Spartans open Lowland League account after Beesley’s smash & grab at the ‘Bank

Posted on Saturday, August 10th, 2013

Spartans Lowland League campaign got off to a winning start, defeating Edinburgh City 1-0 at Meadowbank.

Both teams kicked off the inaugural season with a host of changes to the sides that finished the East of Scotland League in May, with Robbie Ross making the move across town to Ainslie Park.

The Commonwealth Stadium pitch was set to offer challenges throughout the game as the surface, complete with Grid Iron markings, looked far from conducive for ninety minutes of silky passing football.

An injury scare in the 5^th minute saw Beesley hit the deck under a James challenge and after a few minutes treatment to a knock to the ankle and knee, he was able to continue – which proved pivotal in the outcome of the game.

The challenges were coming in thick and fast with Cennezarro flattened by Gair followed by Blaikie taken out by a rather crude challenge by Devlin.  The latter finally testing the patience of Referee Gavin Ross who produced a yellow card.

Gibson became the second City player to be booked for a foul on the same Spartans player within as many minutes as the game, devoid of goalmouth action, headed towards a half-time stalemate.

Half-Time: Edinburgh City 0-0 Spartans

The crowd were brought to life in the 55^th minute as the Linesman on the far side raised his flag in the air to indicate offside but failed to keep a hold of it and it flew from his grasp.  Laughter echoed around the Stadium at the most notable incident of the second half so far.

City’s Devlin had a golden opportunity to open the scoring moments later with a free header from 10 yards out however his attempt went over Bennett’s bar and onto the running track in the distance.

His miss proved to be costly as Spartans took the lead with the next attack of the game.

Sivewright split the City defence with a well weighted chip into the path of Beesley and as Filler charged out to the edge of his box to narrow the angle, the Spartans man lifted the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the unguarded net.  0-1 Spartans.

With an hour on the clock, Spartans brought on Grant who replaced the hardworking Brown as Spartans looked to build on their lead.

It was almost a fairy-tale return to Meadowbank for Ross in the 65^th minute.   The striker outmuscled Harrison in the box, however his lob over the keeper defied gravity and failed to come down quick enough to land in the net.

A 67^th minute substitution saw Henretty replace goal scorer Beesley with the game starting to open up as City pressed for an equaliser.

Young Jack Blaikie had clearly earned the respect of the City team as a third reckless challenge on him went in, this time by McFarland.  The Spartans defender will be reaching for the ibuprofen in the morning.

As the game entered its final stages, Muhsin was replaced by McLeod. And what an incident packed three minutes of Lowland League football he had.

McLeod’s first involvement was to sting the hands of Filler with a strike from the edge of the box which the keeper turned round the post with a tremendous reflex save.

His second – and ultimately final – interaction resulted in a straight red card from Referee Ross.

A high ball in the centre circle save McLeod jump with Paterson and McFarland however as the players landed onto the dreadful surface, an altercation was spotted by the whistler and he took no time in reaching for his back pocket and brandishing the red card.

Down to 10 men with four minutes of injury time, City pushed forward to salvage a point out of the game.  Whatley was booked as Spartans dug in deep, desperate to hold on to their slender lead.

And held on to it they did. A final attack at the Spartans goal was cleared by Main then booted up the park by Cennerazzo followed by the long, welcoming shrill of the full time whistle.

Full Time: Edinburgh City 0-1 Spartans.

Match winner Beesley spoke after the match on how he was delighted to kick off the campaign with a win.  “Games against Edinburgh City are always tough and don’t think there was much between the teams this afternoon however we just edged it by taking our chances.”

Of course, the chance fell to Beesley himself.  “City had a great opportunity to open just before it (the goal) however we went up the field and it was a really good ball from Sivey that put me through. It was one of those ones you try to take out of the air, sometimes they come off your shin and go out for a throw, sometimes they drop for you nicely.

“This time, it dropped quite nice. The goalie made my mind up by coming so far out of his goal, so I just tried to lift it over him and luckily it bounced in.  I maybe don’t score as many as I’d like to, so it was great to open the Lowland League with a goal.”

The Spartans starting XI: Bennett, Cenerrazzo, Baikie, Main, Sivewright, Brown, Mushin, Motion, Whatley, Ross & Beesley. Subs: McLeod, O’Donnell, Henretty, Grant & Anderson.

Malt and Hops Man of the Match:  Kevin Sivewright

Crime Count: Yellow – Mark Whatley.  Red – Keith  McLeod