12th June 2021 Spartans 2 Lothian Thistle Hutcheson Vale 2
Well ether 456 days (Alexa) or 457 (Siri) but at least able to go to watch a live football match. Since the last game I went to (St Mirren v Hearts 11th March 2020) I have watched several matches on television or live stream but nothing can beat actually being there ! With Edinburgh now under Level2 Covid restrictions small crowd are allowed at foootball matches and I was heading to Ainslie Park today for the first of Spartans pre-season friendlies against Lothian Thistle Hutcheson Vale (LTHV). I renewed my Hearts season ticket yesterday for £129, a substantial discount due to not being allowed to attend any matches last season. However it is unlikely that all season-ticket holders will permitted entry to Tynecastle when the SPL season starts. Hearts have said that a ballot will be held and those initially successful will not be able to attend again until all other season ticket holders have been at a match. This could mean I will have to watch football elsewhere and I have also purchased a season ticket for Spartans for a reasonable £50. I received an e-mail from Craig Graham, Spartans chairman, asking if I was attending todays game. If so he would leave the ticket at the gate for me to collect, thus saving the club postage. I was happy to do this and left home at 12.45 for the 14.00 kick-off. It was a beautiful sunny day as I walked down the old railway path to the ground arriving at 13.40. My ticket was waiting for me as I asked at the turnstile and I entered the ground without a problem. I took up a position against the fence at the dressing room end of the ground in case any of my friends arrived. I did not think any of them were coming and was proved correct. However I was chatting to a couple from Glasgow whose son was playing for Spartans today as a trialist.
Spartans have been busy in the close season having re-signed former players Jamie Dishington (from East Stirling) and Michael Herd (Cowdenbeath). Both players were excellent in their previous spells at the club and are welcome additions to the squad. Dishington in particular is an excellent attacking midfield player who also can score. Having come through the Spartans academy he is now returning home. In addition Spartans have also signed centre-back Kevin Waugh (Berwick Rangers) and midfielder Euan Smith (also from Berwick Rangers). As for LTHV there is very little I can say. There were no programmes or teamsheets available and I did not recognise any of the LTHV players.
The gme started in blazing sunshine and LHTV opened the scoring in five minutes. A nice move down the right lead to the ball being sent low in the penalty area where the Sean Cumming knocked it home from the edge of the six yard box. Spartans pressed for an equaliser and Aaron Murrell came close when he ran onto a through ball but was denied by a good diving save from the LHTV keeper. Michael Bolochoweckjy(Bolo) came close to connecting with a header from a corner at the far post but was unable to make contact as the ball flew across goal. Spartans drew level when Mikey Allan broke down the left. His low cross was missed by Scott Maxwell around the penalty spot but reached Murrell who shot home across the goalkeeper.
The second half started with a trialist replacing Jones. I don't know if it was the Glasgow couples son as I had moved to the other end of the park for the second half. Walking passed the spectators in the stand I saw Alan and we had a chat before I headed back into the sunshine. Alan had been at a couple of the Spartans Ladies matches and also watched Hibs Ladies so had attended some football before today.
The second held started with Spartans doing most of the attacking. Particularly when Dishington came on as a substitute around the hour mark. He linked well with Jordan Caddow on the right hand side and their pace caused problem for the LHTV defence. There was an amusing incident when the trialist substitute was fouled on the right hand touchline. Spartans played on but lost the ball and Caddow fouled a LTHV player resulting in a free-kick for the visitors. Bolo 'colourfully' questioned the referees decision not to award the earlier free-kick to Spartans. The referee informed him that he had awarded advantage but Spartans then lost the ball. Later Bolo went to ground following a collision in the LTHV penalty area. Again he questioned the referee's decision, in his own inimitablle manner, and was told that he fell and had not been fouled. I do think that in a competitive match Bolo would have been booked for persistent dissent. After around seventy-five minutes LHTV broke. The ball ended with Michael Mbewe on the left hand touchline who cut inside and towards the edge of the penalty area. evading a challenge he moved across the box and then fired a shot across the keeper into the net to give LTHV the lead. With five minutes left Spartans equalised. Caddow played a low ball into the penalty box. the ball was missed by the defenders and Spartans trialist centre forward (Ben Spelman ?). However it broke to the first trialist who shot low into the net from about fifteen yards for a deserved equaliser.
After the final whistle I walked home along the railway path arriving home around 16.40 after leaving the ground at 15.45. It felt great to have been back at football after so long away.
Spartans: Trialist, Caddow, Allan, Baur, Bolochoweckjy, Woods, Maxwell, Herd, Murrell, Jones, McCrory-Irving.
Subs: Dishington, Waugh, Trailist, Trailist.
Comments
Post a Comment