Hot-shot Harry pulls off Houdini act as Under 20s salvage point against Colts

Posted on Saturday, September 12th, 2015

Two late goals from Harry Girdwood earned a Spartans Under 20s a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Cumbernauld Colts at Ainslie Park on Friday evening.

Spartans were almost gifted a 5^th minute lead when a calamity in the Colts defence gifted Harry Girdwood an unlikely opportunity.  The striker looked on as his low drilled effort rebounded off the post and back into play.

Girdwood’s dismay was further compounded just three minutes later when Jordan Pirrie hit a well-placed shot from the edge of the box that nestled into the Spartans net.

Pirrie continued to cause the home side trouble and the Spartans keeper had to be on top form to push a long range effort onto the woodwork and out for a corner kick.

Spartans were handed a lifeline in the 33^rd minute when Jack Smith was relieved of a boot inside the box after being upended in the visitor’s box.  Girdwood stepped up, only to see is spot-kick effort clear the bar with gusto.

Jordan Brown will have counted himself desperately unlucky not to have taken his side into the interval all square after his enterprising run from the touchline saw the midfielder drift inside before seeing his strike go narrowly wide.

HT: Spartans 0-1 Cumernauld

Jordan Brown’s 56^th minute free-kick found Andy Mair deep inside the Colts box however the defender was unable to direct his header under the bar.

As witnessed in the opening half, a missed opportunity for the home team was immediately punished by the visitors at the other end.

Cameron McKay was the Colts hitman who put further light between the sides as he finished from 10 yards to give the Cumbernauld kids a two goal advantage.

The half continued to ebb and flow with neither goalkeeper being forced into any notable saves and the midfield becoming a war of attrition battle as Spartans looked for a glimmer of hope in salvaging anything from the game.

With seven minutes of the match remaining, Girdwood finally got his reward as he pulled a goal back with the aid of a deflection to set up an exciting finale.

Then, with just sixty seconds left on the clock, Jack Smith made his way to the by-line before his well-timed cross found Girdwood who didn’t need a written invitation to slot home from close range and earn his side a point at the death.

FT: Spartans u20s 2-2 Cumbernauld Colts u20s