29th December 2018 The Spartans v Civil Service Strollers 1-1

First game of what is going to be a busy football day. Left house at 12.45 and caught a 27 bus to Ainslie Park. Lucky I left sharp as bus arrived three minutes early. Arrived at ground at 14.30 and went to cafe/bar for a coffee. Met Jim there. He had been at Blyth Spartans earlier in the week as he is planning to write an article 'A Spartan Christmas' for a football magazine featuring his thoughts on games at the the Blyth and Edinburgh Spartans. Couple of interesting facts he told me about Blyrth Spartans. Firstly they are linked with Spain's Real Betis which I can understand as both teams were the same strip. Secondly, Blyth are sponsored by Visit North Korea, a tour company based in Shenzhen, China. I cannot see many Blyth fans wanting to go to North Korea on holiday.

Todays game should be quite close with Spartans fourth in the Lowland league and Civil Service Strollers (CSS) a point behind in fifth. The 'incestuous' nature of lower league football in Edinburgh can be seen in the team line-ups. CSS included ex-Spartans Andy Mair and Ross Guthrie while there are Edinburgh City connections with Spartans Michael Herd and Ian McFarland along with CSS' Mark McConnell and Guthrie all having played for the club. Additionally CSS are managed by former Edinburgh City Manager Gary Jardine.

The game started with a bang as in the first minute Spartans forward Stephen MacDonald chased a long ball done the left. He cut passed a CSS defender into the box and fired a low shot past Josh Donaldson in the CSS goal from a tight angle for the opening goal. Donaldson did not look too clever from my viewpoint although my view may have been affected by the glare from the setting sun behind the Ferry Road goal. The goal was timed at 19.82 seconds. Spartans had another chance when Blair Atkinson burst through the middle of the CSS defence. Before he could prepare to shoot he was pulled back by Keith Waugh, who was booked. Blair Tolmie then came close with a a header from a corner which slipped passed the post. CSS looked good going forward but were unable to trouble Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal.

At halftime we moved to the standing side of the park to avoid the glare of the sun. The second half began with McFarland attempting an overhead kick but the referee blew for dangerous play as CSS' Alieu Faye went into challenge. Atkinson again broke through the middle but was denied by keeper Donaldson who rushed to the edge of his box to block before his defence cleared the ball. Around the seventy minute mark CSS floated a free-kick into the box which was gathered by Carswell in the Spartans blow. Unfortunately the referee spotted a push on CSS' McConnell by Spartans goalscorer MacDonald and awarded a penalty. Substitute Jack Downie took the kick and scored in Carswell's left hand corner. Despite applying pressure Spartans were unable to score another goal and the match finished all square. This has been a problem for Spartans all season as they seem unable to finish a team off once they go ahead. Maybe the return of Jack Smith from injury will add a cutting edge to their good approach play.

After the match I walked up to Ferry Road to catch a bus and head to Easter Road for the big Derby, Hibs v Hearts.

Teams
The Spartans: Carswell, Brown, Cennerazzo, Tolmie, Maxwell, Greenhill, Atkinson, McFarland, MacDonald, Dishington, Herd.
Subs: Hand, Reid
Civil Service Strollers: Donaldson, Newall, Mair, McConnell, Waugh, Fee, Churchill, Faye, Froude, Guthrie, Muirhead.
Subs:Downie, Ballantyne, Hopkinson.