7th July 2018 The Spartans v Dunipace 5-0
I did not want to stay in and watch England v Sweden in the World Cup today. I am sick of players diving and feigning injury, VAR, jingoistic commentators and England's sole tactic of bunging high balls into the opposition box in the hope of a header from one of their big centre-half, a flick on to Harry Kane or a penalty for opposition holding in the box. Decided to go to Ainslie Park for Spartans friendly against Dunipace and being a nice day walked to the ground.
Admission was £5 but as I wanted a season ticket I was allowed in free and directed to the office to get a season. Adult season tickets are normally £70 but as I hold a Hearts season ticket I only had to pay £35 given that I would be unable to attend Spartans games when Hearts are at home. Spartans have made two major signings over the summer, striker Jack Smith, son of former Airdrie forward Tony, and Harry Girdwood. Smith was previously with East Kilbride and was top scorer in the Lowland League last season while Girdwood came through the Spartans academy and then went to Falkirk with Spartans receiving a development fee. Falkirk have now closed their academy and no longer run a development side so Girdwood has returned to Ainslie Park. The trialist at number three was Gary Cennerazzo who returned to Spartans towards the end of last season following a spell playing in the USA. Found out later that the trialist goalkeeper was Scott Costello who has since signed for Spartans on loan from his parent club, Brechin City.
Dunipace are one of the new entrants to the East of Scotland League from the Scottish Junior ranks. They were not one of the top sides in the Junior ranks and play in Denny, which is between Falkirk and Stirling. By joining the East of Scotland League Dunipace are now part of the SFA pyramid system and could conceivably be in the SPFL if they are successful in the the EoS and Lowland Leagues. I have to confess I know nothing about the Dunipace side.
The game started in brilliant sunshine and Dunipace tried to take the game to Spartans early on. A shot from McFadden ran across the goalmouth from the right hand side of the park but there was no-one able to slip it into the goal. Later McFadden hit the bar with a shot from twenty-five yards after a good move. Spartans came more into the game although they were being caught offside on a number of occasions. Jack Smith hit the post from around fifteen yards out and just before the break Blair Tolmie headed a corner into the side net when it looked as if he should have scored. Conditions were really sticky in the heat and the referee stopped the game after thirty minutes so players could have a drinks break.The funniest incident in the first half was when a specator shouted to Dunipace right-back Murphy that his car was unlocked in the car park. Murphy shouted back that keys were in dressing room. The spectator then shouted that it was back door on drivers side that was unlocked. Murphy then pointed to McFadden and shouted "he was sitting there for extra legroom". A woman in front row of the stand then shouted 'stop blaming my laddie". As players never went onto dressing rooms at halftime I don't know if car ever got locked.
Spartans made four substitutions at halftime and took the lead two minutes into the half. Dunipace keeper Martin fumbled a low cross and Girdwood was able to net from the edge of the six yard box. The second goal came from a penalty when Stevens was fouled in the box. Jack Smith took the kick and sent the keeper the wrong way. The third goal was a good team goal when Greenhill found Cennerazzo on the right. His cross into the box was perfect for Dawson to run in and head home from about twelve yards. Girdwood scored number four when he turned on the edge of the penalty box and shot low into the left hand corner of the net. The final goal came from Trialist(2) who shot home from the edge of the penalty box after the ball broke to off a defender.
No crowd was announced for the game but as the England v Sweden match was on TV I reckon attendance was no more that 60. After the game caught a 27 bus home and heard that final score in World Cup was 2-0 to England which slightly deflated my spirits. Watched Russia v Croatia in the evening on TV which was a really enjoyable game although I was wanting Russia to win as I thought they were an excellent example of great teamwork without so called superstars.
The game started in brilliant sunshine and Dunipace tried to take the game to Spartans early on. A shot from McFadden ran across the goalmouth from the right hand side of the park but there was no-one able to slip it into the goal. Later McFadden hit the bar with a shot from twenty-five yards after a good move. Spartans came more into the game although they were being caught offside on a number of occasions. Jack Smith hit the post from around fifteen yards out and just before the break Blair Tolmie headed a corner into the side net when it looked as if he should have scored. Conditions were really sticky in the heat and the referee stopped the game after thirty minutes so players could have a drinks break.The funniest incident in the first half was when a specator shouted to Dunipace right-back Murphy that his car was unlocked in the car park. Murphy shouted back that keys were in dressing room. The spectator then shouted that it was back door on drivers side that was unlocked. Murphy then pointed to McFadden and shouted "he was sitting there for extra legroom". A woman in front row of the stand then shouted 'stop blaming my laddie". As players never went onto dressing rooms at halftime I don't know if car ever got locked.
Spartans made four substitutions at halftime and took the lead two minutes into the half. Dunipace keeper Martin fumbled a low cross and Girdwood was able to net from the edge of the six yard box. The second goal came from a penalty when Stevens was fouled in the box. Jack Smith took the kick and sent the keeper the wrong way. The third goal was a good team goal when Greenhill found Cennerazzo on the right. His cross into the box was perfect for Dawson to run in and head home from about twelve yards. Girdwood scored number four when he turned on the edge of the penalty box and shot low into the left hand corner of the net. The final goal came from Trialist(2) who shot home from the edge of the penalty box after the ball broke to off a defender.
No crowd was announced for the game but as the England v Sweden match was on TV I reckon attendance was no more that 60. After the game caught a 27 bus home and heard that final score in World Cup was 2-0 to England which slightly deflated my spirits. Watched Russia v Croatia in the evening on TV which was a really enjoyable game although I was wanting Russia to win as I thought they were an excellent example of great teamwork without so called superstars.
Teams
Spartans: Costello, Brown, Cennerazzo, Tolmie, Trialist(1), Greenhill, Stevenson, Atkinson, Bremmer, Smith, Dishington.
Subs: Nixon, Stevens, McFarland, Maxwell, Girdwood, Trialist(2), Corbett, Dawson.
Dunipace*: Martin, Murphy, Galloway, Dryden, Gordon, Trailist(A), Moulangou, Balmer, Dymock, McFadden, Raymen
Subs:Munro, Mack, Mitusch, McCafferty, Stevenson, Douglas
* Names of trailists obtained from Dunipace website. Three of trailist substitutes were from Dunipce U20 side.
* Names of trailists obtained from Dunipace website. Three of trailist substitutes were from Dunipce U20 side.
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