2nd Xi Clinch Promotion

Posted on Saturday, April 25th, 2009

The eloquently crafted 2nd XI match reports are normally hidden away in the 2nd XI news…their promotion today fully justfies the report coming to the home page.

Elderslie 0 – Spartans 3

Spartans won the Divison 1B title away at Elderslie with a solid and professional display. Skipper Burns was quick to point out that this was the Red and White’s 9th clean sheet in their last 10 league games (despite the fact that Monty Burns has assumed a midfield role over the last few weeks he made sure credit was given to the non ball players – defenders!)

The League table speaks for itself (*3 points deducted for fielding inellgible player):

		P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Spartans	19	18	1	0	80	12	52*
2	Linwood	18	10	4	4	50	31	34
3	Elderslie	18	11	0	7	38	27	33
4	Campsie Minerva	16	10	2	4	51	20	33
5	Wishaw HSFP	16	8	5	3	40	29	29

Elderslie set about carrying out their manager’s request during the team talk to try and stop Spartans playing football and came out literally fighting! Maybe if their energy had been channelled towards trying to play football it would have been more of a contest.

Spartans started brightly and the back four looked like another clean sheet was on the cards. Elderslie’s best chance actually coming from their keeper on the small park which Paternek had to put over the bar. There were 3 ludacrious calls for penalties from the home side all of which were rejected by the referee.

Spartans played some nice football in spells with Bunyan and Moffat in particular asking questions. A break down the right saw full Gary Young whipping in an excellent cross which McLeod met with his head and crashed home from 12 yards – an excellent goal and the lift the Champions elect needed. Cartwright added a fine second turning and slamming home an excellent finish into the top corner.

At this point the Elderslie skipper decided to try and bolster his team’s spirits by shouting “if we can’t win this one, then lets hurt some of them.” A moment of amateur footballing class! Bunyan almost created an excellent chance for himself but the defender did well to block his shot for a corner after a neat one two with Puff the magic Carthorse!

Spartans again looked comfortable in the second half with the outstanding Sutherland mopping up any attack with ease and Steele replaced the injured Bunyan (who at the age of 20 has never managed a run of more than 5 games – truly a chocolate boy!) Sam Scott was enjoying his time on the bench and was particularly taken by the size of Joe Steele’s dog’s appendage which kept the camp tackler amused for quite a long time.

Reid replaced Perry with half an hour to go and managed a fresh air shot within seconds much to the delight of his teammates. A break down the left wing by Boyes ended with a delightfully driven cross which Reid headed home for a 3 goal advantage. Steele then managed 2 missed chances and Sutherland (who claims to be a goal threat) also missed a sitter yet remains in a lofty position on the top goals panel.

The game fizzled out and Spartans recored another win on the road and sealed promotion and the Division 1 B title with a very impressive record.

Coach Lamb was delighted after the game but has reminded the squad that there are still 3 games remaining and expects maximum points against Campsie, Scotia and Sporting – all on the road.

A final thought, the Corporal did say at the start of the season – “Striker’s win games, Defenders win titles.” The superb performance of the back four this year really has been the difference with only 12 goals conceeded in 19 games.

Team: Paterek, Young, Rae, Sutherland, Bunyan (Steele), Moffat, McLeod, Burns, Boyes, Perry (Reid), Cartwright (Scott)

MOM: Sutherland – outstanding and classy performance from the hairy ‘Bin Man.’ Faultless perfomance and should have added to his goal tally.