15th January 2022 The Spartans 8 Vale of Leithen 0
Covid regulations still in force and maximum crowds of 500 at outdoor events until Monday. I did think about going to Penicuik v Tranent but that was all ticket and not available via Fanbase. I then decided to use my Spartans season ticket and watch their Lowland League match against Vale of Leithen. I left home at 13.30 walked to Ainslie Park along the old railway path. After an hours walk I arrived at Ainslie Park and showed my season ticket for admission. I paid £2 for a programme and a team sheet and took up a stance against the fence at the Ferry Road end of the ground. I saw Stuart on the cafe balcony and waved to him as he was doing the tannoy duty today.
Today was a top v bottom clash in the Lowland League. Spartans are currently fourth on goal difference although level on points with both Rangers B and Celtic B. Vale however have had a disastrous season with their first win a Bo'ness coming in December. They are currently bottom on the table with four points from twenty-four games and look like certainties for relegation. Spartans were still missing long term absentees Aaron Murrell and Mikey Allen while Ian McFarland was ruled out due to a positive Covid test. Sam Newman, normally a winger, filled Allen's left back slot while Euan Smith moved ford into misfield to replace McFarland. Vale had new manager Grant Sandison in charge having moved from Penicuik U20s to take charge late last year. He has signed Jack Furness and Chris Finnie from his previous club and both were included in the match day squad. Former Spartans keeper Chris Peden has been out injured recently but was included today as substitute keeper.
Spartans started the game well and Scott Maxwell had sot cleared of the line by Vales Andrew Mackay before Spartans took the lead in nineteen minutes. Jamie Dishington sent in a high cross from the right and Blair Henderson jumped well to head past Kyle Wilson in the Vale goal from about eight yards. Minutes later Spartans went further ahead from what I can only describe as a soft penalty. Cammy Rusell cut inside from the left and appeared to loose his footing in the penalty area with the referee awarding penalty. I was standing alongside Ryan Finnie’s dad and he was amazed as me at the award. Henderson made no mistake from the spot sending the ball into the left hand corner of the net as Wilson dived to the right. Russell then scored himself before the half hour mark. He chased back after the ball was cleared to Vales Trialist right-back. Russell won the ball around thirty yards from goal and headed back towards the penalty area. as he reached the box he shot low across Wilson into the far corner to give Spartans a three goal advantage. The fourth arrived minutes later when a header from Dishington was blocked by Wilson. The ball fell to Maxwell and he shot home from about eight yards. Henderson scored his hat-trick goal just before the halftime whistle when he headed home an excellent cross from Russell from about eight yards. Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal had been almost a spectator in the first half with the only moment of danger being when he had to clear a passback with Mark Deya closing him down. Vale managed to force a corner but Carswell left his line well to take the ball from the kick without any challenge by Vale.
Ryan Finnie dad decided at halftime he was going home as he felt that the second half would be a procession of Spartans attacks. Vale took off their two Trialists at halftime and replaced them with signed players. I felt a bit sorry for the trialists who had been placed in a difficult situation against good opponents. I moved down to the Pilton end of the ground and took up seat in the stand near the goal Spartans would be attacking. It did not take long for another goal as Spartans scored seven minutes into the second half. Russell had another run down the left and cut into the penalty area.his shot was blocked by Wilson but rebounded to Henderson who shot home his fourth goal from the centre of the penalty box. Being 6-0 ahead Spartans eased off for a while although Vale could not make any chances to score. With twenty minutes to go Spartans brought on a Trialist, Gregor Woods and Callum Burns for Mikey Herd, Sam Jones and Maxwell. This seemed to invigorate the team and a more positive attitude became apparent. With about fifteen minutes to go Spartans scored again. Russel who had caused Vale problems all day had another run towards goal. He was fouled about twenty five yards out on the left hand side of the penalty box. Dishington took the free kick and fired an excellent shot beyond the defensive walk into the left hand corner of the net giving pg Wilson no chance of making a save. The final goal came with about five minutes left. Russel took the ball in his own half and set off towards the Calw goal. Defenders could not catch him and when he got into the penalty area he shot low past Wilson into the far corner of the net. Shortly after the referee blew the final whistle after a convincing victory for Spartans. I was slightly disappointed that Henderson did not get a fifth goal as I have never been at a game where a player has scored five goals. The final goal arrived late in the game and again Russel was involved. He gathered the ball just inside his own half and set of towards the ale goal. He arrived in the left side of the penalty area with Vale defenders chasing. From around fifteen yards he shop across Wilson into the far corner for the eighth goal.Surprisingly despite Henderson scoring four goals he was not adjudged Man of the Match with the award going to Russel who had played really well throughout the match.
After the final whistle I headed up to Ferry Road to catch a bus home. As bus was not due I walked along towards Crewe Toll and caught a 27 there arriving home around 17.40.
The Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Russell, Waugh, Finnie, Newman, Dishington, Smith, Henderson, Jones, Maxwell.
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