22nd December 2018 The Spartans v Gretna FC 2008 2-1



Was not sure which game to go to today as Hearts were up at Aberdeen and I could not face the journey. As I had not been to a Spartans game since late October I decided to go to Ainslie Park in preference to Civil Service Strollers v Edusport Academy. Watched the first half of Arsenal v Burnley in Sky before heading to Tollcross to catch a bus to the game. Bus was not due for twelve minutes so started walking and eventually bus caught up with me at George IV Bridge. Arrived at ground at 14.30 and after buying programme headed up to cafe/bar for a coffee. Met Jim there and after finishing coffees we headed down to grab stand seats for kickoff. Spartans gave Josh Wishart from their u20 side his full debut at centre half with other u20s Murray Hand and Cameron Dawson on the bench.It was strange to see a Spartans side without stalwart Craig Stevenson. "Grinchy" had asked for a transfer as he felt he was no longer a regular member of the team and has now signed for Penicuik Athletic. At least I will be able to see how he is getting on there when I go out to watch Penicuik.I did not recognise any of the names in the Gretna side. Gretna 2008 were formed after the previous Gretna side went into administration and withdrew from the SPFL in 2008. The new side are run by a supporters trust and now play their home games at the 'old' Gretna ground, Raydale Park, in the town.

The game kicked off with Spartans on the attack. Jamie Dishington got to the byeline early on but has cutback was too strong for Blair Atkinson to connect. Shortly afterwards Spartans were awarded a free kick after a foul on David Greenhill just outside the penalty xox. Greenhill took the free kick himself and Graham Wright made a good save to push the ball away for a corner. However after half an hour Gretna took the lead in almost their first attack. A corner was played into the six yard box for Daniel Smales to head past Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal. Just before halftime Wright made a good save to deny Blair Atkinson's close range shot.

The second half started which what Arthur Montford used to call a 'stramash' in the Gretna six yard box. The ball bounced around but nobody was able to get a final touch to push the ball into the net. After about ten minutes Spartans equalised when the ball came to Dishington about eight yards out who sidestepped a defender and fired the ball high into Wright's net. With the scores level Gretna received another blow when goalscorer Smales received a second yellow card for a rash challenge and was sent off. Midway through the half Spartans captain Michael Herd tried a shot from the edge of the penalty box which Wright fumbled. Dishington was first to react and fired the rebound into the net for his second goal. However after this Spartans seemed to adopt a 'what we have we hold" approach and Malcolm Halliday had a good shot saved by Carswell in the Spartans goal. The match descended into farce after about sixty minutes when after awarding a free kick to Gretna the referee went to the Spartans bench. A runner went from the bench to fetch the groomsman who shovelled what we later learned was fox droppings off the pitch before play could continue.This prompted a headline in the Edinburgh Evening news - " 'Jobby' on the pitch delays Spartans game as Gary Lineker denies involvement". The Lineker reference relates to a problem he had with diarrhoea during the 1990 World Cup. The referee had obviously not refereed at any Edinburgh public parks recently. A number of these are infested due to dog owners not picking up after their pets. After this incident both sides were looking for another goal but the game petered out in a 2-1 victory for Spartans in front of a crowd of 132. I do wonder if it would be worthwhile for Spartans to win promotion to the SPFL as I am not sure crowds would improve dramatically when you consider the Edinburgh City reckon 400 is a good crowd for their games..

After the game I caught a 24 bus home and arrived back in time for the first goal in Manchester United 5-1 victory against Cardiff on Sky.

Teams
The Spartans: Carswell, Dishington, Brown, Cennerazzo, Wishart, Greenhill, Atkinson, McFarland, Macdonald, Stevens, Herd.
Subs: Maxwell, Hand, Dawson
Gretna FC 2008: Wright, Hope, Smith, Watson, Wedge, Holliday, Kelly, Gray, Smales, Connelly, Exley.
Subs: Fitxpatrick, Hunter






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

27th April 2024 The Spartans 2 Peterhead 2

Image
  I was not sure where to go today as I did not fancy going to Kilmarnock for the Hearts game. I final,y decided to head to Ainslie Park for Spartans SPFL match against. I walked to Tollcross to catch a 27 bus which was fine until we got to the Mound  where the police were stopping all traffic to allow a Gaza protest march to walk up the Mound and then done the High Street to the parliament building. After a fifteen minute delay the bus finally got moving again and I got off at Morrisons before walking down to the ground arriving at around 14.50. The cafe bare was just shut when I arrived so I took up a position against the fence at the bar end. Spartans were sitting in fourth place in SPFL League Two and were now guaranteed a sport in the end of season playoffs. There side was unchanged from last weeks win a Bonnyrigg. Under twenties players Josh Laing and Archie Wylie were included amongst the substitutes. Peterhead were now second in the league and also guaranteed a playoff spot. To
Read more

23rd March 2024 Musselburgh Athletic 1 Jeanfield Swifts 0

Image
  We  are on Saturday in the international break and I not sure where  to go today as choice either Penicuik v Glenrothes or Musselburgh v  Jeanfield. Given Penicuik have been awful this season I decided to head to Musselburgh. I walked down to Haymarket around 13.00 and caught a 26 bus to Musselburgh. Arrived there about 14.15 and walked the short distance to the ground. Paid my £5 admission bought a £2 programme. After a wander around the ground I met Jim and we took about a stance at the cafe end against the fence. It looked like being a goood game today with Musselburgh second on the EoS Premier League and Jeanfield third. Broxburn are however twelve points cleated at the top of the league and look Tati be champions at the end of the season. Musselburgh have probably the best three strikers in the league with Nathan Evans, Jordan Smith and recent signing Nicky Reid. Evans was not include in todays starting eleven due to injury while Smith was on the bench replaced by Jonnny Court.
Read more

27th January. 2024. Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0

Image
At last back to Tynecastle. After a spell of illness back to watch a home game for the first time since late November. I would have been back for the Dundee game on Tuesday but I fell out of bed overnight on Monday and was a mess of bruises so stayed at home. Today however I was feeling a lot better and left home to walk to Tynecastle. I arrived around 14.20 and scanned my season ticket for entry. Went to my seat in the Main Stand and it felt great to be back again. 2024 is 150 years since Hearts were founded and a special 150 year flag was raised on the pitch before the kickoff. The flag will be flown above the stand for the remainder of the year. The ceremony made me feel old as I remember being at the 100th anniversary match against Spurs in 1974. Steven Naismith starting lineup included both Dexter Lembikiska and Yutaro Oda who both came on as substitutes against Dundee and scored. Craig Halkett and Kenneth Vargas dropped to the bench to replace them Aberdeen under mamager Barry Ro
Read more