I will work out how to juggle our small squad to keep the players as fresh as possible. It won’t be easy.”

Spartans next fixture is tomorrow night at the Academy against Lothian thistle, kick off is at7.30pm.