Rocket Reid shows Shotshy Strikers way to goal

Posted on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Cumbernauld Clyde 0 – Spartans 8

Spartans moved to within one win of the League title with another emphatic display in Cumbernauld. With only two teams left in contention (Campsie and Wishaw), one point would be enough with a vastly superior goal difference from 4 games.

The game was shrouded in controversy with Manager (Corporal) Lamb opting to give the youngsters a chance to shine leaving Sugar Rae (fresh from his second penalty miss of the season), Mitchell (fresh from yet another wonder free kick) and The Rocket Reid (fresh from 2 weeks in the Canary Islands) on the bench.

Spartans started off in a 4-4-2 formation with Burns and MacLeod in middle and the chuckle brothers (Puff) Cartwright and (Asbo) Perry up top. The back four had an air of impenetrability with Steele, (the free scoring) Sutherland, Young and Bunyan. The gulf in class was clear from the start and only one result was ever going to be recorded. The volume of missed chances must be a worry for the manager with some big games coming up.

Puff opened the scoring early after Perry raced clear to miss the first of a hatful of chances. Rather than place the ball past the keeper, he played a wall pass off his knees to rebound to Cartwright who (for once) hit the target. Sutherland made it 2-0, fisting in from a wicked Boyes free kick – proving he is a natural finisher and has the audacity to handle the ball over the line. The third goal has been submitted to the dubious goal’s panel as a long Steele throw in may have crossed the line before Perry claimed he touched it. Further evidence that Perry couldn’t hit a barn door from 5 yards was to be witnessed and helps the case for the prosecution (Sutherland).

Humour was then injected into the game as Steele pushed Sutherland following a ‘clash’ with Sutherland and the latter quickly realised that he should hide behind Skipper Monty and make childish gestures from behind the safety of the level headed Burns. It is understood that the two feel out over who’s fault it was that Cumbernauld managed to cross the half way line.

Further numerous chances were passed up, Perry blasted over, Cartwright missed an open goal (yet managed to blame someone else!), Sutherland heading over and countless goal mouth scrambles yielded no more goals. The game was crying out for a bit of quality – but Mitchell, Reid and Rae were still shackled on the bench. Despite the missed chances the front two were proving to be too much of a handful for the Cumbernauld outfit.  Moffat then added a fourth to prove that he hasn’t lost his touch in front of goal.

Finally, some sublime skill and efforts on target did arrive – first Mitchell curled in a great free kick, Reid lashed in a fine strike and Rae actually hit the target from 12 yards – half time heroes had arrived! Gaffer Lamb must have seen these pieces of genius and set about turning the game on it’s head from only a 4 goal cushion.

The second half continued as the first left off – chance after chance. A penalty was awarded after a goal bound Moffat shot was palmed over by the Clyde centre back who received his marching orders and up stepped young Apprentice Asbo to stroke ome the penalty after Sugar Rae had been relieved off his duty (and was on the bench still – in case this report has not been clear!) Perry sent the keeper the wrong way but the ball cannoned back off the bar. There were a number of players who were quick to commiserate Asbo, however, more chose to mock the youngster who has never lacked confidence!

Finally, the game was brought to life again with the goal of the game after Lamb evetually could take no more of Reid’s consistent questioning as to when the subs would come on – and proved this move should have happened much sooner. With his first touch after a two week holiday Reid produced a fine lay off to Cartwright out wide to start a flowing move. Cartwright squared the ball back to Reid a full 22 yards out and he produced a left foot Rocket which flew into the top corner – 30 seconds after his introduction. The look on Perry’s face was priceless and a shout of ‘Nooooo’ was clearly heard from Sutherland’s mouth at the back – simply a sublime footballing moment.

Predatory Sutherland headed his second, Reid found the net for his second after a Bunyan Cross-cum-shot and Bunyan added a fine headed eighth goal from an excellent Cartwright Cross.

Overall, a fine result with excellent performances from the back four, Burns, MacLeod and Bunyan in particular.

Team: Paterek, Young, Steele, Sutherland, Bunyan, Moffat, Burns (Mitchell), MacLeod, Boyes (Rae), Perry (Reid), Cartwright.

Goals: Reid 2, Sutherland 2, Perry, Cartwright, Bunyan, Moffat