Spartans 0 – St Mungo’s 1

On a day hampered by severe weather conditions, Spartans failed to realise their potential by bowing out of the Scottish Cup at the last 64 stage. Over the last few seasons the last 64 (Round 5) has been a real stumbling block but expetcations this year were justifiably higher.

Spartans, playing with the wind on the FieldTurf in the first half never really got going – passing was poor, final ball not there and delivery from set pieces non existent. The home side were comfortably on top in a scrappy opening until an off the ball incident between Danny Forbes and the elbow of the St Mungo’s centre back descended the game to their level.

There were few incidents until St Mungos’ broke down the left flank – the ball seemingly out of play with the linesman’s flag up. The referee played on and a cut back from the left wing evaded Sutherland and Brown in goal and the St Mungo’s striker poked home.

It was all Spartans in the second half. Douglas replaced Mitchell and Zuk replaced Forbes but it was not to be Spartans day. St Mungo’s played a high defensive line and one up front happy to try and see out the game. Scott had a 30 yard effort comfortably held by the keeper as Spartans tried in vain in the monsoon conditions to win the game.

With less than 5 minutes to go a cross was wiped in from the left which cleared the centre back, Reid controlled and then unbelievably skied over the bar as the keeper threw himself at the striker’s feet. That was to be the last and if we are honest only real chance. Ona  day when goal mouth scrambles and cross balls fizzed across the box the final touch was not there.

The disappointment was evident as Spartans know that on another day a 5 or 6 goal win was a realistic possibilty in this tie and the team must now pick themselves up for next Saturday’s crucial East of Scotland Cup tie away at Plean.

Team: Brown, Burns, Sutherland, Steele, Rae, Moffat, Mitchell (Douglas), Scott, Bannon, Reid, Forbes (Zuk),

Subs not used: Boyes, Fleming, Harris,

Earlier this week coach Mark Lamb made two new signings – striker Mark Boyle from Cowdenbeath who had previously played with us at 19s and midfielder Martin Douglas who has played for a number of teams since playing for Strathclyde Uni.

COMPETITVE amateur football made a welcome return after the Festive Season break at Spartans Academy where the Edinburgh club’s 2^nd XI walloped Wishaw HSFP 6-1 in a fantastic Foster’s Central Scotland League clash – and there was not much sign of seasonal goodwill in this all-action game of football. This was a storming start to 2009 by the Spartans second team and the first half on the magnificent FieldTurf pitch was marked by four goals, two red cards – one for each team – and several players having to be treated for heavy knocks sustained in the no-holds-barred exchanges between these close rivals which also produced a penalty. Indeed, a couple of players had to be substituted in the first half, with Spartans excellent Polish goalie, David Paterek, having to be assisted off the park with a bad ankle injury, later confirmed as damage to his ligaments. He was replaced in the Spartans goal by Jim ‘I thought I had retired’ Kellacher. Spartans went at Wishaw with a vengeance from the kick-off and they went 1-0 up in the fifth minute with a great goal. Spartans won a free-kick away out on the right touchline and Jimmy Rae sent in a wonderful left-foot delivery in to the area in front of the Wishaw goal where Paul Sutherland beat the hesitant visitor’s defence to the ball and he sent a great header crashign past the brilliant Paul O’Hara in the Wishaw goal to put the home side 1-0 in front – and they deserved to be! That fantastic opening goal was followed by an off-the-ball incident that resulted in both Daniel Forbes (Spartans) and Ian McVey (Wishaw) being shown straight red cards – in the 12th minute! The pulsating pace of the game continued unabated, despite both sides being reduced to ten players each, and Spartans went 2-0 ahead in the 17^th minute with another brilliant goal from Sutherland – from an in swinging Rae corner on the right. Wishaw midfielder, Gary Miller, was outstanding in midfield for the visiting side but the former Hamilton Accies player and his team-mates went further behind in the 26^th minute when Sam Scott, coming in from the right, got to the byeline to lay the ball back for Gary Bannon to fire home Spartan’s third goal of the game. My God, it was an incredible opening session played like a cup final and there was no let up in the passion among the players as Wishaw managed to lift themselves back in to the game. Miller was involved in every good move by the visiting side and Spartans survived a scare when Bret Ansell fired over the bar from a good position. In the 35^th minute, Wishaw were awarded a penalty when Kevin Burnside was brought down in the box and it as Miller who thumped the spot-kick past Paterek to reduce the deficit to 3-1. The crunching tackles took their toll on the players, with many of them having prolonged treatment before they could continue. Paterek was outstanding when Wishaw attacked the Spartans goal and in another attack on the home goal, Ansell sent a raging shot just over the bar. Paterek went down heavily in his goalmouth and he was helped off the pitch with Kellacher taking over in the home goal. The sub goalie was in action straight away to save a shot from Steven Murdoch then Rae brought out a great save from O’Hara at the other end. It was still 3-1 at the half-way stage of a stunning game, brilliantly controlled by Ian Carson, from Denny. Spartans had to bring on another substitute shortly after a hectic restart then Jordan Steele brought down Allan Burnside in the penalty box, but the referee was right up with play and turned down the impassioned appeal for a penalty from the Wishaw No 9. Miller sent a wonderful ball over the Spartans defence to Kevin Burnside on the right, but his cross was cleared. Spartans back four were magnificent in repelling the Wishaw attacks and they were instrumental in turning the game back in favour of the home side. Spartans took control again of this relentless game of football and the hard-working Michael Moffat supplied the cross from the right that allowed Bannon to head the ball past O’Hara to put Spartans 4-1 in front. Lukasz Zuk, another of the Spartans subs, then took the ball round O’Hara in a good run, tried to backheel the ball back to a colleague, but the danger was cleared. The confidence of the home players was illustrated in several brilliant one-touch passing moves and it was the inspired Bannon, again, who set up Andy Mitchell to score a great goal to put Spartans even further ahead at 5-1 in the 78^th minute. There was an amazing incident in the home goal when Rae actually cleared the ball with his right foot, something almost unheard of in the Spartans club! Before the end, Spartans scored the goal of the game when Zuk ran at the Wishaw defence, lost the ball then regained it with determined play, to make space for himself before lashing a great left-foot drive past O’Hara just inside the left-hand post. That superb goal brought this amazing game to a finish and the final scoreline of 6-1 in favour of Spartans brought the curtain down on a very entertaining and incident-packed game that finished with the floodlights on at this magnificent football facility in Ainslie Park. Spartans coach, Mark Lamb, while stating his delight at the way his side had played, added: “My main concern is the injury to David Paterek. He is a very good goalkeeper and we really need him for our home Scottish Amateur Cup this Saturday on the grass pitches at Peffermill against St Mungo’s FP. We will do everything possible to get him fit for this important game!” Spartans 2^nd XI – David Peterek, Mark Burns, Jimmy Rae, Jordan Steele, Paul Sutherland, Sam Scott, Michael Moffat, Gary Bannon, Daniel Forbes, Andrew Mitchell, Adam Perry, Keith Boyes, James Kellacher, David Cran, Alisatair Fleming, Lukasz Zuk. Wishaw HSFP – Paul O’Hara, Scott McLaughlin, Ian McVey, William Montgomery, Greg Fairbairn, Steven Murdoch, Kevin Burnside, Bret Ansell, Allan Burnside, Gary Miller, David McCluskey, Mark Jamieson, Jim McSkimming, Gary Millar, Allan Littlejohn. Referee – Ian Carson (Denny).