Spartans are pleased to announce that we have signed a new deal with Colin Campbell to supply all playing and training kit for the club.  We have chosen Nike as the brand we will use and we should have a picture of the new shirt posted on the website this week. In addtion to Colin supplying the kit he will give each member of Spartans a 20% discount card for his shop. The coaches from each team will be handing these cards out shortly. More details of how the ordering process will be passed onto each individual sections of the club very soon.

In response to press speculation the club have issued the following statement.

“”The owners of Cowdenbeath, the Brewster brothers, approached Spartans and a number of other clubs to explore how they resolve the challenges they have. In particular their Central Park ground does not comply with the SFA Licence requirements and the club has insufficient income to invest in the required upgrading. We understand the Brewsters are now exploring their options with the SFL.”

Our EoS 19s went down 3 – 0 to Tynecastle in the league yesterday.

The date for our final Seniors league game away to Whitehill Welfare has been confirmed as Saturday 8th May with cup action dominating for us between now and then.

Mike says -

“Sam and I were concerned before Saturday that all the talk during the week of a league “decider” against Whitehill would jeopardize our chances of a concentrated, professional performance against Heriot-Watt. We needn’t have worried as a couple of outstanding 15 minute spells of football in each half decide the game in our favour.

For those now eagerly awaiting their “decider” I’m afraid they are just going to have to bide their time as the fixtures announced last night see us in cup action for the duration of April. That may alter if we go out of the League Cup at an early stage but Whitehill are tied up with fixtures through next month so our league game at Rosewell is a long time off.  

Back to Saturday and another 6 goals and 5 different scorers which pleased Sam and myself. The pitch wasn’t at it’s best and in the windy conditions the boys take credit for the very good football they played. The 3 points were vital so the quality of the football and the goals scored were an added bonus.

Alex and Stewart should be fully fit for Stirling next week and with Jorge back available Sam and I have another selection headache.

We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Mike

Seniors:

King Cup Semi Final – Spartans vs Tynecastle or HWU, to be played on Saturday 1st May at Ainslie Park

League Cup Round 1 – Coldstream vs Spartans to be played on Saturday 10th April, the winner playing Easthouses or Ormiston at home

Juniors

Fife and Lothians Cup Round 3 Spartans vs Arniston Rangers date tba

There were wins for the Seniors and Juniors but the Amateurs go down.  The Seniors beating Heriot Watt Uni 6 – 0 and the Juniors beating Stoneyburn 3 – 1.

The Seniors went 2 – 0 up in the first ten minutes and the score wasn’t in doubt after that.  Firstly Robbie Manson scored from close range and then a Gavin Malin through ball was flicked on by Donal Henretty for Keith McLeod to round the ‘keeper to score.  The remainder of the half was pretty even but we came out flying in the second half.  Robbie headed home a Dean Hoskins corner (our first goal from a corner for quite a few weeks!) and then Donal slid in to knock home a Ross Archibald cross.  Omar Kader knocked home the fifth after a great move including a Vinelli-esque flick from Omar in the build up.  Ross then scored the sixth at the back post.  The students did push on in the last 20 minutes and James hit the bar with a free kick but the game was won by then.  The Spartans man of the match was again Omar Kader who was a real threat going forward yet he tackled back with as much venom as he could on more than a few occasions.

Omar - MoM again

Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Hoskins, Gerrard, Sivewright, Archibald, Malin (King 72), Manson (McAuley 72), Henretty (Smith 72), Kader, McLeod Subs not used: McGarrie, Fowlie   

The Juniors didn’t play well but won comfortably.  Nick Reid ended his scoring drought since October with the opener – an overhead kick from close range.  Kenny Young added the second before Stoneyburn pulled one back just before the break.  Although we had the bulk of possession it took till near the end for the third to come with Struan Preston scoring his first of the season.

Nick - back amongst the goals

Team: Paterek, Cruickshank (G Young), Steele, Scott, McKibben, Roberts (Baxter), K Young, Antoni, Bannon, Reid, Perry (Preston) Subs not used: Boyes, Robertson, Hair, Hutchison

The Amateurs went down 3 – 2 to table toppers Lochend, David Cran and Chris McIntyre getting the goals.

On International duty the Womens team beat Georgia 3 – 1 in the World Cup qualifier with Pauline Hammil starting the game and Di Barry coming on in the second half.  Scotland also beat Denmark 2 – 1 in the 19s Euro championship.

The Seniors game at Riccarton kicks off at 2.30 and with nearly 100 travelling fans last week we’re looking for another big turn out.

The Juniors are at the Academy with Stoneyburn the visitors, ko 2.30pm.  Michael Moffat misses out after his injury last week but coach David Cowan is pleased that he has a number of players on the way back.  Nick Reid, Struan Preston and Paul Sutherland should all make the squad.

The Amateurs play Lochend on the FieldTurf in a league game.  The squad remains threadbare with injuries.

The Women are not in action this weekend as it is an International break.

The A team play Georgia tomorrow away and the Bulgaria at Falkirk on Thursday.  Pauline Hammill and Di Barry are in the squad for both games with Hayley Lauder coming into the squad for the home game.  The team have started their campaign with two wins and will be looking for another 6 points this week.

The Under 19s play in their Elite qualifying group in Holland this week also.  Spartans Head Coach Shelley Kerr is taking with team and Stacey McLean from Spartans is included, unfortunately Sarah Ewens was chosen but is injured.  The 19s play Denmark, Holland and Finland for the right to play in the finals in May.