So come on get along on Friday night and support a local team and watch what should be a good game of football. If you can’t get along check back here on Monday and read the match report and and listen to the interviews.
Tomorrow sees the start of the East of Scotland Football League and the first game of the league campaign sees a local derby in North Edinburgh. Spartans will make the short trip to Marine Drive to play Civil Service Strollers. Civil will still be on a high following their victory last week in the first round of the Sottish Cup and their manager Chic McAleavy will be delighted that influential player Michael Somerville will return for tomorrows game.
Michael Somerville (right) will be back after missing last weeks game. (Picture: Thomas Brown)
Spartans will be hoping to bounce back after their defeat last week in the Scottish Cup, the new management team of Dougie Samuel and Neil Irvine will be keen to get their league campaign of to a flyer.
All the action kicks off tomorrow at Telford College playing fields at Marine Drive and kick off is at 2.30pm and the best part is there is no entry fee, so pop along and see what should be an excellent game.
Spartans crashed out of the Scottish Cup on Saturday after losing 2-0 to Highland League side Wick Academy.
Spartans started nervously but came into the game as the half progressed. Keith McLeod went close with two efforts as Spartans began to look dangerous midway though the first half, but it was all to change when Ali McKinnon went off with a head knock on the half hour mark. McKinnon headed off for stitches as the half was all set to peter out. As the first half went into injury time Spartans failed to clear a corner and Wick took the lead. Only a minute later and it was two, Spartans failed to defend another corner and the Wick striker knocked the ball home from two yards.
Manager Douglas Samuel told the club’s website: “Goals change football matches. More often than not the first goal in any game is key. Yesterday, I made a big call which cost cost us dearly. We lost 2 goals in 2 mins when down to 10 men, both in 1st half injury time. Up until corner one, we were comfortable in a game where I felt we had developed the upperhand.
However, history will show that it was an error of judgement on my part, when electing to go with 10 men until Ali received treatment, that cost us (as Sir Clive Woodward said,‘winning doesn’t happen in a straight line’). Wick have some talented players, were unrecognisable to the team I watched the week before (we wish them well in the next round and for the season as a whole).
Dougie Samuel is hoping his side can bounce back next week when they are away to Civil Service Strollers.
I will learn from yesterday’s experience, as a group we will bank the lessons learned from yesterday together and move on. This team and many of the young, inexperienced players in the squad best years are in front of them. I remain confident that each player will improve during the course of the season and beyond, that our side will develop and grow. It’s unfair to compare new signings or players coming through with the star players that have left in recent years, we are comparing players at different stages in their career and development.
Yesterday was a blow, our Club has not tasted a Scottish Cup run for a few seasons now…I’m fully aware of what it means to everyone involved with the Club. It was sad to see so many E of S Clubs fall at the first hurdle, I’m sure most of them will have their own ’if only’ moments to reflect back on. In the end we fell short in terms of execution and meeting our expectations of ourselves yesterday, but not in terms of effort and application.
Our league campaign starts next Saturday vs. The Strollers away (who along with The Vale and Edinburgh City enjoyed a great result yesterday – I’m delighted for all 3 Clubs), when we have a chance to bounce back.”
Having taken over from long-serving co-managers Sam Lynch and Mike Lawson, Spartans boss Douglas Samuel is keen to re-claim the league title for the club as well as go on another famous Scottish Cup run (writes Alan Clark). In this exclusive interview with North Edinburgh News, Samuel also discusses the young element of the new Spartans squad and entering the SFL in the future.
Stirling University, who have recruited ex-Falkirk manager Eddie May as boss, pipped Spartans to the league championship on goal difference on the last day of the season and Samuel has admitted wrestling the title back is one of the priorities he has as manager.
He said: “The short term goal is to win the title back. I believe we are capable of doing so. However, two or three other club managers will be thinking and feeling exactly the same way.”
The Ainslie Park side are going through a transition and have started blooding more youngsters in the first-team. Samuel explained: “I believe our new squad has a good combination of established players with a great pedigree and proven track record mixed with younger players with great potential; however, it’s also fair to say that it’s a work in progress.
“It’s a new squad and the start of a new era of major transition for the football club on and off the park. From last year’s squad, five experienced players have moved on. Everyone in the group has a real desire to do well, to restore the club to its former glories.
“The immediate test is to integrate our new signings, to create a real sense of togetherness and understanding around how we would like to play throughout the group. I know from past experience that both of these things take time to develop and achieve.”
After a trophy-less season Samuel is desperate to win silverware in his debut in the Spartans’ dugout, and sees a huge benefit from a Scottish Cup run. He added: “Success for us will come in various shapes and forms. Clearly after a season when the team didn’t win a single trophy we are desperate to win something this coming season. A Scottish Cup run would give everyone a huge lift at the start of our journey.”
Samuel, who is also Development Manager at the club’s Community Football Academy, is looking at his squad’s development as well as the obvious craving for success through silverware. He commented: “If, by the end of the season, we have improved as a group and each player has developed and improved as a player then that would represent real progress and success. Crucially, it’s also something we can control. Whether or not that results in silverware, time will tell.”
The former Edinburgh University boss, who spent nine years with the club, believes the proposed Highland and Lowland league – which would create a route into senior league football – would be a great thing for the game and his club.
He said: “A pyramid system would be great for Scottish football. As a club we would relish the opportunity of playing our way into the Scottish Football League. Our current focus is on meeting short term goals but with one eye on the future too.
“For example, the majority of our new signings are young players starting off their careers with what we hope will be their best years in front of them. This season is the start of a transition, however, the goal remains to win football matches and see where that takes us in terms of winning silverware.”
Cowdenbeath inflicted a second home defeat in a row on Spartans on Tuesday night as they ran out 2-1 winners in the pre-season friendly at Ainslie Park (writes Alan Clark).
Spartans had lost 2-1 to Third Division Annan Athletic on Saturday afternoon and succumbed to another Scottish Football League club – this time the Blue Brazil from the First Division.
It was Spartans last home friendly of pre-season while Cowdenbeath will be delighted to win their last preparation match before the serious stuff begins at the weekend when they take on Alloa Athletic in the Ramsdens Cup.
Michael Fleming won it with superb volley in added time after the impressive Greig Stewart had given them a half-time lead. Spartans pressed in the second-half and took advantage of a goalkeeping error to equalise but were undone late on.
The first action of the encounter came after four minutes when Greig Stewart tested Chris Flockhart in goal with a powerful left-footed drive which was parried for the corner. After 24 minutes, Stewart was in the thick of it again as he gets a shot away despite being crowded around by Spartans players, only for the ‘keeper to save – albeit with a spill – low to his left.
Stewart made amends just a minute later however with a fantastic individual goal. The striker went past three defenders to glide into the box, before rounding Flockhart with ease to tap-in to an empty net for 1-0.
Kyle Miller went close with a header for the Fifers a minute later, and on 37 minutes Scott Linton hit the post with a header from four yards. Linton could have done better but it was an acute angle. Colin Cameron’s side were pressing down Spartans at every given opportunity and that was making the home side’s play very jittery.
Cowdenbeath’s domination of the first-half continued as two minutes before the break Linton missed another chance, this one a lot worse than the first. Lewis Milne’s cross gave Thomas O’Brien a great opportunity to score but the defender mis-hit his poked effort. The ball eventually trickled towards Linton who blasted his shot well over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
67 minutes had been played when Spartans had their first close encounter with the goal net, when a Cowdenbeath clearance from a corner landed at the feet of left-back Gary Cennerrazzo. The number three hit a powerful low shot with his right-foot but it fizzled just wide of substitute goalkeeper Ricky Barnett’s post.
Spartans were looking more dangerous in this period and they were rewarded – some might say gifted – an equaliser 12 minutes later. The half-time substitute Barnett made a horrendous error and the ball dropped to the feet of Sean Wringe, who passed to Jordan Finnie to comfortably pass into the net. Finnie had lightened up the Spartans approach after coming on just a couple of minutes prior to the goal.
That was all to be for nothing though as Cowdenbeath snatched a late winner. The corner-kick came in from the left and made its way to Michael Fleming on the right-hand side of the area, and Fleming rifled in a volley to the top corner of Flockhart’s net to win the game for the 2011/12 Second Division champions.
SPARTANS: Chris Flockhart, Robbie Manson, Gary Cennerrazzo, Kevin Sivewright, Danny O’Donnell, Alastair Woodburn, Mark Whatley, John Grant, Sean Palizcka, Chris Anderson, Sean Wringe. Subs: Ian McTurk, Jonathan Seeley, Jordan Finnie, Neil McCuish, Callum Donnelly.
COWDENBEATH: Lee Wilson, Dean Brett, Murray Christie, Thomas O’Brien, Callum McNiel, Dale Finnie, Lewis Milne, Kyle Miller, Trialist, Greig Stewart, Scott Linton. Subs: Ricky Barnett, Michael Fleming, Arron Linus, Ben Anthony.
A Michael Daly double was enough for Scottish Third Division side Annan Athletic to defeat hosts Spartans 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at Ainslie Park yesterday.
Keith McLeod trys to get a shot away. (Picture: Thomas Brown)
The Galabankies made the long journey north from Dumfries and Galloway but didn’t seem affected by the travelling as they controlled the fixture for large spells and always looked comfortable. A first-half brace from striker Daly was enough in the end, even though a late surge from Spartans – including a delightful chipped goal from John Grant – threatened the Annan lead.
It was Spartans’ second preparation game in their schedule and after last weekend’s credible 0-0 draw with a Falkirk XI at home, manager Douglas Samuel was hoping to get another positive result from a Scottish Football League side. The result didn’t go their way, but the performance showed promise and the late second-half attempts to get a draw will have pleased Samuel – especially with seven first-team regulars missing.
Chris Anderson tries to hold of the defender. (Picture: Thomas Brown)
Annan took the lead after 17 minutes when Steven Sloan saw his shot parried by Spartans’ goalkeeper Chris Flockhart onto the post, only for number nine Daly to slam into the back of the net. It was an early blow for Spartans but it didn’t dampen their spirits.
Jordan Finnie came close to equalising for the home side as he saw his header from six yards go just by the ‘keeper’s left-hand post and out for the goal-kick. Shortly after Finnie’s chance it was striker Keith McLeod’s turn to attempt to level the scoreline. He received the ball on the edge of the area before turning the Annan defender quickly and powering a shot just wide.
Annan thought they had doubled their lead after 36 minutes, but the tap-in was ruled offside. Graeme Ramage tried his level best to double it for real but his shot from just inside the box was always rising and the ball went over the bar. They did manage a second goal just before half-time when a good cross came in from the left and the 27-year-old Daly rose well to angle a header past the goalkeeper and into the net. Their half-time lead of two goals was very much deserved.
New signing Alistair Woodburn almost put Spartans in front in the opening minutes. (Picture: Thomas Brown)
Annan’s left-back Gary Thorburn was proving to be a good weapon for Harry Cairney’s side and it was his delivery three minutes into the second half that gave Daly a chance for a hat-trick, but he put his header just over. Sean Wringe then wasted a great opportunity to pull his side back in the game when he blasted well over after cutting in from the left just inside the danger area.
With ten minutes left Steve Swinglehurst went close with a powerful header from a superb right-hand side delivery from Ramage, and the Annan number four could have paid for the miss as Spartans got one back minutes later. After finding some room on the right-side of the box, John Grant expertly lobbed Craig Summersgil, much to the delight of the home support. With six minutes left Spartans pressed for an equaliser but ultimately fell short as the game ended 2-1 to the visitors.
SPARTANS: Chris Flockhart, Robbie Manson, Gary Cennerrazzo, McCuish, O’Donnell, Mark Whatley, Alastair Woodburn, John Grant, Jordan Finnie, Keith McLeod, Sean Wringe. Subs: Chris Anderson, Sean Palizcka, Neil Irvine, Ian McTurk.
ANNAN ATHLETIC: Craig Summersgil, John Blake, Gary Thorburn, Steve Swinglehurst, Michael McGowan, Scott chaplain, Steven Sloan, Tordyn McKechnie, Michael Daly, Graeme Ramage, David Murray. Subs: Alexander Mitchell, John Watson, Jack Steele, Ally Love, Graeme Bell, Kieran McGachie, Andrew Donnelly.
Local side Spartans take on Annan Athletic this afternoon with the game kicking off at 2.30pm. Why not pop along and support the local team and maybe even top up your tan at the same time.
Spartans Under 14s Whites won the League Cup last Thursday after a season that has seen them go from bottom of the league to cup glory in a matter of months.
The league campaign started poorly with the team losing 10 games in a row, which saw them drop out of most competitions and fall to the bottom of the table. The Head Coach left and a new coaching team took over. Hugh Cullen, Lewis Melee and Greg Atkinson became the youngest coaches in the club at the ages of 16, 17 and 17 respectively.
The team celebrate after winning the trophy.
Soon, the side started scoring goals and their first win came away to Gullane in the League Cup- this gave the boys a huge lift and soon they became more confident in their ability and started to play some good, attractive football. One of the real signs that this team was not to be taken lightly was when Spartans defeated top of the table Dalkieth 4-2 in an entertaining match at Marine Drive.
It has been revealed that the team actually came very close to folding when the team’s goalkeeper decided to leave the club however they were saved when Finlay Kidd boldly volunteered to wear the number one jersey and, in fact, had a great season in between the posts. The side were also helped when, midway through the season, there was a new addition to the side. Samuel Nhamburo scored twelve goals in his first two games and only failed to score on two occasions, both against eventual league champions Fernieside.
Spartans went on to go undefeated in the League cup and finished in top position in their five man group and thrashed Leith Athletic 6-2 to progress to the final (Nhamburo scoring five). In the final they faced Fernieside who are the only team that they lost to in 2012. Spartans took an early lead through a 25-yard goal from Daniel Anderson however Fernieside got back into the game and led going into injury time. Spartans substitute scored in the last minute of the 90 and then with four minutes of injury time played, Gabriel Hill scored the winner, topping off a fantastic season for the boys.
Spartans Under 14s Whites won the League Cup last Thursday after a season that has seen them go from bottom of the league to cup glory in a matter of months.
The league campaign started poorly with the team losing 10 games in a row, which saw them drop out of most competitions and fall to the bottom of the table. The Head Coach left and a new coaching team took over. Hugh Cullen, Lewis Melee and Greg Atkinson became the youngest coaches in the club at the ages of 16, 17 and 17 respectively.
The team celebrate after winning the trophy.
Soon, the side started scoring goals and their first win came away to Gullane in the League Cup- this gave the boys a huge lift and soon they became more confident in their ability and started to play some good, attractive football. One of the real signs that this team was not to be taken lightly was when Spartans defeated top of the table Dalkieth 4-2 in an entertaining match at Marine Drive.
It has been revealed that the team actually came very close to folding when the team’s goalkeeper decided to leave the club however they were saved when Finlay Kidd boldly volunteered to wear the number one jersey and, in fact, had a great season in between the posts. The side were also helped when, midway through the season, there was a new addition to the side. Samuel Nhamburo scored twelve goals in his first two games and only failed to score on two occasions, both against eventual league champions Fernieside.
Spartans went on to go undefeated in the League cup and finished in top position in their five man group and thrashed Leith Athletic 6-2 to progress to the final (Nhamburo scoring five). In the final they faced Fernieside who are the only team that they lost to in 2012. Spartans took an early lead through a 25-yard goal from Daniel Anderson however Fernieside got back into the game and led going into injury time. Spartans substitute scored in the last minute of the 90 and then with four minutes of injury time played, Gabriel Hill scored the winner, topping off a fantastic season for the boys.
Spartans got back to winning ways in the Scottish Premier League with a convincing 5-0 victory over bottom of the table Kilmarnock at Ainslie Park.
The Home side dominated from start to finish scoring four goals inside the first 45 minutes through strikes by Diana Barry, Molly McKean and a brace by Lana Clelland. After such a strong first half Spartans made several changes to their line-up and continued to press for more goals. However, with Kilmarnock defending with large numbers and deep within their own half, the North Edinburgh side could only add one more strike to their goal tally with centre half Louise Moultray getting her first goal for the club in the 80th minute.
Photo: Carson Ralton
Straight from kick-off Spartans took the game to their visitors and the first opportunity fell to centre half Heli Hakkinen who sent a header wide of the goal. Louise Mason tricked her way down the right wing before winning a corner for her side off the feet of Nicole Murray. Lana Clelland sent the resulting cross to the far post to Hakkinen who, after losing her marker, sent a header wide of the target.
Moments later and again Spartans came close to opening their account as Louise Magilton sent a thunderous drive inches over the bar. Clelland collected the ball wide on the left and after driving in field found Magilton with a square pass. The midfielder, with acres of space in front of her, fired a looping drive that flashed over the bar from 30 yards out.
Kilmarnock were struggling to clear their lines and after 15 minutes Spartans broke the deadlock with Captain Diana Barry heading in from four yards out. Danni Pagliarulo played the ball out wide to Clelland who, after cutting inside the fullback, fired a right foot cross to the near post where Barry, who got in front of her the centre half, headed the ball into the back of the net.
Photo: Carson Ralton
The pressure on the Kilmarnock goal was constant and within minutes of the restart Spartans created another outstanding opportunity only to see Kilmarnock goalkeeper Lauren Grant expertly save from the feet of Clelland. Mason, who was a menace down the right wing, tricked her way into the box before cutting the ball back to Molly McKean. The midfielder looked up and saw the run of Clelland and clipped the ball over to the Spartans Number 7 who, eight yards out, fired in a fierce right foot shot only to see the diving Grant expertly catch the ball at full stretch.
However, Spartans did double their lead on the half hour mark with McKean sending a 25 yard curling right foot shot into the top left hand corner of the net. McKean collected the ball midway through the Kilmarnock half and, after playing a quick one-two with Pagliarulo, sent a clever chipped drive into the top corner past the helpless keeper.
Photo: Carson Ralton
The home side were not letting the pressure ease on the Kilmarnock goal and five minutes later Magilton again tried her luck from outside the box however Grant was able to prevent the score from increasing momentarily. Chloe Fitzpatrick brought the ball out of defence and, after travelling some distance before being closed down, found Magilton on the edge of the box. The midfielder shifted her weight and sent a thunderous drive which the keeper was equal to on this occasion.
The Kilmarnock keeper was preventing the score from increasing at a rapid rate and once more she managed to save her side as she dived at the feet of Barry who was through on goal. Clelland collect the ball on the left hand side of the box and flicked it over the defenders heads into the path of Barry who, with a swivel of her hips, tried to round the Kilmarnock Number one only to see Grant smother the ball as the striker went to pass her.
However it was only a matter of time before the next goal went in and five minutes before half time the North Edinburgh side got their third with Clelland firing a long range effort that Grant could only parry into her own net. Clelland, who had temporarily moved infield found herself with plenty of space 30 yards from goal and the winger, after looking up, sent a swerving right foot shot that Grant could only fingertip into the back of the net.
Photo: Carson Ralton
And it was Clelland who again finished off a well worked Spartans move as she volleyed the ball home from six yards out. With the referee about to blow for half time, Mason charged down the right wing and as she reached the bye-line she managed to stop the ball before firing over a left foot cross to Clelland who, unmarked inside the box, crashed home a right foot volley past the helpless Kilmarnock keeper.
The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first with Spartans camped inside the Kilmarnock half. Within minutes of the restart substitute Sarah Archibald, who had come on at the break for McKean, sent a glancing header just past the right hand post. Clelland drove down the left wing and after twisting and turning past three players, sent a cross to the far post to Archibald who rose above her marker only to send her header wide of the mark.
Within the space of five minutes Archibald had two more opportunities to score however an off the line clearance by Rachel Webb and the frame of the goal prevented the midfielder from getting her first of the season. With 60 minutes gone, Clelland broke clear down the left wing and sent a low cross over to Barry who, with her back to goal, laid the ball back to Archibald who curled a left foot shot towards the bottom right hand corner. However, even though the ball was sailing past the outstretched hands of keeper Grant, defender Webb managed to get back to clear off her own goal line. Minutes later Archibald won herself a free kick on the edge of the Kilmarnock area after being barged off the ball and the Spartans Number 12 stepped up only to see her curling right foot shot smash off the bar and away from the danger zone.
Photo: Carson Ralton
Spartans did finally break the second half deadlock with ten minutes to go with centre half Louise Moultray heading home her first goal for the club. Spartans were awarded a corner which Clelland took from left to right and sent a cross to the far post where Ashley Nicolson, who had peeled away, headed back towards goal. Moultray, who was positioned just inside the right hand post connected with the ball and sent a glancing header into the back of the net.
The home side continued to press for more goals and came close to increasing their five goal advantage minutes before full time with Nichola Sturrock sending a fierce left foot drive towards goal only to see the keeper tip onto the post and away for a corner.
Head Coach was pleased with her team’s overall performance and felt her team dominated from start to finish. She said: “I think we set a very high tempo in the first half, scoring four goals – the second half we let it drop a wee bit but we were frustrated by how Kilmarnock defended. They defended very deep inside their own final third so it was difficult to break them down and find space to penetrate them but overall happy with three points, five goals and a clean sheet.”
Teams:
Spartans: Rachel Harrison, Ashley Nicolson, Heli Hakkinen, Victoria Farquhar (Louise Moultray, 45mins), Chloe Fitzpatrick, Louise Magilton, Danni Pagliarulo (Nichola Sturrock, 70mins), Lana Clelland (Rebecca Galbraith, 80mins), Molly McKean (Sarah Archibald, 45mins), Louise Mason (Ann Taylor, 70mins), Diana Barry.
Unused Substitutes: Sarah Ewens
Kilmarnock: Lauren Grant, Becky Haddow, Alana Black, Nicole Murray, Rachel Webb, Katie Patterson, Samantha McManus, Kirsty Munro (Natalie Huggen, 65mins), Jo Casey, Morgan Hunter, Kayleigh Weeks
