Spartans return to league duty tomorrow in Cumbernauld after a run of various cup games and are looking to bounce back from a disappointing Cinema Cup defeat last weekend.

Spartans play Eastfield at Ravenswood in Cumbernauld and a win could put the 2′s back at the top of the league with a number of games in hand. Eastfield are a team that could provide a stern test following their recent arrival to the Central Scottish AFL. After an impressive debut season, Eastfield also reached the final of the West of Scotland cup losing to Central Premier champions Drumchapel Amateurs.

The squad from last saturday has been boosted by the return of veteran Jim Rae and Nick Reid could also feature following his recent injury. Adam Perry has not trained all week and Lucas Zuk resorted to swimming rather than training on Tuesday as the big Pole struggles with the Scottish winter.

Manager Lamb returns following his second holiday of the year during the playing season – a statistic higher than any of the players and one that will be closely monitored. Lamb, sporting an impressive tan from his most recent holiday returns to the dug out and hopes to continue with Spartans impressive early league form.

Spartans 1 – St Pats 2

Spartans lost only their second game of the season to a strong St Pats side at a blustery Peffermill yesterday. In a game that Spartans have been looking forward to for a number of weeks, too many players did not perform.

The referee set the tone for the game booking Andy Mitchell after only 30 seconds for shouting in his ear! Spartans had the wind in the first half but failed to take any worthwhile advantage. In a very uneventful first half it took until the 38th minute for Spartans to take a well deserved lead. A kind bounce found Gary Bannon 25 yards out, who carried the ball to edge of the box to dispatch a left foot drive low into the corner of the net. The St Pats keeper managed to get a hand to the shot but it was not enough to keep theball out. Bannon more than making up for his powder puff left foot effort the previous week.

St Pats came out much the stronger side in the econd half and with the wind dominated he game. Steele thought he was a silky ball player and tried to take on the St Pats striker and lost the ball. The St Pats striker strolled in on goal but could not find a way past the excellent Paterek in goal. St Pats scored two quick goals to take the lead. The first a long ball over the top and their midfielder rifled a fine dive past Paterek. The same player gave St Pats the lead when he was unmarked in the box and slammed another fine strike into the same corner of the net.

Paterek pulled off a superb one handed save minutes later from a long range free kick to keep Spartans in the game. A glimmer of hope came with when Danny Forbes chested down and cross and hit and excellent volley just over the ball in Spartans only real chance of the second half.

Overall, a poor display by Spartans with St Pats the deserved winners. This is the second time Spartans have faced quality opposition this season and have come up short both times. The test will be how they bounce back next week.

Team: Paterek, Young, Hoskins, Sutherland, Steele, Bannon, Mitchell (Zuk), Burns, Boyes, Forbes (Harris), Moffat. Subs not used: Perry, Scott, Fleming

MOM: Paterek