Archive for March, 2009
« Previous EntriesHearts Legends..and a couple of ringers
Monday, March 30th, 2009 The Hearts legends team play most weeks to raise money for their charitable trust. They have booked a few games at the Academy starting with last night when they played Elgin Albion and won 9 – 2. They are now 38 games undefeated…but the Spartans legends are in full training and after a few warm up games we’re sure manager Hoy will have his squad ready to break the run. Jose Quitongo didn’t make the photo as he couldn’t find the Academy and the absence of a few players playing in the Scotland Masters team meant a couple of Spartans legends (past and present) were called into action…oh and along with the youngest GK in the EoS League!
Hearts Leg-ends
Great wins for 19s and our Womens 1st Xi but two defeats for the youngsters
Sunday, March 29th, 2009 Our 19s beat Tymecastle 3 – 1 in the semi final of the East of scotland League Cup today. Goals from Keir Anderson, Steven Philp and Paul Mshelbwala put us through to the final against Edinburgh City on Sunday 19th April. It’s been a tough season for the squad but a few great results recently.Our Womens 1st XI suffered a massive blow before the game when ‘keeper and Scottish internationalist Jo Hutchison broke her collar bone in a car accident while driving last night. Jo is out of hospital but is likely to miss the rest of the season.
Jo - car accident
In our league game at Aberdeen this afternoon we won 1 – 0 with Di Barry again scoring.
In the two morning cup semi finals our top team at 14s went down 2 – 0 to Musselburgh in the big East Cup with our 2nd XI at 13s losing 4 – 1 aet to Craigroyston in the Belmont Vauxhall Cup.
Great win for the 17s and a draw for the 3s
Saturday, March 28th, 2009 Our 17s beat Leith Athletic 5 – 4 aet in a thriller at the Academy this afternoon to go through to the final of the East of Scotland Cup. We will play Faludhouse or Broxburn in the final.The 3s picked up another draw away to Armadale in the league. We were twice behind but a rare goal from veteran Kenny Skivington and one from Geoff Aberdein made it 2 – 2. Team: Gilmore, Hutchison (Cannon), Fleming, Marsters, Palmer, Aberdein, Brown, Skivington, Dunstan (Ben Gharbia), Fitzsimons, Clark.
Skiv - first goal of the season
Great Win keeps the pressure on Dalbeattie
Saturday, March 28th, 2009 A great fight back at Rosewell today saw Spartans keep the pressure on a Dalbeattie side who could only manage a draw at home to Lothian.Spartans started brightly but lost a goal against the run of play in the 24th minute. Dan fouled Gormely in our right back area and Ellis put a great free kick into the far post area where Johnston out jumped Donal to score. That sparked Spartans into some prolong pressure and the equaliser came in the 30th minute when Struan powered home a header from Nicky’s right wing cross. Whitehill were reeling and 6 minutes later another run and cross from the right (this time from Omar) was knocked onto the back post by Donal but Gavin reacted quickest to score with the rebound.
Gav - keeps banging in the goals
Whitehill pushed for the equaliser in the second half which left space for us to exploit down both flanks. Because we didn’t turn any of our many opportunities into goals it was a nervous last 15 minutes. That was until the 87th minute when Omar challenged the keeper for yet another right wing cross and the ball broke to David who scored from 6 yards.
An excellent result and an excellent performance.
There are still 9 league games to go so talk of winning the league are far too premature. Let’s just concentrate on Vale in the Cup next week and the league will take care of itself. Team: Flockhart, Archibald, Gerrard, Fowlie, Hoskins, Kader, Malin, Manson, Henretty (Etale 65), Preston (Devlin 70), Walker Subs not used: Smart, Opilka, Hair
This Weekend at the Academy
Saturday, March 28th, 2009 This afternoon’s big game is our 17s against Leith Athletic in the East of Scotland Cup, the game kicks off at 2.30.Tomorrow we start with the 4 a side action for the Under 7s and 8s, followed by 7 a side action which kicks off at 10.15. The big game of the day is our 2nd XI at 13s who play in the Belmont Vauxhall Cup semi final against Craigroyston with an 11.45 ko. Coach Terry Burns is looking forward to the chance of helping his boys get to the final – we are sitting second in the league and Craigroyston are fifth but he’s expecting a really close game.
Also in semi final action in the East of Scotland Cup are Ally Mitchell’s 14s who play Musselburgh Windsor at Arboretum with an 11am ko.
Ally - 14s coach
Only the Scottish Cup is a big tourney at this age group with 35 teams entering and unbeaten Leith Athletic await the winners of our semi final. Ally’s team were promoted last season and have had a great season so far.
14s midfielder Elliot Mitchell
Whitehill Welfare v Spartans at Ferguson Park, Rosewell 2.30 KO.
Saturday, March 28th, 20092s Game off
Saturday, March 28th, 2009 The 2nd XI league game away to Sporting has been postponed – a waterlogged pitch.2s and 3s Preview
Friday, March 27th, 2009 The 2nd XI travel to Shotts tomorrow to play Sporting in a league game. We played through there earlier in the season and won 3 – 0 but it took two late goals to win. Tomorrow sees new signing David Mcleod in the squad. David played in the 1st XI at the tail end of last season and during pre season this season before heading off to Dubai. He has just returned and has joined Mark Lamb’s squad. Gaffer Lamb has Mark Burns and Paul Sutherland back in the squad after missing the last two games and has a strong squad heading along the M8. The ko is 2pm.
David - back at Spartans
The 3rd XI travel to Armadale also for a league game. Coach Doug Cowie also has a strong squad together – we are unbeaten in four games but need wins rather than draws.
Top Four Fight It Out
Friday, March 27th, 2009“With Lothian at Dalbeattie and ourselves at Rosewell some will say that this is a pivotal weekend in the East of Scotland Premier Division but I think there will a lot more of twists and turns before the end of May.
For ourselves we head to Whitehill without the services of Danny, Alex and Cloudie so the faith Sam and I have in the current squad will be tested to the full. We’ll make at least four changes from the team that won at Easthouses and we know we will have to be at our very best to prize any points away from the Ferguson Park club.
I’ve seen Whitehill win twice recently at Meadowbank and Riccarton. On both occasions they have shown what a good side they are and despite losing a few players from the league winning team those who came in have impressed me greatly. Mark Ellis and Darren McGlashan are both good young players while Jack Lynch and Mark Duthie bring a raft of experience to the team.
Mark played for me at Meadowbank and I’m well aware of the quality he can bring to any side.
For our part the players have been buoyant at training this week and can’t wait for tomorrow’s encounter.
Neither can I.”
The games kicks off at Rosewell at 2.30pm.
Mike Irving - on the phone (again), pitting his wits against Whitehill for the first time