21st October 2023 The Spartans 2 Dumbarton



First Match for a few weeks after the international break and a bout of illness. The weather has been awful over the past few days and with heavy rain this morning Ibwas considering staying at home but the rain stopped by lunchtime and I decided to head to Ainslie Park to watch Spartans v Dumbarton in the SPFL. I left home around 13.35 and walked to Lauriston to catch a 27 to Ainslie Park.at Hanoverian Street five guys got on who turned out to be Dumbarton fans. They were not sure how to get to the ground when I was chatting so I told them I was going to the match and to follow me to the ground. On arrival at Ainslie park I got in for £5. The usual admission price for concessions is £10 but they had a half price admission today for season ticket holders at Hearts, Hibs, Edinburgh  Cory and Cuvil Service Strollers so I saved £5. I bought a £3 programme on entry and took up a stance on the perimeter fence at the cafe end of the ground. I had been texting Jim this morning and said I would not be going as the weather was awful. However he saw me and joined me at the perimeter fence. 

Spartans currently stand fourth in League 2 with Dumbarton second so a win for the home side today would put them level of points with their opponents. Depending on the score they could go above them on goal difference. Spartans regular keeper Blair Carswell is currently injured sonJacques Heraghty, on loan from Queens Park, continued in goal. Jamie Dishington misssed last weeks game at Stranraer due to injury but was fit enough to return on the bench with Danny Denholm continuing in the starting eleven. As for Dumbarton I knew little about the side. Ryan Wallace I know was a Hearts youth player and James Hilton was at Edinburgh City for a short spell. 

Dumbarton came out in their change strip of navy blue with pink flashes, see photo from Dumbarton website. I may be a  misogynist but while Barbie can wear pink I do not think pink is appropriate for a professional football club. This comment always applies to Hearts current pink away top. Spartans had an early chance when Blair Henderson headed a d=ball down to Sammy Russell on the left hand side of the penalty box. Dumbarton keeper Long did well to get down and block the shot at his near post. Dumbarton then came into the game and had plenty of possession but were unable to create any clear chances. However just before halftime Matt Shiels tried a shot from the left and Heraghty did well to get down at his near post and turn the ball away for a corner. 

Denholm did well at the start of the second half when he turned well in the penalty bx but his shot flew past the far post. Spartans md a change after sixty minutes withDishington replacing Denholm on the right. Four minutes later Spartans took the lead after a run by Dishington down the right. He knocked the ball across goal to Russell just iisde the penalty box. The striker took a touch before shooting low in the net. Dishington was fouled minutes later just outside the penalty area on the right. Russell took the free-kick and his shot hit the crossbar before being cleared. Spartans doubled their lead after eighty-three minutes and again Russell and Dishington were involved. Russell won the ball in his own half and sent a long pass out to Dishington on the right. From the edge of the penalty area Dishington sent a low ball across the box for Bradley Whyte to shoot home. Just before the end of the match Spartans replaced Henderson with Paul Watson. Watson signed for Spartans back in August after a long career including stints with Livingston, Raith and Dundee noted among others but was only snowmaking his Spartans debut after injury problems.

On the final whistle Jim and I headed out of the ground. We parted company outside the leisure centre and I headed up to Ferry Road. Again there was going to be  along wait for a 27 bus ao I walked to Crewe Toll and caught a 19 switching to a 34 at the West End arriving home around 17.30. As I was wanting to watch the Rugby World Cup at 20.00 I did not think to ask if I could watch the EPL match n Sky so settled down with a book.


Teams
The Spartans: Heraghty, Tapping, Allan, Waugh, Sonkur, Whyte, Denholm, Craigan, Henderson, Armstrong, Russell.
Subs; Dishington, Morrison, P. Watson

Dumbarton: Lomg, Ougnatiello, Shiels, Malcolm, Durban, Crichton, Orsi, Wilson, R. Wallace, Ruth, T. Wallace
Subs: Hilton, McLean, Gray, Lynas, Byrne

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