Archive for April, 2009
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Another big win for the 2nd XI
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 The 2nd XI tonight beat Cumbernauld Clyde 8 – 0 away in a league game – goals coming from Nick Reid 2, Paul Sutherland 2, Iain Cartwright, Adam Perry, Steven Bunyon and Michael Moffat. Adam did manage to also miss a penalty.Full match report available on 2nd XI Latest News section.
The win leaves the 2s needing just two more points to clinch the Division 1B title and promotion…the winners of 1B then play the winners of 1A to decide the overall Division 1 winners.
Spartans on Twitter
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
You can now follow all of the latest Spartans news on Twitter. If you already have a Twitter account, simply follow @spartansfc. Alternatively, you can view the complete Spartans Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/spartansfc
We aim to use the Twitter feed to provide up to the minute information on what is happening at the club. Latest team news, hot forum topics and all of the latest comment direct from City Park.
Our co-manager’s thoughts on last night
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 Mike Lawson gives us his thoughts on last night’s game “With the incidents from our game going though my head in the pub last night, the second half of Liverpool v Arsenal unfolded on the big screen to my left. As the final whistle went Keith Anderson put down his Magners and said “Isn’t football a wonderful game?”How right he is.
A Whitehill team now almost free from the pressure and worry of trying to win a league went out and enjoyed themselves against a team who appeared early on to have the world on their shoulders.
Football is indeed a wonderful game and in a season which lasts ten months there are many highs and lows.
If you had asked Sam, myself and the players at the start of the season if we would have taken the position we are now in with five games to go I think you know what the answer would have been.
That’s the point we will be putting over to the players tomorrow at training – that and trying to restore some self belief.
Confidence is a fickle friend but we must court her for the run in.
In the last month we have had to shuffle the team around more than we would have liked but no-one has come in and let us down.
Everyone however will take confidence from the return of Mr Gerrard and with Alex now available again and Stewart back training we will have a stronger pool of players to chose from for the remainder of the season.
We could have played better last night in a game we should have won but could easily have lost.
Neither Sam nor I were happy at half-time but the spirit, resolve and effort shown by the boys after the break gave us heart.
No-one ever said winning leagues was easy – we should all remember that.”
A vital point won, but feels like two lost.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 Spartans battled to a one all victory against a determined Whitehill Welfare side tonight at City Park. Keith McLeod started on the bench as Spartans made only one change following their defeat to Lothian Thistle on Saturday.Spartans started playing up thie City Park hill and struggled to create many clear chances, Walker, Kader, Malin and Preston all had shots at goal but nothing ever tested the Whitehill keeper.
Whitehill took the lead on the 28th minute with their only opportunity of the first half. A mistake at the back by Archibald allowed the dangerous Gormley through on goal. He beat a tackle from Opilka to slot the ball past Flockhart to take the lead.
Spartans battled hard but struggled against a hard working Whitehill side.
The villagers started the second half with a more defensive approach as Spartans looked to take advantage. Opilka was swapped for McLeod as the home side went for three up front.
It took until the 70th minute to draw level. A paced corner was headed home by Preston, past the helpless Welfare keeper.
Whitehill had the opportunity to win the game late on as Gormley raced into a one on one with Flockhart, however his attempted lob was very poor and fell wide of the target.
Spartans now lie 3 points behind leaders Dalbeattie with two games in hand. This result means the league title could well go down to the last match of the league season when Spartans travel to the league leaders.
Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Hoskins, Archibald, Opilka (McLeod), Kader, Malin, Manson, Walker, Preston (Devlin), Henretty(c) Subs not used: Hair, Fowlie
Att: 186
Looking ahead to the Whitehill game
Monday, April 20th, 2009 Whitehill Welfare are the visitors to City Park tomorrow evening in a crucial league fixture as we try and catch Dalbeattie Star at the top of the table. Co-manager Mike Lawson has been looking ahead:“When we were thrown four games in eleven days Sam and I knew we were going into a critical period as far as our league title aspirations were concerned. Whitehill is the final of the four games and arguable the hardest. Lothian are a good side and deserved to beat us on the day but our old adversaries Whitehill are the team everyone in the East of Scotland looks up to. For years the league’s standard bearers and current league champions they’ll be coming to City Park tomorrow to prove a point.
For our part we have to show that despite being short of one or two regulars we are up for the fight and will attempt to take the game to our Rosewell counterparts. Tomorrow we must stand up and be counted and it’s up to our more experienced players to pull the younger ones through. We are well aware that nothing is decided tomorrow and that Dan and Alex for two will be back available for selection from Saturday, but we all know how important this game is.
As well as the unavailability of David, Dan and Alex there’s little chance that Stewart will be able to take part and there are also doubts about Keith McLeod’s fitness after he took an knock on Saturday.”
Stew - not quite match fit yet
The players have a light training session at City Park tonight and skipper Stewart is also eargerly awaiting the game “We will take the lessons from Saturday and move on, we have a job on our hands against Whitehill and tonight we must prepare as well as we can”.
Mixed Sunday
Monday, April 20th, 2009 Unfortunately our 19s went down 7 – 1 to Edinburgh City in their League Cup final yesterday. City are a good team and played very well. They may well go the whole season in “domestic” football undefeated which will be a fantastic achievement. Phil Mshelbwala scored our goal and with most of our players eligible again next season we will be looking for revenge.Our Womens team got back to winning ways with a 4 – 0 win over Forfar up there. Debbie McWhinnie scoring three with Julie Melrose getting the other. With Glasgow City beating Celtic it means we can win the league by winning all our reaming games…including Glasgow City away. Sounds straight-forward!!
- Debbie – hat trick
Our 1st Xi have a critical home game against Whitehill Welfare tomorrow (Tue) evening with a 6.45 pm ko. There will be a match preview up on the site later today.
Big Sunday Action
Saturday, April 18th, 2009 The 19s play their biggest game of the season tomorrow when they on Edinburgh City in the League Cup Final. The game is at riccarton with a 2pm ko. City have only lost one game all season and that was to Dumbarton in the Scottish Youth Cup. Our youngsters have had an up and down season but tomorrow gives us a chance at winning some silverware. Manager Gary McLelland is looking forward to the game. “We played well against City in the league on Wednesday and with the breaks we could well have taken something from the game. Our players are really looking forward to the game and we’re hoping for a big Spartans turn-out”. The action kicks off at 2pm.Our Womens team are hoping to get back to winning ways with a league game away to the improving Forfar. Thankfully its the Womens team and they won’t have goalscoring ace Ross Campbell in their line up.
Mixed Results
Saturday, April 18th, 2009 The 1st XI lost 4 -2 to a spirited Lothian Thistle at Saughton Enclosure this afternoon. We were 2 – 1 ahead at half time after a Keith McLeod double. We were playing well but the pace of Dongo was coausing real difficulties. The roof fell in when we lost three goals in the first fifteen minutes of the seond half. Although we had plenty possession their ‘keeper was hardly threatened. With Dalbeattie winning the pressure at the top is mounting – we are four points behind with three games in hand. Team: Flockhart, O’Donnel, Archibald, Opilka (Preston 75), Archibald, Malin (Devlin 75), Hoskins, Manson, Mcleod, Walker, Kader, Henretty Subs not used: Woods, Hair, FowlieThe 2nd scored a resounding 8 – 0 win over bottom of the table Millbank at the Academy. The goals were shared out, Paul Sutherland 2, Keith Boyes 2, Jo Steele, Adam Perry, Michael Moffat, Sam Scott. The team was Bartec, Young, Bunyon, Steele, Sutherland, Scott (McLeod), Burns, Boyes (McDonald), Moffat, Cartwright (Harris), Perry.
The 3rd XI lost 5 – 0 to Lochend in their Stead and Simpson Cup tie, losing 6 – 1 on aggregate.
Legends victory
Saturday, April 18th, 2009 The legends beat Lothian thislte 2 – 0 last night with both goals from 59 year old Mike Lawson. Both came in the first half. The first a volley from a Craig Ford cross, the second a cross cum shot from a clever Dougie Samuel free kick. Both teams tired in the second half – Mike should have had his hat trick but fluffed his kick from 6 yards and then Kenny Hughes missed when he tried to round the ‘keeper. He should have squared the ball from Mike to score but Kenny later said “I thought about squaring the ball to Mike but the thought of him scoring a hat trick was too much”. Roger McKeating at sweeper put ina convincing display to win the man of the match award.
Roger - MoM
Team: Graham (Kellacher), Lumsden (Coldridge), McKeating, Hoy (Hutton), Samuel, Gowrie, Ford, Hughes, Lawson, Williams, Nixon.
Tomorrow’s Games
Friday, April 17th, 2009 As Mike said yesterday we have another tough encounter at Saughton Enclosure tomorrow against Lothian Thistle. We don’t have a great record at the Enclosure and the pitch, given its popularity for local cup finals, won’t be in great shape. Struan Preston’s ankle knock kept him on the bench on Wednesday but he’s been passed fit and with Keith McLeod also back we have options to freshen up our attack. Stewart Fowlie is recovering but not fast enough to start. The ko is 2.30pm.
Struan - fit
The 2nd XI are in league action against Millbank at the Academy with a 1.30pm ko. Manager Mark Lamb has a number of players missing including Andy Mitchell and Martin Douglas from his midweek line up but Richie Harris is back in the squad and ‘keeper David Paterek is back from holidays. Nick Reid’s flight back from holiday has been delayed so it gives Adam Perry a chance to close the gap at the top of the scorer’s charts.
The 3rd XI also play at the Academy, their ko is 3.30pm against Lochend in the second leg of a cup tie. We trail 2 – 1 from Monday’s first game however we have a far stronger squad out tomorrow.
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