Mike says -

“The build up to a Scottish Cup Saturday is unlike every other Saturday in the season for Spartans. In our domestic football, be it league or cup, there is a pressure which comes with invariably being favourites to win. That expectation brings with it an apprehension and anxiety to Sam and myself which is only released by a positive result.

The Scottish Cup on the other hand is the only competition we enter we can´t win so although there is pressure it´s to show what a good side we are. To show those outwith our league what a good standard an EOS side can play to. We all look forward to these games and a chance to pit our skills against a team from a different league.

As usual we have an away tie and an overnight stay ahead of us. There is a keen rivalry between the EOS and the HL with scores between sides noted by all concerned.

Sam and I watched the Broch win their last two games and we´ve been passed extra information by Windy Miller of Bonnyrigg. Fraserburgh are a fit, energetic young side with lots of pace especially up front.  Charlie Duncan has been around as long as I have and he´ll have them well fired up on Saturday. We can´t wait.

For our part Alex King, Donal Henretty and Danny O´Donnell got 90 minutes under their belts last week at Coldstream. From the team which won at Home Park Ross Archibald and Gavin Malin will come back into the starting line-up although Sam and I have still to decide who will drop out.

Scottich Cup games at our level are all about 14 players and Sam and I are well aware of that. Saturday can´t come quickly enough”

Mike

Just to confirm that there is a bus running to Fraserburgh on Saturday. The Bus will leave Ainslie Park at 8:30 on Saturday morning and return right after the game.

We still have some seats available so if you would like to go to the game please send your details to Cameron_hobbs@blueyonder.co.uk

A reminder that the bus costs £12/£8

A reminder we are running a Spartans Supporters bus to Fraserburgh. The bus will leave Ainslie park at 8:30 on Saturday and will cost £12/£8.

We are limited to just 49 seats so please e-mail Cameron_Hobbs@blueyonder.co.uk or click the banner to book your seat!!

Unfortunately our Womens team lost 6 – 1 to Glasgow City in the league yesterday.  City took a two goal lead and then our ‘keeper Jo Hutchison was sent off for a handball outside the box.  A player short against the favourites for the title was much to difficult.

Our EoS 19s drew 1 – 1 away to Civil Service Strollers in the league, Jamie Walsh scoring our goal.

Foster’s Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy second round
Spartans 2 Redhall Star 1

The Sunday amateur team produced their best performance of the season to overcome league leaders Redhall Star in the Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy today. Redhall beat Spartans 7-1 in a league meeting earlier this season and the visitors went into this game unbeaten all season. But Spartans, back to full strength for the first time in several weeks, were not overawed.  Playing on the stadium pitch at Ainslie Park for the first time, Kenny Cameron’s men were 1-0 up at half time thanks to a stunning long-range strike into the roof of the net from outstanding American winger Daniel Chille, whose pace and dribbling posed a threat all afternoon. Dean Shanks showed composure when one-on-one with the goalkeeper to slot home the second midway through the second half, and although Redhall pulled  one back with a header five minutes from time, Spartans held on for a deserved win. 
Team: S Smith, M Leask,  J Murray, M Watson, A Graham (O Lee 74), L Shanks, D Chille, P Johnson, D Shanks, R Pennett (S Hamilton 88), J Quinn.

Mike says -

“Yesterday was the best we have played this season, well for 82 minutes at least. After Coldstream scored they got up a little head of steam and another goal before the end would have made the last few minutes interesting. Despite the distractions of next week and a few changes to the line up we started with the right attitude, at the right pace and kept a good tempo up for the majority of the game. 

We should have been more than Stewart’s “one goal a season”  at half-time and that was a bit of a worry as Coldstream are dangerous and were always going to have their “spell” in the game. Thankfully Cloudie and Robbie scored within three minutes of each other with half an hour to go and that put us in the hat for the next round of the Challenge Cup. Alex, Danny and Donal got 90 minutes under their belt and if Wee Eck’s ankle shows no ill effect that should sets us up nicely for next Saturday and the Scottish Cup.  

There seems to be a debate among the supporters about Sam and my best starting 11 but on Scottish Cup Saturday’s we never think of that number. For us to get past the very big hurdle at Bellsea Park next week we’ll need top performances from 14 players.  Having fit and able players to come on at any stage of the game is very important in the “big one”. Who will ever forget Kenny Hughes’s winner against Alloa at City Park.

Resting players yesterday gave others much needed “game” time and also Sam and I problems about selecting the team to face the Broch. That’s the way Sam and I would want it before the Scottish Cup.

We can’t wait.”

Mike

We played well down at Coldstream today in a 3 – 1 win in the second round of the South Regional Cup.  Back came Alex King, Danny O’Donnell and Donal Henretty into the starting line up with Gavin Malin, Ross Archibald and Sean McAuley dropping to the bench.  We played well in the first half with Dean Hoskins and Keith McLeod both firing over from good positions.  We opened the scoring in the 20th minute when a Robbie Manson corner was laid back by Keith for Stewart Fowlie to score a rare goal with a drive from the edge of the box.  We passed up a few other chances and hopefully gave little away to the watching Fraserburgh scout.   In the second half Coldstream came out well and our passing game didn’t look as slick.  Keith did head over from close range and Dan Gerrard came to the rescue when their striker Crawford looked like he was through.

Stewart - rare goal

The second goal came in the 64th minute from the penalty spot when Omar Kader was tripped when almost through on goal.  Keith dispatched the spot kick.  The third followed ten minutes later when a Dan Gerrard header from a corner was flicked home by Robbie Manson.  Coldsteam did pull one back with ten minutes to go when McNulty drove home after a good passing move.  The Spartans man of the match was striker Keith Mcleod who for the seond week in a row proved too hot for the Coldstream defence to handle.  Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Fowlie, Gerrard, Sivewright, Henretty, King (McAuley 61), Manson, Kader (Smith 72), Hoskins, McLeod (Archibald 72) Subs not used: Malin, McKibben Att 91

The Juniors went down 2 – 0 in a friendly against Super League team Kelty Hearts.  Coach Mark Lamb getting an opportunity to give his full squad a run out including recent signing Paul Thomson from Edinburgh University, Paul is the son of Mark the legendary Spartans skipper and centre half for many years in the late 90′s.

The Amateurs crashed out of the Scottish Amateur Cup 4 – 1 to Rosyth CS through in Fife.

We also noticed a few goals from ex Spartans in the SFL today with Ross Campbell (2), Kevin Motion and Scott Linton all scoring. 

Looking ahead to tomorrow there is some great action.  Our Womens team head through to play undefeated league leaders Glasgow City in a league match.  Our EoS 19s play Civil Service Strollers at Muirhouse in a league game.  At the Academy on the stadium pitch our Sunday Amateur team play Redhall Star in the first round of the Scottish Sunday Amateur Cup.  Redhall have only lost one league game in the last three seasons and are amongst the favourites for the trophy however coach Kenny Cameron has a strong squad out tomorrow and is looking to be competitive with Phil Johnson fit for the match.  The action kicks off at 2pm.