9th February 2018 The Spartans v Edinburgh University 1-0
I had sent a text to Alex earlier in the week to see if he was going to this game. He replied yes and that Jim was going along also. On the day of the match I had a text from Alex saying we must be mad as it was going to be a bitterly cold night. He was right ! Alex sends e-mails to Spartans after he has been to games as he likes to know the attendance. It turns out that the replies he had been getting were from Spartans chairman, Craig Graham. Craig had sent a text to Alex saying they should meet when he was next at a Spartans game and they arranged to meet tonight pre-match. I was going to walk to Ainslie Park but decided as it was not very warm I would walk part of the way then catch a bus. I met Alex in the carpark outside and once we got into the ground he disappeared to meet Craig while I went for a coffee. The cafe/bar was unavailable tonight due to a pre-booked private function so I had to go to the outside catering area. As I was drinking my coffee Jim arrived and we had a chat about various football matters while waiting for Alex. He arrived from his chat just as the teams came out and we took seats in the stand near the halfway line.
Tonight was an important game for Spartans who had lost to league leaders East Kilbride on the previous Saturday. Spartans were now fourth in the table, twelve points behind the leaders, although Spartans have four games in hand. Spartans made some changes from Saturday bringing in joint leading scorers Ross Allum and Blair Atkinson. However it was strange that Jamie Dishington was one of those who dropped to the bench.
The game almost started with a goal when the ball came to Allum on the left hand side of the penalty box about twelve yards from goal. His shot was blocked by the Uni keeper Mark Tait and in the scramble for the rebound the keeper was injured as the ball went out for a corner. Tait required medical attention before the corner could be taken. I have seen this keeper a numbers of times and he has always impressed so I think the Uni side were pleased that he was able to continue. Spartans continued to press and a cross from Craig Stevenson found Allum six yards out. However his header was straight at Tait in the goal. From a corner Blair Tolmie had a chance when the ball came to him in the penalty area. Tolmie seemed to mishit his shot which was safely gathered by the keeper. While Spartans had most of the pressure the University side did look dangerous on the break. Just before halftime Jack Guthrie raced on to a through ball and Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal had to look lively to rush from his line and block the collect the ball on the edge of the penalty box.
The second half continued in the same vein with Spartans having the bulk of possession but few clear changes were being created. At least the players could run around and were not sitting in the freezing weather. Tait in the University goal was not seriously troubled although Atkinson came close when he burst into the penalty area and fired a shot across goal. No Spartans player was in position to apply the finishing touch and the ball drifted out past the far post. Spartans brought on substitutes Dishington, Guillemero Lamarca and Ross Guthrie as the match moved into injury time. In about the ninety-third minute Atkinson again drove into the box and cut the ball back from the byeline. David Greenhill met the ball at the near post and knocked it into the net giving Spartans a narrow but deserved win. The importance of the win could be seen by the goal celebrations as the entire team rushed to congratulate the goalscorer.
After the game I walked up to Ferry Road and found out the next bus due was in ten minutes. Rather than wait at the bus stop and continue to freeze I walked along to Crewe Toll and caught a 24 bus home. After arriving home Natalie said I was looking cold. She then asked if a bacon sandwich would warm me up. When I replied yes she said she would put it one while I took the dog out for his last walk of the day. So it was back out into the cold again for me!
The game almost started with a goal when the ball came to Allum on the left hand side of the penalty box about twelve yards from goal. His shot was blocked by the Uni keeper Mark Tait and in the scramble for the rebound the keeper was injured as the ball went out for a corner. Tait required medical attention before the corner could be taken. I have seen this keeper a numbers of times and he has always impressed so I think the Uni side were pleased that he was able to continue. Spartans continued to press and a cross from Craig Stevenson found Allum six yards out. However his header was straight at Tait in the goal. From a corner Blair Tolmie had a chance when the ball came to him in the penalty area. Tolmie seemed to mishit his shot which was safely gathered by the keeper. While Spartans had most of the pressure the University side did look dangerous on the break. Just before halftime Jack Guthrie raced on to a through ball and Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal had to look lively to rush from his line and block the collect the ball on the edge of the penalty box.
The second half continued in the same vein with Spartans having the bulk of possession but few clear changes were being created. At least the players could run around and were not sitting in the freezing weather. Tait in the University goal was not seriously troubled although Atkinson came close when he burst into the penalty area and fired a shot across goal. No Spartans player was in position to apply the finishing touch and the ball drifted out past the far post. Spartans brought on substitutes Dishington, Guillemero Lamarca and Ross Guthrie as the match moved into injury time. In about the ninety-third minute Atkinson again drove into the box and cut the ball back from the byeline. David Greenhill met the ball at the near post and knocked it into the net giving Spartans a narrow but deserved win. The importance of the win could be seen by the goal celebrations as the entire team rushed to congratulate the goalscorer.
After the game I walked up to Ferry Road and found out the next bus due was in ten minutes. Rather than wait at the bus stop and continue to freeze I walked along to Crewe Toll and caught a 24 bus home. After arriving home Natalie said I was looking cold. She then asked if a bacon sandwich would warm me up. When I replied yes she said she would put it one while I took the dog out for his last walk of the day. So it was back out into the cold again for me!
Teams
The Spartans: Carswell,Herd, Stevenson, Tolmie, Corbett, Greenhill, Atkinson, McFarland, Allum, Brown, Stevens.
Subs: Dishington, Lamarca, Guthrie.
Edinburgh University: Tait, Gair, Condie, Verkaik, Swan, Daniels-Yeoman, Maskery, Ritchie, Guthrie, Evans, Calbacho.
Subs: Watters, Skjaeveland, Hendry.
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