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 be honest I knew little about their lineup although I recognised Peter Pawlet and Rory McAllister who have both played at higher levels.
Spartans had most of the early possession and Cammy Russell can close after a run down the left, his shit as he cut into the penalty area however hit the side netting. Marc McNulty them charged down a clearance from Peterhead keeper Stuart McKenzie. McKenzie however recovered well to block the strikers shot and prevent his embarrassment. Peterhead however received well to take the lead in twenty-eight minutes. Alfie Stewart and Caleb Goldie worked the ball down the right and Stewart’s low ball across the penalty found Hamish Ritchie. His low shot flaw past the diving Blair Carswell and into the net. Spartans equalised when a low ball founded Russell on the edge of the penalty box in the centre of goal. I thought he mishit his shot but the ball bounced into the net with the aid of a slight deflection off a defender. Spartans should gone ahead just before halftime when a shot from Russell was deflected away from goal by McKenzie’s save. The rebound landed at Blair Henderson feet on the edge of the six yard box but the striker seemed to catch the ball under his feet and his attempt went past the post.
Spartans were forced into an early second half change with Danny Denholm replacing Jamie Dishington who was injured in a tackle. Spartans went ahead with another Russell goal. His initial thirty yard free kick was cleared away by a defender under a challenge by Paul Watson. The clearance fell to Russell just on the edge of the penalty area in the centre of the goal. His first time shot flew into the back of the net giving McKenzie no chance. Rory McAllister had the ball in the Spartans net shortly afterwards. However, rightly in my opinion, the assistant referee flagged for offside. As the match moved deep into injury time Peterhead equalised. Mcallisters pass to Rob Ward was deflected of Kieran Watson to Rob Ward. His mishit shot was deflected intoto the net of Watson for an own goal.
After the final whistle I walked along the railway path towards Crewe Toll. I caught a 37 bus to Princes Street and the a 1 home after a good day out.
Teams
The Spartans: Carswell, K. Watson, Booth, Sonker, P. Watson., Armstrong, Dishington, McNulty, Henderson, Whyte. Russell.
Subs; Denholm, Jones, S. Brown, Thompson
Peterhead; McKenzie, Goldie, Jason Brown, Ritchie, McCarthyism, Jack Brown, Ross, Paulette, Stewart, Duffy, O’Keefe.
Subs: McAllister,Jordon Brown. Strachan, Ward, McKee
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