10th August 2022 The Spartans 0 R

 


A Wednesday night and another game at Ainslie Park with Spartans playing Rangers B in the SPFL trophy. I had done quite a bit of walking today so walked to Tollcross and caught a 27 bus to Ainslie Park. After getting off they bus I walked to Ainslie Oark but was surprised that my season ticket was not valid. The £5 admittance charge was not a major obstacle just merely annoying. After buying my £2 programme I walked up to the cafe bar for a pie and a glass of red wine. 

Spartans made few changes for the match Adam Meek replaced Blair Carswell in goal while Sean Brown, Rhys Armstrong and Calum Burns both came back into the starting line-up. Bradley Whyte, Jamie Dishington and Blair Henderson all dropped to the bench. Rangers brought Alex Lowry, who played a few firsts team games back into the starting line-up.

To be honest Rangers were the better side early on, although I hate saying that. After around ten minutes Zak Lovelace fed a through ball to Robbie Ure and only an excellent tackle from Mikey Herd prevented a goal. Spartans came more into the match and Gregor Woods and Sean Brown got into the Rangers penalty area before Leon King intercepted and cleared. Ross McCausland had a chance for Rangers around the half hour mark but shot over the crossbar. 

At the start of the second half Spartans Cammy Russell tried a shot from outside the Rangers penalty. Unfortunately the ball rebounded of the crossbar and out of play. Rangers then took control and Lowry showed how good a player he is. Firstly his corner was headed just over the bar by Mateusz Zukiwski before Meek made an excellent save from a free kick from just outside the penalty box. Lowry finally got his reward with about ten minutes to go. Lovelace was fouled just outside the penalty area. Lowry took the free kick and sent a shot into the top left hand corner of the net. At the match I thought the keeper could have done better but seeing a replay later on social media he had little chance of making a save. Spartans tried desperately for an equaliser but Rangers held out for the win. 

After the match I walked up to Ferry Road but yet again the 27 was not due for twelve minutes. I walked to Crewe Toll and caught a 37 to the West End then a 34 home arriving back at around 22.20. To be honest this was far from being the best match I have seen this season however the alternative would have been sitting at home watching Masterchef Australia so there was really no alternative !


Teams
Spartans: Meek, Herd, Allan, Burns, Tapping, Armstrong, Jones, McFarland, S. Brown, Woods, Russell.
Subs: A. Brown, Maxwell, Whyte, Dishington, Henderson

Rangers: Budinauckas, Devine, King, MacKinnon, Zukowski, McCann, Kelly, Lowry, Lovelace, McCausland , Ure.
Subs: Lindsey, Ritchie-Hosler

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

27th April 2024 The Spartans 2 Peterhead 2

Image
  I was not sure where to go today as I did not fancy going to Kilmarnock for the Hearts game. I final,y decided to head to Ainslie Park for Spartans SPFL match against. I walked to Tollcross to catch a 27 bus which was fine until we got to the Mound  where the police were stopping all traffic to allow a Gaza protest march to walk up the Mound and then done the High Street to the parliament building. After a fifteen minute delay the bus finally got moving again and I got off at Morrisons before walking down to the ground arriving at around 14.50. The cafe bare was just shut when I arrived so I took up a position against the fence at the bar end. Spartans were sitting in fourth place in SPFL League Two and were now guaranteed a sport in the end of season playoffs. There side was unchanged from last weeks win a Bonnyrigg. Under twenties players Josh Laing and Archie Wylie were included amongst the substitutes. Peterhead were now second in the league and also guaranteed a playoff spot. To
Read more

23rd March 2024 Musselburgh Athletic 1 Jeanfield Swifts 0

Image
  We  are on Saturday in the international break and I not sure where  to go today as choice either Penicuik v Glenrothes or Musselburgh v  Jeanfield. Given Penicuik have been awful this season I decided to head to Musselburgh. I walked down to Haymarket around 13.00 and caught a 26 bus to Musselburgh. Arrived there about 14.15 and walked the short distance to the ground. Paid my £5 admission bought a £2 programme. After a wander around the ground I met Jim and we took about a stance at the cafe end against the fence. It looked like being a goood game today with Musselburgh second on the EoS Premier League and Jeanfield third. Broxburn are however twelve points cleated at the top of the league and look Tati be champions at the end of the season. Musselburgh have probably the best three strikers in the league with Nathan Evans, Jordan Smith and recent signing Nicky Reid. Evans was not include in todays starting eleven due to injury while Smith was on the bench replaced by Jonnny Court.
Read more

27th January. 2024. Hearts 2 Aberdeen 0

Image
At last back to Tynecastle. After a spell of illness back to watch a home game for the first time since late November. I would have been back for the Dundee game on Tuesday but I fell out of bed overnight on Monday and was a mess of bruises so stayed at home. Today however I was feeling a lot better and left home to walk to Tynecastle. I arrived around 14.20 and scanned my season ticket for entry. Went to my seat in the Main Stand and it felt great to be back again. 2024 is 150 years since Hearts were founded and a special 150 year flag was raised on the pitch before the kickoff. The flag will be flown above the stand for the remainder of the year. The ceremony made me feel old as I remember being at the 100th anniversary match against Spurs in 1974. Steven Naismith starting lineup included both Dexter Lembikiska and Yutaro Oda who both came on as substitutes against Dundee and scored. Craig Halkett and Kenneth Vargas dropped to the bench to replace them Aberdeen under mamager Barry Ro
Read more