11th May 2019 The Spartans v East Stirling. 1-2

Semi-final day in the Lowland League Cup. Ok, the tournament may be an end of season filler but this should be a good match between two of the top sides in the Lowland league. Left the house after lunch just after 13.30. As usual I walked to the ground but today changed my route. I joined the old North Edinburgh Railway Line, now a pedestrian walkway,  at Haymarket. The walkway goes though Wester Coates, Ravelston, Craigleith, Drylaw and then over the Crewe Toll roundabout before arriving at Ainslie Park. The walkway continues to Leith and Granton but I turned off at the ground. I was able to use my Spartans season ticket for this cup match and after purchasing a programme and raffle ticket headed to the cafe/bar. I purchased a Diet Coke and a sausage roll and then grabbed a seat to eat my snack and read the programme. Wandered out to the pitch-side about 14.45 and took a position between the two  dugouts to watch the first half.

Spartans were missing Michael Herd, Willie Bremner and Stephen MacDonald due to injury/unavailability and in addition Aaron Scott was suspended after collecting two bookings earlier in the competition. The Spartans bench therefore included four members of their successful under-20 side. Alan Brown was wearing strapping on his right hand/wrist and looked as if he was playing carrying an injury. East Stirling's (Shire) top-scorer this season   Ross Allum, a former Spartans and Edinburgh City player, was featured in the programme and it was therefore surprising he was not included in the match day squad. However the clubs all-time record goal-scorer and first team coach Andy Rodgers was playing in his usual number seven jersey. In the absence of Allum he did however start the match as the central striker.

Spartans started well and took the lead after five minutes when David Greenhill took a corner from the right. Stand-in captain Adam Corbett rose highest in a crowd of players on the edge of the six yard box and his header beat Jamie Barclay in the Shire goal. Moments later a pass from Jack Smith from about five yards outside the penalty box sent Blair Atkinson racing in on goal after beating the offside trap. He attempted to round the diving Barclay but was forced wide and sent his shot past the post. Atkinson had another attempt when Jamie Dishington's pass sent him rushing towards the goal. This time his shot was blocked by Barclay at the expense of a corner. Shire were not really in the game as Spartans pressed forward and their first serious attempt on goal did not come until the half-hour mark. Jamie Gallagher's cutback from the right hand side of the penalty area was collected by Paul MacCafferty just outside the box but his shot was deflected past for a fruitless corner. Spartans continued to press forward but were unable to create any clear-cut chances despite the promptings of David Greenhill in midfield. After forty-one minutes Rodgers squared the ball to Gallagher but again his shot, from outside the penalty area went past the post. 

For the second half I wandered across to the other side of the ground and took a seat in the stand. I don't know what Shire manager said to his players at half-time but they looked a far better side in the second half. Spartans did have the first chance when Jack Smith tried a shot from outside the box which was easily gathered by keeper Barclay. Around ten minutes into the half Rodgers chased into the box after a short passbook. Blair Carswell rushed from his goal but was fouled by Rodgers as he kicked the ball clear of danger. Minutes later Shire forced a corner on the right. The ball found its way to Liam Allison on the edge of the six yard box. His initial shot hit the bar and bounced down but any arguments about the ball crossing the line were dismissed when Connor Greene forced home the rebound. Just after the seventy minute mark a cross from the right by Rodgers was missed by Gallagher just outside the six yard box. The ball, however, found its way to Steven Brisbane who knocked it into the net at the far post to give Shire the lead. This was nearly increased minutes later when a headed passbook by Corbett fell short and the Rodgers raced into the box but shot against the diving Carswell before the ball was cleared. Despite this error I think Corbett is an excellent centre-half. His defensive qualities are complemented by his composure on the ball and he reminds me of a young Craig Levein. Spartans wanted to replace Greenhill with Nicky Reid with about ten minutes to go. Greenhill walked towards the touchline before the substitution as Spartans were awarded a free-kick around thirty yards from goal, although the linesman had not yet flagged that a change was to be made. Greenhill was waved back by the management team to take the free-kick. After the game was played on for another couple of minutes Reid did make an appearance but at the expense of Ian McFarland and not Greenhill. As the match moved into injury time Spartans had a great chance to equalise. A long ball from Scott Maxwell found Atkinson running towards the goal. He attempted to lob Barclay as the keeper came out from his goal but was unable to gain sufficient height with the attempted which was gathered by the goalie. Moments later the final whistle went and Shire were through to the final where they will meet BSC Glasgow at Edinburgh University's Peffermill ground on 19th May.

After the match I walked up the hill towards Ferry Road to see a 27 bus going past as I neared Morrisons at the summit of the hill. I therefore walked through Morrisons car-park and headed to the bus-stop at the Crewe Toll roundabout. I caught a 38 to Balgreen and then changed to a 22, arriving home around 17.30 after watching a good competitive cup-tie.

Teams
The Spartans: Carswell, Brown, Cennerazzo, Tolmie, Corbett, Greenhill, Atkinson, McFarland, Maxwell, Dishington, Smith
Subs: Stevens, Reid.
East Stirling: Barclay, Greene, Allison, Grant, McKee, MacGregor, Rodgers, Gallagher, Brisbane, MacCafferty, McCaughie.
Subs: White, Smith