The 2nd XI play St Pats tonight in the Division 1 Championship play off.  They won Division 1 A and us 1B.  The game is at Colville Park, Motherwell with a 7pm ko.  Mark Lamb has almost a full squad to choose from and Gary Bannon may come back into the 16 after his elbow break.  The squad is: Paterek, Burns, Rae, Steele, Sutherland, Bannon, Boyes, Young, Scott, Douglas, Mitchell, Bunyon, Cartwright, Reid, Perry, McLeod, Moffat

Omar knocks home the first

Gavin's drive hits the net

Champagne flowing

Many thanks to Colin from the News

After leading 2 – 1 at half time our Womens team lost 4 – 2 to a strong Glasgow City this afternoon.  We took the lead in five minutes  when Hayley Lauder knocked home from close range.  City equalised midway through the half with a header from a corner but Molly McKean drove home a free kick just before half time.  City were more powerful in the second half and equalised in the 60th minute.  They socred two late goals in the 80th and 88th minutes to put them top of the league with one game left.  City play Hibs away on Thursday night and need a point, our final game is against Raith Rovers at the Academy next Sunday.  

Our 19s also brought their season to an end today, also a 4 – 2 defeat against Tynecastle with Gary Hamilton scoring both goals.

Mike Lawson talking on behalf of Sam and himself says

“Yesterday’s game couldn’t have gone any better than Sam and I hoped it would. Both Dalbeattie and ourselves were short of one or two influential players but Sam and my ascertain that we have a quality pool of players proved correct as Dalbeattie missed Sloan and co more than we missed Keith McLeod, Struan Preston and Ross Archibald. We scored three quality goals and the fast attacking football down both flanks was a joy to watch from the away technical area. Dalbeattie have had a magnificent season but yesterday the Spartan players had something to prove to the home players and support and prove it they did. It was a wonderful climax to our season.

As for winning the title over ten months Sam and I can’t praise our players and all the backroom boys (Mike, Eric, Walter and Dougie) enough. They had to deal with three huge disappointments going into and during the first half of the season. At this time last year and when they were all signing their contracts we were full of hope that we would be stepping up to play SFL football. Everyone had to cope with that false dawn. Then the players had to watch three of their group, Kevin Motion, Ross Campbell and Jonathan Seeley move up a level to play where they had hoped to be. As if that wasn’t hard enough to take our first three games were postponed because of the weather and they went on to miss ten Saturdays during the first half of the season. Saturday games being put off is soul destroying for everybody at a club.

To come through all that and still be in the Scottish Cup in January, win the biggest cup we can win at our level and then go on a win the league title when we were 18 points adrift at one stage is testament to the drive and ability this group of players have.

Sam and I were delighted for them all yesterday but especially for Dan Gerrard, Alex King and Omar Kader. Half a dozen of the team have won the title before and a few have only been here for a season or so. Dan, Kingy and Omar joined us a few years back and have had to wait a long time to pick up a league winners medals and we’re so pleased for them.

Let’s hope it’s not another four years until we win it again.” 

With a comfortable 3 – 0 win over Dalbeattie Star we won the East of Scotland league for the first time since 2004/05.  There were over 100 Spartans fans in the ground when the game kicked off in the pouring rain.  Injury had ruled out Ross Archibald and Struan Preston so David Etale and Gavin malin came into the starting line up.

Two goals in the opening 30 minutes sealed the victory.  The first came from Omar Kader from close range.  David made ground on the left wing and his excellent cross was rammed home by Omar.  We had most of the possession and Gavin Malin added the second with a sweet strike from 20 yards following a half cleared Omar corner.

There were fewer chances in the second half .  Dalbeattie came close a couple of times and Robbie Manson hit the crossbar with a fine drive.  The scoreline was complete when Alex King ran through and coolly finished from twelve yards.  The champagne was out in force as the league trophy was awarded by League Chairman Tom Allison. 

Both teams had key players missing but we were much stronger than Dalbeattie on the day. They have a couple back next week for the League Cup Final.

Team: Flockhart, O’Donnel, Hoskins, Gerrard, Fowlie, Malin (Opilka 88), Manson, King, Henretty, Etale (Devlin 73), Kader (Smith 82) Subs not used: Smart, Hair

Thanks to the supporters for their fantastic following this season, many have travelled hundreds of miles and we look forward to seeing everyone as we kick off at the Academy next season.

Omar - goal of the game

Tomorrow’s big game is our Womens vital SWFL game away to Glasgow city.  Its a 2pm ko at Glasgow Green and we’re hoping for a big Spartans turn out.

Finally the awards from last night:

1st XI

Players Player: Ross Archibald

Coaches Player: Robbie Manson

Fans Unsung Hero: Donal Henretty

2nd XI

Players Player: Joe Steele

Coaches Player: Paul Sutherland

3rd XI

Players Player: Mark Robertson

Coaches Player: Mark Robertson

We’re all set for tomorrow’s shoot-out.  The supporters bus is full and the convoy leaves at 10.45 from the Academy. 

Co-manager Mike Lawson looks ahead “”One league Saturday left and the title is still up for grabs. Kenny McLean, take a bow. A game which was meant to be played on 16th August last year will finally take place tomorrow so there’s a bit of luck attached to it as well for our fixture secretary.

It takes ten months to complete a league campaign but tomorrow the winning of the EOS Premier league title boils down to ninety minutes of football. We are meant to be in the driving seat but at Spartans we are well aware that anything can happen in football and our players are preparing accordingly.

In many respects the pressure is off Dalbeattie as they can just go out and have a go. Their preparation will be all about going forward, being positive, taking the game to us and seeing what happens if they can nick a goal. Sam and I have been trying to instil that same attitude in our players. To try to protect what we have would be folly and we will set the team out to try to win a game of football. Like every team we want to finish our season on a high and we can only do that by beating a very good side on their own ground.

Like Dalbeattie we will have influential players missing tomorrow. Our two top scorers Keith McLeod and Nicky Walker are unavailable and our third main striker at the start of the season, Struan Preston, was injured against Edinburgh City last Saturday and is out. David Etale will come into the side and we can also call on Donal Henretty, Gavin Malin, Daryl Devlin and Omar Kader to play up front if needed.

There are also doubts about the availability of a regular member of our defensive line and we’ll leave the final team selection until he has a fitness test at the ground. Sam and I are happy with the depth of quality in our squad but tomorrow we’ll need to dip into our Under 19 pool to complete the players stripped for action.

We are all looking forward to playing in front of a large crown in what is a winner take all situation. Bring it on.”

David - will start tomorrow