Lowland League Preview: Sammy’s Spartans get set for toughest test yet

Posted on Friday, August 22nd, 2014

Spartans welcome early joint table toppers East Kilbride to Ainslie Park in this weekend’s latest Scottish Sun Lowland League encounter.

In what Manager Dougie Samuel describes as his side’s “toughest test of the new season to date”, Spartans will be looking to be the first team to defeat ‘Kilby’ and by doing so, they’d be the only team to have made it past goalkeeper Jacob Kean who sits on three consecutive clean sheets so far.

Samuel will be keen to record his first victory against East Kilbride too, with a late Martyn McLaughlin goal separating the sides at this stage last season whilst the teams played out a goalless draw in the return affair at Ainslie Park later in the Spartans title winning campaign.

There have been several personnel changes since then, more so for the visitors with a change of management in the close season.  Samuel added, “East Kilbride and their new squad have made the perfect start to the new season, currently topping the table. It’s the perfect start to a new era, building on their South Challenge cup success last year and a very credible performance in the league.”

For the home side, a late show in Gala last week ensured Spartans stay at the business end of the table as they seek to retain their Lowland League crown come April next year.

A midweek run out against East of Scotland side Leith Athletic allowed Samuel to give several players valuable game time, with Errol Douglas grabbing a hat-trick in a 2-7 victory at Meadowbank on the 3G.

Jack Beacher’s road to recovery continued on Tuesday night with a full second half under his belt however both he and namesake Beesley are both unavailable for selection.

There are also a couple of unnamed injury doubts that Samuel sweats over before making his team selection however, on a more positive note, Alan Brown came through a full 90 minutes in midweek and Gary Cennerazzo comes back into the reckoning following a short break.

Kick-off at Ainslie Park is 3pm.   Affordable football  for all – Adults £5, Concessions £3 and Under 15s go FREE!!