Archive for September, 2009
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Monday, September 21st, 2009 The Juniors head down to Galashiels tomorrow evening to play a friendly with a 7.30pm ko. Chris Smith and Dean Hoskins join their squad to get pitch time and it gives Mark Lamb a chance to give a run to the players he has returning from injury.Another two wins
Sunday, September 20th, 2009 Our EoS 19s beat Easthouses 1 – 0 today in the league at Ainslie Park. Alan Chalmers scored the winning goal just before half time. It’s our first win of the season as we head towards our SFA Youth Cup game at home to Alloa in two weeks time.Our Sunday amateur team beat second place Saltires 8 – 2 in a league game at City Park as coach Kenny Cameron comes close to getting his full team on the pitch after struggling with a lousy spell of injuries.
Management reflections on our cup win at the Pennypit.
Sunday, September 20th, 2009 Mike says -“For the second week in a row Sam and I got the effort, commitment and good play we asked from the players for the whole 90 minutes of the game, not just in 20 minute spells. It’s a real shame we don’t have a competitive game next Saturday and a chance to keep that momentum going.
Prestonpans isn’t an easy place to go and Preston are a good side. We were lucky to take all three league points from the Pennypit last month and both sets of players and management were aware of that. That fact helped us and may have hindered Preston. We all knew we had something to prove and despite Stevie’s pre match promptings the Preston players will have taken to the pitch knowing they dominated possession for long spells in our previous meeting. We were really up for it and our boys made sure that didn’t happen again. Preston will come back stronger and I still think they will be in the mix come May.
Sam and I had two objectives before the game, one being trying to win the central midfield battle and the other to get the game squeezed further up the park especially when playing from our left. We had already switched from a midfield 4 to a 5 against Coldstream and yesterday Alex, Gavin and Robbie gave us a central platform to play from. Kevin has shown his organisational skills since coming into the team at the back and I can’t wait for Danny’s 300th game if he puts in that much effort when he’s given the captains armband. Maybe we shouldn’t give it back to Stewart!!!
Anyway we still have things to work on. We went in 0-0 at half-time having been unable to turn our majority of possession into clear cut chances. It was beginning to look like it might just not be our day. Our first goal was fortunate and until our next official game Mike and Eric will be concentrating on crossing and finishing.
Sundays are much more pleasant after a win.”
Mike
Two wins and two clean sheets
Saturday, September 19th, 2009 In a very good performance the Seniors beat Preston Athletic 2 – 0 in the Image Printers Cup. In a league match the Juniors beat Edinburgh Utd 1 – 0.Sean McAuley’s injury meant he missed out and with the only change from last week Danny O’Donnell came in for his 200th Spartans competitive appearance.
We started the game well and Keith McLeod blasted over from 4 yards after a great run and cross from skipper for the day Danny O’Donnell. We had most of the possession but Preston defended stoutly and looked dangerous on the break. The closest to a goal in the first half was when Gavin Malin’s deflected free kick was superbly saved by Preston ‘keeper Gilpin. Again in the second half we kept the ball well and when the goal came in the 67th minute it was rather fortunate. Another good Danny run resulted in a cross to the far post where Preston defender Cairnie knocked the ball into the net from close range under pressure from Donal Henretty.
Campion did come closest to equalising but Chris Flockhart leapt to his left to clutch a free kick. With two minutes left the prolific Robbie Manson made the win certain. Ross Archibald made a good run forward and gave Robbie the chance to score from 10 yards with a deft flick over the ‘keeper.
MoM was sweeper Kevin Sivewright who marshalled the defence well when Preston threatened, a difficult decision in a very polished performance.
Sivvy - MoM
Team: Flockhart, Archibald, Sivewright, Fowlie, O’Donnell, King, Malin, Manson, Henretty (Hoskins 76), Mcleod (Kader 72), Etale (Smith 88) Subs not used: Gerrard, McKibben
The Juniors pulled off a great win at Paties Road in a tousy encounter with 10 bookings. Iain Cartwright scored the only goal midway through the first half. Michael Moffat’s injury from last Saturday kept him out with Ollie Antoni, Gary Bannon and Dale Robertson all returning to the starting line up. Both teams came close to adding to the scoreline and we defended well as United put us under pressure in the final ten minutes. Team: Paterek, Antoni, Hair, Hutchison, K Young, Reid, Cartwright (Perry), Robertson, Bannon (Boyes), Scott, Osbourne Subs not used: Sutherland, Douglas, G Young, Fleming
Puff - winner
Tomorrow Fixtures
Friday, September 18th, 2009
Danny - in line for 200th appearance
The Seniors Image Printers cup-tie away to Preston Athletic kicks off at 2.30pm tomorrow. As Mike’s notes say ex Preston star Sean McAuley is doubtful so the management team have named a 17 player squad. Danny O’Donnell will make his 200th appearance for Spartans tomorrow since he signed from Vale of Leithen 6 seasons ago. The squad is: Flockhart, Archibald, Gerrard, Fowlie, Sivewright, Hoskins, Smith, McAuley, Manson, Malin, King, Henretty, Etale, Mcleod, McKibben, Kader, O’Donnell
The Juniors have a tough Edinburgh derby at Paties Road against Edinburgh Utd, ko 2.30pm. Mark Lamb is slowly getting his squad back to full strength. Paul Sutherland is again fit (well as fit as he will ever be) and returns to the squad for the first time since the Armadale League Cup game and Keith Boyes will have benefited from his 20 minutes on return to action last week. Skipper Ollie Antoni is doubtful, David McLeod is on holiday and Jordan Steele is still on the long term injury list. The Juniors squad is Paterek, G Young, Cruickshank, Antoni, Sutherland, Perry, Reid, K Young, Hutchison, Bannon, Hair, Scott, Boyes, Douglas, Cartwright, Osbourne, Robertson, Moffat
Paulo - back in the squad
The Amateurs don’t have a competitive game due to the holiday weekend. On Sunday the EoS 19s take on Easthouses in a league game on the stadium pitch at the Academy (ko 2pm) and the Sunday Spartans play a league game at City Park, also with a 2pm ko.
Management thoughts on Preston tomorrow.
Friday, September 18th, 2009 Mike says -“Less than a month ago we travelled down to Prestonpans on league duty and managed to pick up all three points. Stevie might have said “stole all three points” after the game as our late winner came in the last minute and against the run of play. Since that game I managed to watch Preston defeat Coldstream last Tuesday to go above us in the table and once again they played very well.
Do Preston have anything to prove tomorrow? I think not. We concede we were fortunate to come away with a win on the twenty second of August and they know we respect them as a team. They have a good shape and build to their side and despite having an aerial threat, they like to get the ball down and play football especially at the Pennypit. Stevie and his players will be looking for the rub of the green tomorrow and a wee bit of revenge.
For our part Sam and I may have confounded the critics by starting the same eleven who played so well at Coldstream last weekend. We have however had injuries and illness to contend with this week. Stewart Fowlie and Keith McLeod missed training with a bug and Alex King surprised us all by training this week after his ankle was the size of a grapefruit on coming off at Home Park last Saturday. It’s now not his favourite colour and Sam and I have to decide whether to take a chance with the wee man (who is desperate to play).
Also on the doubtful list is ex Preston player Sean McAuley who after complaining of a sore back on Tuesday had to go to the hospital the next day with a stomach complaint. Some sort of viral infection was diagnosed (I hope it wasn’t Dr Seeley) and we are waiting to see if the problem responds to the medicine he’s been given.
Whoever Sam and I have available to pick tomorrow we have confidence in the squad as a whole and are happy to hand a starting jersey to any of our boys.
As a team we didn’t do well in the “local” cups last season and that is something we hope to rectify this time round starting tomorrow. Stevie Myatt and his team no doubt have other ideas.”
Mike
Spartans not so Old Boys
Sunday, September 13th, 2009 It’s been good seeing Ross Campbell, Jonny Seeley, Iain Thomson and Kevin Motion doing well in the SFL this season..although Ross’ move to the top of the goal scoring charts did come to an abrupt end yesterday…”Forfar missed their share of chances. with Ross Campbell particularly guilty…” being his write up in the Sunday Herald. Last weekend was also a successful one for Craig Smart who is now plying his trade in Australia and last weekend helped his team Bentleigh Greens Soccer Club to promotion to the Victorian Super League (www.bentleighgreens.com.au). Craig’s game must have changed as he did miss a crucial game in the run-in, he was suspended for too many bookings.
Smarty - picked up the needless bookings habit from Cloudy
Disappointing Sunday
Sunday, September 13th, 2009 In our EoS 19s league game at City Park we went down 6 – 3 to Civil Service Strollers, our goals coming from Matt Pringle, Andrew Sinclair and Gary Hamilton.Our Sunday amateurs also went down, losing 5 – 2 to Currie in a league game at Ainslie Park.
Spartans too strong for Dunbar
Sunday, September 13th, 2009 The Spartans versus Dunbar United (courtesy of Dunbar website)Dunbar went into this league game against Spartans, the first Junior game at their new Ainslie Park facility, minus Geoff Jones, Stuart Robertson, Garry Lothian and Ryan Gibb.
Spartans stated their intentions early as Michael Osborne fed Iain Cartwright but he blazed his shot well over the bar. Dunbar nearly took the lead from a set piece, as John Twaddle’s corner was headed goal wards only for David Patarek to touch it over the bar.
Ross Hastie was the first booking of the afternoon when he was found guilty of pushing Michael Moffat, who seemed to go to ground rather easily any time any opposition player got even slightly close to him.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Spartans took a rather controversial lead. Michael Moffat had gone straight through John Twaddle on the half way line and when no whistle had come, continued down the right wing unchallenged and cross for NICK REID to slide into the net.
Dunbar came close 5 minutes later when Richie Weir fed Chris Grant down to Dunbar right wing. However, his shot was into the side netting. Curiously, a moment later, Iain Cartwright escaped a booking for an obvious handball offence when he clearly thought the referee was on the blind side. Grant Thomson had his name added to the crime count for a trip on Adam Perry.
On the half hour mark, Spartans went close to stretching their lead when Michael Moffat crossed for Nick Reid but his turn and shot went just wide.
Brendan Rooney went close with a header from Dunbar following an inch perfect John Twaddle corner and as Dunbar came back into the game, things might have been looking up for the visitors. A John Twaddle free kick into the box found Grant Thomson at the near post and his powerful header was pushed round the post by David Patarek. From the resultant Steven Girdwood corner, Grant Thomson saw his back post header cleared off the line by Mark Hutchison. Chris Grant then created a chance for Mark McEwen but his sliding shot went just over the bar.
Half Time: The Spartans 1 Dunbar United 0
Gary Bannon replaced Michael Moffat at half time as Spartans opened Dunbar inside the first minute of the second half. A high ball into the box by Michael Osborne found Daryl Johnston flattened by Nick Reid as he attempted to collect the ball. Kenny Young, standing on the bye line, played the ball along the line for NICK REID to net from under the bar whilst lying on his back. Dunbar could have been forgiven for expecting a free kick for the obstruction on the keeper or the blatant offside but the goal stood.
David McLeod found his name being added to the crime count for a late tackle on Steven Girdwood.
With an hour on the clock, the game was put to bed. There was just a touch of good fortune about the third Spartans goal as well. Kenny Young hit a free kick from 25 yards out which Daryl Johnston touched onto the bar. IAIN CARTWRIGHT reacted quickest and knocked the ball into the empty net.
Besides, the multiple subs, the only action of the remainder of the second half was a Steven Girdwood head flick, which went just wide from a Ross Hastie free kick.
All in all, it was a poor day at the office from an under strength Dunbar side who lacked a killer instinct up front.
Full Time: The Spartans 3 Dunbar United 0
The Spartans: – David Paterek, David McLeod, Mark Hutchison, James Hair, Samuel Scott, Michael Osborne,Michael Moffat, Kenneth Young, Adam Perry, Nicholas Reid, Iain Cartwright. Subs: – Gary Young, Martin Douglas, Raymond Fleming, Keith Boyes, Gary Bannon, Dale Robertson, Blair Thomson.
Dunbar: – Daryl Johnston, Grant Thomson, Stuart Laing, Dez Chisholm, Brendan Rooney, Mark McEwen, Richie Weir, John Twaddle, Steven Girdwood, Chris Grant, Ross Hastie. Subs: – Stephen Devine, Josh Hebdon, Mark Burke, Stuart Brown, Trialist #17, John Johnston (g/k).
Referee: – Mr. Paul Simmons.
Scorers: The Spartans- Reid (20 mins, 46 mins), Cartwright (60 mins)
Reflections on three points from Home Park.
Sunday, September 13th, 2009 Mike says -“There have been spells in games this season where we have played better than we did yesterday. In fact there have been games where we have probably played better over ninety minutes but yesterday is the first time in the league we haven’t shot ourselves in the foot by giving away at least one silly goal.
Don’t get me wrong Coldstream could have scored on several occasions but that was down to good play on their part or a very good shot from distance. For a long time the Streamers were still in the game and I see a lot of teams struggling to overcome the Home team especially down on the border.
We changed formation and personnel because of the tight park and what I’d picked up from watching Coldstream at the Pennypit. Dan was also delayed in travelling down so Sam and I altered the line up with thirty minutes to go as a precaution. The eleven who started and the three who came on showed as much effort as skill and that is all Sam and I ask for.
We now have a very small squad with only Dan, Phil and Chris not given the opportunity to kick a ball yesterday. Alex appeared to pick up a nasty ankle injury (the other ankle) and we can only hope nothing is serious.
Alex’s ankle apart it was a good days work, a great goal from David, a rare double from Robbie and three valuable points.”
Mike
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