Seniors match report and a draw for the Juniors

Posted on Sunday, March 11th, 2012

A tightly fought contest at Ainslie Park today saw Spartans come out 3 – 2 on top against an excellent Stirling University side. Spartans welcomed back both John Grant and Keith MacLeod to the starting line up, with Danny O’Donnell struggling with an injury picked up last week and Scott Fusco dropping to the bench.

Dean Hoskins opened the scoring after 7 minutes when the referee gave an indirect free kick inside the students box. It was tapped to Hoskins who rifled it into the roof of the net from about 12 yards.
The game was keenly contested with both sides demonstrating why are they are doing so well in the league this season.
Stirling equalised from a corner which Nixon rose to head home powerfully, although Spartans marking was poor. Gavin Malin then limped off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Jack Beesley.

A tactical change at half time saw Donal Henretty push up to play alongside Keith and it was a decision that paid off as his physical presence caused the Stirling defence some problems.
In one mad minute there were goals for both sides. Omar danced through a couple of challenges before being brought down. Deano expertly blasted the penalty home. Within a minute Stirling were level when Denholm cut in from the right to curl home past Flocks.
Spartans won the game thanks to some excellent play with Beezer jinking past a few challenges on the left and pulling the ball back to Donal who fired home.

It was a keenly fought, physical contest, but Spartans held on and deserved to be through to the next round of the cup.
Special guest Mark Thomson, legendary captain of club through the 80’s, selected the Dean Hoskins as the Malt & Hops man of the match.

Spartans:
Flockhart, Manson, Siveright, McKinnon, Hoskins, Kader, Grant, Malin (Beesley), Anderson, Henretty, MacLeod
Subs unused: McTurk, Finnie, Fusco, Seeley

The Juniors drew 4 – 4 in a league game with West Calder United. The goals coming from an own goal, Sean Wringe, Lucas Rusin and Paul McCathie in a match played in a mud bath.