22nd January 2022. The Spartans 4 Civil Service Strollers 2

 

It is Scottish Cup today and SPL sides now enter the competition. Hearts are away to Auchinleck Talbot and given the previous twice they have played Talbot in the Cup they have reached the final I was tempted to go. However as the match was being televised kickoff was 12.30. To get to Auchinleck by train I would have need to go to Glasgow and change for another train to get to the ground. After the game the first train back to Glasgow was not until 16.00 and I did not really fancy hanging about in Auchinleck for two hours after the game. Reluctantly I decided not to go and and stayed at home to watch on BBC. With twenty minutes to go Hearts were 3-0 ahead and I decided to switch off and head to Ainslie Park to watch Spartans. I walked to Tollcross but next bus to Ainslie Park was not for twenty minutes which would mean I would miss the kick-off. I then walked down to the West End and caught a 19 bus outside Mathers Bar. This took me to Crewe Toll and I walked along the railway path, arriving at Ainslie Park around 14.40. I entered the ground showing my season ticket and bought a programme. The programme was the one that had been printed for the original game on 2nd January with an updated insert for the managers comments and also the correct answers for the quiz. The wrong answers had been shown in the original programme. I met Stuart at the entrance and we had a chat before I headed to take up a stance against the fence at the Ferry Road end of the ground. By this time the Hearts game had finished and I found out I had missed the last two goals in their 5-0 victory. 

Todays match looked like been close with Spartans third in the table and Civil Service sixth. Spartans have made a couple of new signings recently with Alan Smith arriving from Edinburgh City after his contract expired while midfielder Bradley Whyte has joined from Musselburgh Athletic. As part of the Whyte deal Spartans Gregor Woods has moved to Musselburgh for the rest of the season on loan. Keeper Blair Carswell had to pull out due to injury and was replaced by  Mikolaj Komocki, while Whyte started in midfield with Smith on the bench, CSS under former Edinburgh City manager Gary Jardine have been punching above their weight this season. Despite probably having a smaller budget than most sides in the Lowland League they have put together an attractive young side who have surprised a number of people.with the aid of loanees they are now sixth in the table and in no danger of relegation.  Jack Brydon has returned to Hibs at the end of his loan deal and has now moved to Edinburgh City on loan till the end of the season. Jayden Fairley however remains with CSS on loan. Strikers Ricky Cole and Joao Balde have been on trial with SPFL clubs and are a threat up front.

Spartans has an early chance when Blair Henderson spotted CSS keeper of this goal line. From about thirty five yards he tried to chip the keeper burst the ball flew just over the bar. However Spartans went ahead in fourteen minutes. A corner was cleared out to the left and Ryan Finnie gathered the ball. He turned his his opponent and sent a low cross to the edge of the penalty area. Sam Jones took a touch and shot past Whyte to give Spartans the lead. Spartans went two up ten minutes later. A long kick out from Komocki was chased by Jamie Dishington. He muscled the ball away from CSS centre back Mark McConnell and ran into the penalty box. From just inside the area he shot past Whyte to put Spartans two up. Two minutes later CSS pulled a goal back. Daniel Irving broke down the right and sent a cross to the far post for Joao Balde to head home. CSS then equalised just before halftime. A free kick was awarded around twenty five yards out and the Spartans wall jumped as the kick was taken. The ball took a defection and Komocki could only push the ball out to the feet Alieu Faye who shot home from close range.

At halftime I was so cold I had to get a coffee before heading down to the Pilton end of the ground for the second half. Alan was sitting in the stand and I had a quick chat with him before going to the embankment near the goals. Spartans started the second half well and Henderson forced a good save from Whyte before Dishington scored again. The goal was similar to his first as he chased a long ball from Ryan Finnie. This time he beat Mark McConnell to the ball before running into the box and finishing well past Whyte. Dishington then had two attempts to get his hat trick. Firstly he dived to meet a Cammy Russel cross but was just short of meeting the ball to head home at the far post. He then just failed to connect with a clearance after a Henderson effort was cleared off the CSS goal line by a defender. Spartans scored a fourth after eight minutes. Dishington was again involved, breaking down the right before he pulled the ball back to Spartans Whyte who shot home from just inside the penalty area. Whyte was then replaced by Alan Smith to give him a first appearance as a signed Spartans player. CSS substitute and former Hearts Leeroy Malkovora was injured in the build to the goal and had to be helped off the pitch with what appear to be a hamstring issue. 

After the final whistle I headed up to Ferry Road and a 27 bus was due in two minutes. I could see t sitting at the previous stop but it must have been early as a 21 came fir before the 27 arrived. I took the bus to Leamington Terrace and was home around 17.45 after watching an excellent game.

Teams

Spartans: Komocki, Herd, Maxwell, Waugh, Finnie, Whyte, Dishington, E. Smith, Henderson, Jones, Russell.

Subs: A. Smith, Burns

Civil Service Strollers: Whyte, Irving, Valentine, McConnell, Shaw, Duffy, Clapperton, Fairley, Faye, Balde, Cole.

Subs: Makavora