Eastfield AFC 2- Spartans 3

Spartans made hard workof a stubborn and determined Eastfield side in Cumbernauld yesterday. The game should have been over as a contest within half and hour as Spartans dominated the first half on a very difficult pitch. Spartans started brightly and kept with the bulk of the starting line up from last week’s disappointing defeat. Jim Rae came back after a week out and the team shaped up with a more familiar 4-4-2. The win has put Spartans top with a maximum 18 points from 6 games with games in hand on closest rivals.

Spartans had a number of half chances to open the scoring before a well worked free kick set up Danny Forbes to slam home from 8 yards – the young striker’s seventh of a very impressive debut season. Spartans had a number of chances to increase the lead as Burns and Mitchell controlled the midfield and Boyes got numerous crosses in from the left hand side. Michael Moffat could only hit the keeper’s legs when through on goal and Forbes, after a flowing team move smashed a shot from the edge of the box against the bar. Gary ‘shoots like a  cannon’ Bannon displayed his normal prowess in the box with a lame left foot effort from an excellent ball into the box. Eastfield’s only notable chance was a header from a long throw.

Manager Lamb was disappointed at half time to only hold a slender advantage and it wasn’t long before Bannon made it 2-0 with a goal of such quality that I can’t remember it, but it is his third goal in 4 games. As Lamb prepared to freshen things up Eastfield sprung to life and replied almost immediately with a long ball that the back four failed to deal with. Eastfield took the game to Spartans in the second half and challenges flew in which the referee failed to deal with.

Sam Scott was brought on to shore up the midfield following a lengthy lay off after knee surgery and was soon back to his usual driving runs and crunching challenges. Having Sam back to fitness will be a big boost to the team both on and off the field. Nick Reid then also returned following injury replacing Forbes who had another good game. A well placed slide pass caught out Jim Rae who despite turning marginally quicker than the Larne ferry, couldn’t prevent an excellent cut back for the Eastfield strker to equalise the game.

Lukas Zuk was quickly intorduced and Spartans piled on the pressure with another couple half chances going begging. The turning point came when a Jim Rae rocket was sent goalwards which the Eastfield centre back decided to cushion down with his ‘Davina McCalls’ – a mistake the big man will never make again! With only 10 minutes left a long Rae free kick was flicked on by Reid which Moffat and Zuk chased into the box - Zuk got in ahead of Moffat and squeezed a shot in off the post. Rather than sit back Spartans went in search of the killer goal and should have had it after Moffat was brought down in the box but the ref waived play on much to the bemusement of every player and the Eastfield keeper.  

Overall, a poor performance in a game that should have been over long before the half time whistle. The only plus points being the return of a few injured players.

Team: Paterek, Young, Rae, Sutherland, Steele, Bannon (Zuk), Mitchell (Scott), Burns, Boyes, Forbes (Reid), Moffat.

Sun not used: Perry