Hunter gives it welly to boot Spartans to victory

Posted on Sunday, January 31st, 2016

A solitary wonder-strike five minutes into the second half from George Hunter gave Spartans full points as Dougie Samuel’s side defeated East Kilbride at a frightfully cold K-Park.

Spartans were without a host of regulars for the trip as a result of injury and suspension whilst Aaron Murrell returned to the side.

After a Saturday morning plea on social media for fans to help clear the ground of overnight snow, the Lowland League fixture was given the go ahead by Referee David Dickinson.

Murrell had an early opportunity in front of goal when he breached the Kilby rear-guard however Matthew McGinley was equal to the task.

The hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock in the opening forty five freezing minutes, with the crossbar saving Spartans twice in a frantic sixty second spell.  First a free kick from 20 yards out rattled the woodwork then Lewis MacDonald’s shot went flashing across the face of Blair Carswell’s goal.

The visitors almost snatched a goal as the half went into injury time when Robbie McNab found himself at the back post but couldn’t get enough direction on his attempt at goal.

HT: East Kilbride 0-0 Spartans

With just five minutes on the clock after the interval, Hunter collected a cross from Murrell on the edge of the East Kilbride box before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net, leaving McGinley helpless.

Murrell came close to doubling the Spartans lead with a fine turn and shot from eighteen yards out whilst Carswell bravely denied Liam Gormley as the game started to open up.

The home support thought their team had levelled proceedings in the 75^th minute when Aaron Connelly’s shot hit the back of the net – only to realise it had done so via the parameter fence as his effort had gone wide.

With the game heading near its conclusion as the mercury plummeted, Gormley was inches away from capitalising on a momentary lapse in communication between Carswell and Robbie McNab as he nipped in before looking on agonisingly as his prodded effort hit the side netting.

Full Time: East Kilbride 0-1 Spartans

Man of the Match Hunter said of his winning strike, “I just thought about taking a touch, getting it under control and hitting it.  I didn’t know I had that left foot in my locker!  It managed to see it nestle in the top corner.”

Reflecting on the outcome, EK Manager Billy Ogilvie added, “We were beaten by the better team today.  Spartans were more clinical and were tactically more acute than us so we have no excuses – and the scoreline doesn’t lie.”

We would like to wish Billy and his side all the best as they look to defy the odds next week when they take on Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

Team:

East Kilbride: McGinley, Lachlan (Winter), Coll, Stevenson, Russell, Howie (Morris), MacDonald (Connolly), McBride, Gormley, Brady, McKinnon.  Subs: Templeton, Johnstone , Hastings, Kean.

Spartans: Carswell, Stevenson, Saunderson, Herd, Thomson (Dishington), Greenhill, Gray, McNab, Murrell (Mair), Hunter, Horribine.  Subs: Beesley, Rae (GK)

Ref: David Dickinson

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: George Hunter