EOS: Craigroyston steal the spoils in local derby

Posted on Saturday, November 7th, 2015

Spartans remain second top of the Central Taxis East of Scotland league table despite their narrow defeat to near neighbours Craigroyston in a frustrating afternoon for Colin Tomassi’s side.

With the Lowland League fixture at Whitehill postponed earlier in the afternoon, it was the biggest EOS crowd of the season inside Ainslie Park.  They fell silent ahead of kick-off together with both sets of players for an impeccably observed a minute silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

The opening forty five minutes offered little to trouble either keeper as neither side could take the game by the scruff of its neck.  As the teams headed to the warmth of the changing rooms, it would be the visitors who would be the happier of the two teams as the scores remained level.

HT: Spartans EOS 0-0 Craigroyston

After a bonus afternoon in pie and Bovril sales at the break, the fans filtered their way back to the stand with their hunger for goals still needing satisfied.

Craigroyston’s Rooney came close with the first clear cut opportunity of the match in the 56th minute when he grazed the top of Cassal’s crossbar in what was a sign of the visitors intent to head back along Ferry Road with a win.

That threat turned into possible reality with 62 minutes on the clock.  The ball was launched into the Spartans box and after it bobbled about inside the area, it fell to Moncur who delivered what proved to be the hammer blow as he headed home.

It was the woodwork once again to the rescue, but this time it was to deny Dickson from levelling proceedings with a quarter of an hour to go.  The striker’s header hitting the post before rebounding to safety.

Substitute Donal Henretty almost snatched a point at the death however his headed effort went agonisingly wide.

FT: Spartans EOS 0-1 Craigroyston