Murrell at the double as late comeback gives Spartans the beating of Brechin

Posted on Thursday, July 9th, 2015

An Aaron Murrell double earned Spartans a late second half comeback win over League 1 side Brechin City at Ainslie Park on Thursday evening.

Dougie Samuel’s side continued their winning start to their pre-season fixture card with a 3-2 win against a Brechin side featuring no fewer than 12 trialists named in their squad.

Spartans were eager to start where they left off in Duns on Saturday and were on the front foot from the off. The home side could have counted themselves somewhat unlucky not to have earned a free-kick on the edge of the City box in the tenth minute when the ball appeared to strike Darren Dods on the arm.

Despite their promising opening to a free-flowing encounter, it was the men from Angus who took a 26th minute lead. Robert Thomson got himself on the scoresheet after making progress in the Spartans half before unleashing an effort that left Blair Carswell to pick the ball out with almost his first touch of the ball.

It was the tourists who extended their advantage 10 minutes later when that man Trialist (wearing No.7) made a break through the middle and his attempt evaded Carswell to send City in at the break two goals to the good.

HT: Spartans 0-2 Brechin City

Both sides made a host of changes at the interval as the respective Managers continued to build their pre-season jigsaw, looking to establish the full picture of their finished product come the start of their League campaigns.

New signing Keith Murray, who scored in his debut last Saturday, was unlucky not to add to his tally on the hour mark when his goal bound shot cannoned off the base of the post before fizzing across the face of the six yard box and to relative safety.

Spartans continued to press and were rewarded for their efforts with a goal from teenage striker Aaron Murrell. The hitman from the Under 20s carved an opening by cutting in from the touchline then sending an unstoppable drive that saw the upright of the post claiming an assist as the ball hit the back of the net.

This was to be no consolation effort for the Lowland League men and two minutes later, the sides were level.

David Greenhill showing his experience in midfield to win the ball back to set up Dean Horribine who sent his laces through the ball to equalise with 13 minutes left on the clock.

Just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, the comeback was complete. Aaron Murrell once again showing a cool head on kid shoulders by breaking the offside trap before chipping the ball over the advancing Brechin keeper to give his side, what appeared unlikely 15 minutes earlier, the winner.

FT: Spartans 3-2 Brechin

Spartans XI: Carswell, Herd, Malone, Stevenson, Mackinnon, Greenhill, Grant, Murray, Ward, Thomson, Atkinson.  Subs: Brown, Blaikie, Murrell, Dishington, Horribine & Gilpin (GK)