Archive for February, 2009
« Previous EntriesWinning all the way
Saturday, February 28th, 2009 Three wins for our three teams today.The 1st XI recorded a comfortable 2 – 0 win at Peffermill against Edinburgh University today. Nicky Walker opened the scoring in the third minute when put through but Donal Henretty. Keith McLeod then scored from the spot in the 20th minute after Omar Kader was tripped. We played well in the first half but the Uni were much stronger in the second half and we created fewer chances. With Whitehill and Dalbeattie shring the points it gave us the chance to close the gap at the top of the league. Team: Flockhart, Archibald, Gerrard, Fowlie, Kader (Preston 67), King (Hair 80), Malin, Henretty, McLeod (Etale 80), Walker, O’Donnel Subs not used: Hoskins, Opilka
Nicky - top scorer
The 2nd XI made it nine wins out of nine at the top of the league. Keith Boyes opened the scoring from the left back position before Nick Reid notched a brace, one from the spot. Not a great performance but another three points. Team: Paterek, Young, Boyes, Steele, Burns, Mitchell (Bunyon), Scott (Cartwright), Bannon, Moffat, Reid, Perry (Zuk) Subs not used: Sutherland, Harris.
Keith - 4th of the season
The 3rd XI won 3 – 0 in the fourth round of the Logan Cup with second half goals from Finlay Clark, Gareth Rigby and an excellent volley from Steve Malin. The game was petering out when Ross Hutchison put over a pinpoint cross from the right and Steve cut in from his wide left position to bullet a volley into the top corner.
Steve - volley
2nd XI in top of the table clash
Saturday, February 28th, 2009 The 2nd XI entertain second place Elderslie at the Academy today with a 2.30pm kick off. Manager Mark Lamb is missing Jim Rae through work commitments and Martin Douglas injured his ribs at training on Tuesday. There is however a very welcome return for Steven Bunyon who was injured in pre season. Steven aslo missed most of the last season when with the 19s but is back fully fit and will feature at some point today. Richard Harris and Iain Cartwright also return. The squad is Paterek, Young, Sutherland, Steele, Bunyon, Boyes, Mitchell, Scott, Bannon, Moffat, Cartwright, Zuk, Reid, Perry, Burns, Harris.
Steve - welcome return
The 3rd XI have a Logan Cup game at home to Seaforth Highlanders with a 2pm ko at peffermill.
Back in league action
Thursday, February 26th, 2009 we will look to continue our good form this weekend as we travel to Peffermill to play Edinburgh University. Edinburgh Uni are one of the best organised teams in the East of Scotland leagues and despite losing players last summer have had a strong season. Having played 12 league games this season and only conceded 11 goals, they have the best defensive ratio in the premier division.Robbie Manson will be unavailable after his red card against Preston last weekend. Darryl Devlin missed out through injury and there will be late fitness tests for Alex King and Stewart Fowlie who could start is 200th game for the club. New signing David Etale should make his debut in the squad and we hope Michal Opilka will have signed by the weekend.
Manager Mike Lawson has been pleased with recent performances despite struggling against Preston last week.
“We have been playing well in both official and unofficial games over the last few weeks and looked to be on course for another excellent performance and result last Saturday. That was before Robbie was unfortunate to be sent off. Preston are a good side and going down to 10 men was always going to slow down our momentum and that’s how it turned out. At the end of the day we were thankful for the 3 points”
The match against Edinburgh University kicks off at 14:30pm
Mike Lawson hoping for three points this weekend
Womens Scottish Cup and the Scotland Womens Squad
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
Hayley
Jo
We’ve drawn current holders Hibernian in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup to be played on March 22nd at home. We’ve already beaten them in the league and in the semi final of the League Cup but they were two very close games.
The Scotland Womens team have announced a squad of 18 for next weeks tour of Cyprus and games against England, France and South Africa. Jo Hutchison is the sole Spartans representative. Celtic, Glasgow City and Hibernian all have at least three players in the squad. Perhaps we can use this as a spur to win the league against these close rivals. The Scotland 19s are also on tour, coached by Spartans manager Shelley Kerr, and Hayley Lauder is in the squad for games at La Manga against Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Scottish Cup win for Womens 1st XI
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 A comfortable 4 – 1 win over Forfar away today in round 3 of the Scottish Cup. Forfar did take the lead however we had gone 2 – 1 ahead at half time. Not our best performance but through to the 4th round. Our scorers were Di Barry 2, Debbie McWinnie and Julie Melrose.
Di - another two goals
Cash for Penalties
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 At the unearthly hour of 9am this morning our Under 11s and 12s held a penalty kick competition at the Academy to raise funds for their Easter trip to a tourney in Blackpool. Hearts legend Henry Smith was in the sticks, alternating with Steve Banks, the GK coach at Hearts. The boys raised nearly £2000, a fantastic effort.
Steve Banks with a couple of our youngsters
Spartans “sprinkle their magic dust” to reach East semi
Saturday, February 21st, 2009 Stenhousemuir 2 – Spartans 6Bathroom Planet East of Scotland Quarter Final
Gary 'the Cannon' - goal subject to dubious goal's panel scrutiny
Spartans reached the last four of the bathroom Planet East of Scotland Cup with a convincing win over the much fancied Stenhousemuir in front of a vociferous local support. The tie of the round didn’t live up to the billing of a free flowing football purist’s dream, however, Spartans demonstrated their ability with a battling and clinical performance.
Excellent hat-trick and fine display
With Spartans in complete control the Stenny players resorted to a more physical approached demanded by their large support. One supporter managed to put down his can of Special Brew and through his remaining tooth appealled to the home team to “break some legs!” Perry’s hatrick (again subject to the dubious panel!) was soon to arrive from a freekick awarded for a cruel challenge on Lammy’s Boy (Moffat). Perry nipped in to head home from Rae’s inswinger to spark further scenes of jubilation.
Lammy’s Boy was then to feel the full effects of “the Mad Monk” when the Stenny keeper decided it would be a good idea to ‘tackle’ him just shy of the half way line. In a scene more likely to be seen in American Football the big keeper got up to protest his innocence. The ref did well to issue a second yellow in front of the baying mob. Bannon was then delighted to be switched to play in front of the mob asTthe Corporal wanted to protect his boy from further retribution.
Man of the Match: Joe Steele – defender capped another fine display with 2 goals.2nd XI record impressive win
Saturday, February 21st, 2009 The 2nd XI beat Stenhousemuir 6 – 2 today in the East of Scotland Cup quarter-final (full match report on 2nd XI section). Unbeaten so far this season Stenhousemuir were very confident going into the tie but a second half barrage from Spartans took us through to our first East semi since 2001. Stenhousemuir had most of the play in the first half and scored first from close range after 30 minutes. Two goals in two minues from us just before half time put a different complexion on the game. Firstly Joe Steele netted from 6 yards after their ‘keeper flapped at a cross. The second was the goal of the game – a superb run and cross from Michael Moffat was headed home by Adam Perry. Just on half time Stenhousemuir equalised. Jim Rae had conceded a soft free kick in a wide position and it was finsihed off with a near post header.Spartans opened the second half on fire and three goals in 15 minutes finished the tie. Gary Bannon’s cross ended up in the net taking a wicked deflection before two goals from Adam perry. The first was when he ran thriough and rounded their ‘keeper. The second a flicked header from a Jim Rae corner. Our set pieces were dangerous and Jordan Steele completed the scoring when he nodded home a Keith Boyes corner.
The Stenhousemuir ‘keeper completed a bad day with a red card after he took out Michael Moffat with a high and dangerous tackle.
Adam - up to 14 for the season
The Rick Shaws Manza of the Match going to Jordan Steele – immense at the back and scoring the vital first goal.
Team: Paterek, Burns, Rae (Young 82), Steele, Sutherland, Moffat, Scott (Douglas 71), Reid (Zuk 69), Boyes, Perry, Bannon Subs not used: Mitchell, Graham
The semi final will be against Boness Ams who won their quarter final today.
The 3s were in league action earlier today, unfortunately they went down 4 – 0 to Redhall Star.
3 points for Spartans against a tough Preston side
Saturday, February 21st, 2009 10 man Spartans defeated Preston Athletic this afternoon to leapfrog them into third place in the league. A first half penalty from Keith Mcleod and a close range goal from Gavin Malin were enough to see Spartans go into half time with a two goal advantage, however they also went in with 10 men after Robbie Manson was sent off after 35 minutes in what was a very tough game.Despite playing with less men Spartans had chances to extend their lead in a very even second half. Preston ensured there was a tense end to the game scoring in the final ten minutes. The hard working Spartans side managed to hang on though for a well deserved victory.
Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Malin, Archibald, Gerrard, Kader, King, Manson, Walker, McLeod (Preston), Henretty
Att: 146
1st XI New Signing
Saturday, February 21st, 2009 Michal Opilka, a Polish central defender, who has been training with us over the last month has now been given international clearance and will sign for Spartans next week. Michal played in the Polish 3rd Division with Legia Chelmza and before that with Elana Torun. Co-manager Mike Lawson is delighted, “we have played this season with a strong but small squad but with Michal and David Etale now both cleared to play for us it strengthens us just at the right time. We will need everyone when we start playing two or three games a week. Michal is young, tall, strong and fast and has played well in a couple of bounce games over the last two weeks. Over the last couple of seasons we have had a couple of Poles in the 2nd XI and they have fitted in very well and really enjoy the club. We’re sure Michal will do also.”
michal - cleared to sign