19th February 2022 The Spartans 0 East Kilbride 3

 

I had intended going to Penicuik today for their East of Scotland League match against Broxburn. However the storms during the week and the fact that Penicuik seems to exist in a different climate zone to the rest of the East of Scotland made it unlikely the match would go ahead. The postponement  was confirmed on Friday night. I did think about going to Bonnyrigg v Bo'ness but thought it would also be off. I was wrong about Bonnyrigg being postponed but had decided to go to Spartans for the second v fifth Lowland league clash against East Kilbride. I left home at 13.25 and walked to Ainslie Park along the old railway pathway. I arrived at the ground at 14.20 and showed my season ticket for entry. I purchased a programme and a half-time draw ticket before taking top a position against the touchline fence at the cafe end of the ground. 

Spartans are currently second in the Lowland League but have several players unavailable for todays match. Miss due to either illness, injury or family reasons were Blair Carswell, Michael Herd. Mikey Allan, Euan Smith, Jamie Dishington, Ian McFarland, Blair Atkinson, Alan Brown Brown and Aaron Murrell. Jack Newman. Has returned on loan from Dundee United to cover for Carswell. The side also included Calum Burns, Ryan Finnie, Bradley Whyte and Alan Smith all of whom have yet to reach double figures in appearances for Spartans. Cammy Russell was fit  enough to return to the side against one of his previous clubs.  East Kilbride, under manager Chris Aitken, are like Spartans previous winners of the Lowland League.. Aitken who made nearly 400 appearances in the SPFL is assisted as first team coach by former Rangers and Scotland player Ian Durrant. Aitken was previously assistant manager to his brother Stephen and succeeded him when Stephen left early in the season. The side are currently fifth in the league team. A number of players have SPFL experience including Conor Brennan, Chris Millar, Jamie Stevenson and Steven Saunders. Striker Lee Miller, who played briefly for Hearts in a loan spell from Bristol City, is also an East Kilbride player but was not in todays match squad.

The match started badly for Spartans with East Kilbride (EK) in total control early on. Spartans had probably two or three touches in the first five minutes which generally involved putting the ball out of ball. EK went ahead in six minutes when the ball for Joao Victoria just inside the Spartans half. The forward headed for goal and  as he reached the penalty area passed the ball to his right into the box. Cammy Elliott ran onto the ball and slipped it past Newman into the net from about fifteen yards. Shortly afterwards Spartans Ryan Finnie was booked for complaining about a thrown in awarded to EK. I cannot understand players getting booked so early in a game for this type of offence especially for defenders. EK then lost Millar to injury shortly after but continued to dominate. The second goal came around the thirty minute mark. Elliott broke down the right and cut the ball back to Danny McMullen. The winger cut inside to the edge of the penalty box and sent a low shot past Newman into the left hand corner of his goal. Cammy Russell’s free-kick after being upended 25 yards out was inches away as Spartans tried to get a goal back. The striker then had the post denying him after a fantastic Sam Jones run that opened up an opportunity, only for the ball to hit the base of the woodwork. Just before halftime EK scored a third goal. The ball was worked down the left and crossed into the penalty area by Ross Taylor, from where I was standing it looked like an own goal of a defender, but EK website credited the goal to Taylor in only his second first team start, 

The second half was a bit of a non event with EK well up in control of the game. Spartans had more of the possession but never looked to trouble the EK goal. Russell had the best attempt with a shot from the edge of the box which Brennan pushed away to safety. Spartans were missing Jamie Dishington who gives so much in an attacking sense. With there being little likelihood of a Spartans comeback manager Dougie Samuel used his substitutions to give members of the U20 squad a taste of first team football. Mackenzie Scott certainly made a mark with a challenge on the back of EKs Stevenson. The striker was probably lucky to escape a booking for the challenge. 

After the final whistle I walked up to Ferry Road and for probably the first time this season a 27 bus was due within three minutes. I caught this and was home just after five thirty to watch Manchester City v Spurs on Sky. An excellent game with Harry Kane being MOTM with big two goals, an assist and another goal disallow ped following a VAR review.

Teams

The Spartans: J. Newman, Burns, S. Newman, Waugh, Finnie, Whyte, Smith, Jones, Henderson, Russell, Maxwell.

Subs: Caves, Inglis, Scott.

East Kilbride: Brennan, Stevenson, Taylor, Old, McDonald, Millar, McManus, N. McLaughin, Elliott, Watt, Victoria.

Subs: R. McLaughlin, McAninch, Stainrod.