Derby Delight

Posted on Saturday, April 6th, 2013

Spartans extended the lead at the top of the East of Scotland Premier Division with a solid 2-0 victory over local rivals Edinburgh City at Meadowbank.

The vocal and vitriolic Edinburgh City Ultras left the game disappointed, and their positive chants eventually turned to ditties which questioned the alleged poor diet of some of the more robust Spartans supporters!

Mark Whatley was the first to have a clear strike on goal following a stuffy first twenty minutes. His strike from outside the box was forced wide for a corner.

It was Mark Whatley who eventually opened the scoring in the 38th minute. A cross from the right wing was only half cleared by the City defense. The ball fell to Whatley on the edge of the box and he blasted a low shot into the back of the net.

Keith McLeod almost doubled the lead a few moments later when his ambitious strike from 40 yards rattled the bar and went over.

Spartans started the second half strongly, however struggled to create many clear goal scoring chances while the solid Spartans defense ensured keeper Chris Flockhart didn’t have a save to make all afternoon.

As the game neared an end and with the single goal lead always looking a little fragile, Spartans got the vital second goal in the 86th minute. Keith McLeod headed a cross towards the goal and sub Donal Henretty reacted quickest to poke to the ball home. Following initial confusion, the City defense placed the ball on their own 6 yard line believing they had been awarded a freekick,  however the referee confirmed the goal and Spartans secured the victory.

Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Gary Cennerazzo – a superb performance both in defense and attack as Gary made his return to Meadowbank following his summer move across the city.

Team: Flockhart, Manson, Cennerazzo, Sivewright, MacKinnon, O’Donnell, Ferguson (Henretty), Whatley, Bremner (Martin), McLeod, Motion (Seeley) Unused: MacCuish