Spartans Back To Winning Ways With Victory Over Vale

Posted on Saturday, September 20th, 2014

Spartans stay in 2nd place in the Scottish Sun Lowland League with a 2-0 victory over Vale of Leithen. Donal Henretty and Mike Bruce returned to the squad following the midweek draw against Edinbrugh Uni in place of Jack Beacher and Kevin Motion.

Spartans started well an were ahead after just 3 minutes. Willie Bremner was tripped on the edge of the box, winning a free kick. Jack Beesley’s curled attempt was parried by Vale keeper Mark Wilson and Ally MacKinnon was on hand to poke the ball over the line and into the net.

Mike Bruce could have doubled the lead later in the half when he rose highest to meet an in-swinging Jack Beesley corner however the ball hit the bar and bounced clear.

Errol Douglas’ pace was causing the Vale defence problems and he was unlucky to see his strike from the edge of the box bounce off Donal Henretty after he did well to make the opportunity for himself.

Danny O’Donnell had to replace Spartans captain Kevin Sivewright after just 25 minutes after the centre half picked up a neck injury. With an every growing injury list at Ainslie Park manager Dougie Samuel will have been concerned to see him struggle to move his head, however will have been pleased that his defence remained strong and held on for a deserved clean sheet.

Vale Midfielder Ross Brady was lucky to just receive a yellow card as he scythed down Jack Beesley just outside the box. The Spartans dugout looked on with concerned faces as the midfielder needed some lengthy treatment, however after coming off the park was able to continued. From the resulting free kick Craig Stevenson curled a strike just wide of the post in what was the last chance of the half.

Spartans started the 2nd half well and a pin point pass from Beesley set Errol Douglas free, however the striker saw his shot land in the side netting. It was Beesley however who got the vital 2nd goals after 56 minutes when Douglas fed him the ball with a superb pass, allowing Beesley to control the ball and place it under the keeper and into the net. Dougie Samuel replaced Beesley moments later, wary with the number of injuries that he didn’t risk the important playmaker, still carrying the earlier knock, any further.

In a bizarre moment at the back, right back Ally MacKinnon played the ball out of defence, lost his footing and completed an impressive forward roll before getting back on his feet before controlling the ball again, much to the amusement of the noisy Spartans support.

Vale struggled to great many clear chances and Kevin Swain was never really tested as his defence held strong and Spartans secured what is an important three points against an in form Vale of Leithen side.

Malt & Hops Man of the Match: Errol Douglas – A superb hard working performance form Errol who caused problems all afternoon and could have bagged a hat trick himself!

Team: Swain, MacKinnon, Cennerazzo, Sivewright (O’Donnell), Bruce, Stevenson, Beesley (Muhsin), Grant, Douglas, Henretty, Bremner (McLeod) Unused: Motion, Gilpin