Samuel’s Spartans ready to make history

Posted on Friday, April 11th, 2014

Spartans go in to Saturday’s Scottish Sun Lowland League clash with Whitehill Welfare knowing a win will all but see the inaugural title head to Ainslie Park.

The latest clash of the Lowland League titans puts Sammy v Mickey head to head for the 6^th time this season in all competitions.  Spartans lead 3 -2 in victories, with neither side surrendering home advantage so far in the head-to-heads of the League’s most famous rivalry. 

Welfare earned the spoils last time out on neutral ground in the Image Printers Cup however they needed extra-time, a two-man numerical advantage and a sudden-death shoot out to break down the champions-elect.

Spartans Manager Dougie Samuel leads his side into the game knowing a win all but seals the title in the coveted Scottish Sun sponsored competition.

“We have three games left to secure the title and see us create a piece of Scottish football history.   Naturally, I’d prefer to do so at the first attempt of asking and a win on Saturday at Rosewell will allow us to do that.”

As has been the situation for the bulk of the season, which begun in earnest last July in the Ramsdens Cup, Samuel goes into the game without a full compliment of players to choose from,

“We have several players missing this weekend, including Scott Bennett who will sadly miss the rest of the season after picking up a groin injury at his day job as a PE teacher.  Scotty joins our Jack (Beacher), Robbie (Ross) and Ally (MacKinnon) in the rehab room, which is a great shame for an outstanding addition to the side this season.”

At the other end of the field, prolific hitman Keith McLeod is looking forward to the challenge.  The striker, who has found the back of the net 30 times so far this season said, ”It’ll be another tough game against Whitehill who are on a bit of a run, however the boys are desperate to reverse the recent cup final result. I’ll settle for a 1-0 win and maybe if we keep eleven players on the pitch, we’ll have a good chance of taking the 3 points.”

A win at Whitehill for McLeod and Co, along with Spartans’ superior goal difference, will all but see the League trophy head to Academy. 

Our resident Statto, Cameron Hobbs, runs through the permutations of what drama could potentially still unfold during the final few weeks of what has been an exciting season so far.

• Currently 4 teams can mathematically win the Lowland League
• A Spartans defeat tomorrow means that hypothetical scenario remains
• A draw tomorrow would mean that Stirling Uni could no longer win the league.
• A Spartans win tomorrow would mean that Stirling Uni & Dalbeattie could no longer win the league.
• A win tomorrow and Vale lose or draw in their game at home to Threave means that Spartans will win the league title.

Current points (Maximum possible points)

 Spartans – 45 (54) – 3 games left

Stirling Uni – 33 (45) – 4 games left

Dalbeattie Star – 32 (47) – 5 games left

Vale of Leithen – 30 (48) – 6 games left

Teams to play

Spartans – Whitehill (A), Dalbeattie (H), Stirling Uni (A)

Stirling Uni – Selkirk (H), Edinburgh City (H), Vale (A), Spartans (H)

Dalbeattie – Gretna (H), Vale (A), Vale (H), Spartans (A), Threave (A)

Vale – Threave (H), Whitehill (H), Dalbeattie Star (H), Dalbeattie Star (A), Stirling (H),  Edinburgh City (A)

Tomorrow’s match at Ferguson Park kicks off at 3pm.  We’d love to see a big Spartan Army support on the terraces to cheer the boys on.  Be part of it.