3rd October 2017 The Spartans v Vale of Leithen 5-0

After the Scottish Cup tie a fortnight ago Spartans met Vale of Leithen again in the Lowland League. Malcolm decided to go to the game and we met in Mathers at the West End for  couple of pints before heading to Ainslie Park. I had not been in Mathers for ages but it is what I would call a ‘real pub’ with good beer and a good atmosphere. No fancy decor or over-priced meals in Mathers. Malcolm told me an amusing story about when he was coaching and had to tell a boy that he was not being retained for the following season. As he knew the boy was going to a fee-paying school the following year he suggested that the lad took up rugby. He felt vindicated a number of years later when Marcus Di Rollo was picked for the Scotland Rugby XV ! After our pints we caught a bus to Crewe Toll and walked to Ainslie Park arriving just before kick-off and catching up with Alex and Jim in the stand. The programme was a double issue covering tonights game and Saturdays match against Whitehill Welfare.

Spartans had won at Selkirk on Saturday and stayed second in the league. Another win tonight would leave them one point behind leaders BSC Glasgow with the same number of games played, although BSC are playing tomorrow night. The game started well and Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal made a great save from a close-in header from Vale’s Chris Anderson. The game changed however when Steven Lynch pulled back Blair Atkinson as he raced towards the penalty box. The referee adjudged it as a clear goal scoring opportunity and produced a red card for Lynch. I was not convinced as the foul took place outside the right hand side of the box and as least two other Vale defenders were close at hand. Craig Stevenson hit the bar with the resultant free-kick and the ball bounced back to Adan Corbett who looped a header over the keeper for the first goal. Vale keeper Beveridge did not look too convincing with this goal. Ten minutes or so later Spartans got a second. A corner was cleared back to Scott Wilson on the left and he crossed for Atkinson to score with a header at the back post. In first half injury time Atkinson was hacked down as he turned a defender in the six yard box. A clear penalty and to me more of a red card than the one given earlier. Ross Allum took the kick and while the Vale keeper got a hand to the ball he was unable to keep it out.

The second half started with Spartans kicking into the wind. However this did help Vale as after ten minutes Spartans went further ahead. Scott Wilson broke down the left hand side from just inside the Vale half. From the left hand side of the penalty box he fired in a shot across the goalkeeper. The ball hit the inside of the far post and rebounded into the opposite corner of the net. Spartans continued to press forward although Carswell made another fine save to maintain his clean sheet when Vale broke away. The final goal arrived with seven minutes remaining. After a flowing move from their own half Spartans Jamie Dishington knocked a pass forward on the edge of the box for Alan Brown to run onto. From about twelve yards out ‘Hovie’ hit a shot with the outside of his foot across the keeper and into the net. A further ‘goal’ from Atkinson was ruled out by an offside flag.

After the game Malcolm and I walked to Crewe Toll and caught a bus to Lothian Road. Malcolm then waited for a bus home while I walked along Fountainbridge home.

Teams

The Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson, Corbett, Tolmie, Wilson, Atkinson, McFarland, Allum, Dishington, Brown

Subs: Nixon, Khutsishvili, Archibald.

Vale of Leithen: Beveridge, Lewis, Brady, Scott-Mercer, Lynch, Hunter, Stewart, Allen, Stevens, Anderson, Smith

Subs: Graham