Our Senior head out tonight to play new Junior Super League side Newtongrange Star, the ko is 7.15.  Our Junior team’s first game of the season is also out at Newtongrange adding spice to tonight’s fixture.  From last weekend’s squad Alex King is out and Danny O’Donnel is now on holiday.  Gavin Malin’s shoulder has recovered to play but Bob Mitchell and David Etale are still just short of match fitness with Omar Kader still also on holiday.  Ross Archibald is however due back shortly.  Chris Smith after his excellent goal on Sunday will start at least one of the games.

With another two games again this weekend the full sqaud will get plenty match practice over the next four days.

Chris rounds Tomas Cerny to fire home the winner on Sunday

Winning team with Ronnie and his son Graham

In tonights friendly Spartans Juniors beat Peebles 9 – 0 with goals from Adam Perry 4, James Hair, Ollie Antoni, Iain Cartwright, Sam Scott, Ray Forsyth.

Adam - amongst the goals

Spartans defeated SPL side Hamilton 2-0 at Ainslie Park today to win the Ronnie Swan Challenge Cup. A first half strike from Dean Hoskins and a 88th minute wonderful solo goal from Chris Smith sealed the victory.

Over 400 fans watch the home side win the first ever tournament final at Spartans new ground and few left disappointed with some great football and 16 goals scored over the weekend.

Ronnie’s son Graeme presented the cup to winning captain Stewart Fowlie.

Spartans Football Club would like to thank all the players, officials and fans from Hamilton, Raith Rovers and Blyth Spartans for taking part in what was an excellent weekend.We would also like to thank the match officials and all the volunteers who helped make the event a huge success.

Finally a huge thank you to all the staff at Ainslie Park who worked very hard not only over the weekend but in the weeks before the tournament. Many thanks to Dougie, Colin, Debbie, Amy and Paul.

Team: Flockhart, Fowlie, McKibben, Sivewright, Gerrard, McAuley, O’Donnell (Moffat), Manson, Malin (Smith), Henretty (McLeod), Hoskins

Raith Rovers defeated Blyth Spartans 4-2 to finish 3rd in the Ronnie Swan Challenge Cup.

Leading 2-1 at half time, Blyth pulled it back to 2-2 early in the 2nd half. Raith then scored twice to ensure the victory.

Over 400 fans were present for the first game of the Sunday events. Spartans play Hamilton in the final, kick off at 3:15pm.

The Spartans line up against Blyth Spartans today was Flockhart, O’Donnel, Fowlie (Sivewright 45), Gerrard, McKibben, Moffat (Perry 65), King (Opilka 71), Manson, Hoskins, Malin (McAuley 45), Henretty (Smith 65) Sub not used: Mitchell.  Unfortunately Alec King will be out for a few weeks with a broken jaw after being on the receiving end of a loose elbow.

In the shoot out Dean Hoskins, Phil McKibben and Robbie Manson scored before Danny O’Donnel and Chris Smith missed.  As the earlier post noted Adam Perry notched the winner. 

Our Junior team beat Stirling Uni 2 – 1 with goals from Joe Steele and Kenny Young.

Finally our amateur team lost 4 – 1 to Old Aberdonians in another friendly.