Spartans edge out Students in seven goal thriller

Posted on Saturday, April 9th, 2016

Spartans extended their unbeaten Ferrari Packaging Lowland League run to seven games with an enthralling 3-4 win against Edinburgh University at Peffermill Playing Fields.

With the prospect of four gruelling games in no fewer than seven days, Aaron Murrell returned to Dougie Samuel’s starting line-up and it was to be a profitable afternoon from the young striker.

Despite the recent rainy times in the capital, the Peffermill pitch was in decent nick as the sides kicked off what was to be an exciting opening forty five, goal filled, minutes.

It was advantage Spartans with a quarter of an hour played following a dart to the bye-line from Ross Gray who drilled a low cross into the path of Murrell who slammed home from close range.

Spartans keeper Blair Carswell was grateful for the timely goal line clearance from Paul Thomson after the goalie mistimed a footrace to rid an on-rushing Student of the ball.

The game turned on its head in the matter of two frantic minutes when Dorian Ogunro’s side delivered a double-whammy to swing the pendulum into the favour of the hosts.

Former Spartan Scott McRory-Irvine equalised in the 34^th minute then, some 60 seconds later, an acrobatic effort from Jack Guthrie saw the Ainslie Park side chasing the game for the first time.

As the backroom staff of both teams considered their half time team talks, a transgression inside the University box allowed Murrell to step up and send Mark Tait the wrong way from the spot to level proceedings.

Half Time: Edinburgh University 2-2 Spartans

Just after the hour mark, a well weighted delivery from Craig Stevenson found Murrell lurking in the box however the striker’s attempt was kept out by the a combination of crossbar and post.

The same player was then denied his hat-trick by the foot of Tait who knew very little about the save from all of three yards.

Spartans then restored their lead in the 72^nd minute when Michael Herd’s header fell into the path of his namesake Bruce who finished the move with a sliding effort that nestled in the back of the net.

Carswell pulled off what was a crucial save four minutes later from Robert Collins as the Uni substitute found himself in a useful position in front of goal.

With the game entering into its final three minutes, Keith Murray outfoxed his opponent before sending the ball across goal for David Greenhill who obliged at the back post to extend the lead.

Dramatic scenes unfolded two minutes later when Murray was shown two yellow cards in relatively quick succession, with the Referee offering him the opportunity to beat the post-match shower room rush.

Deep into injury time, Duncan Black nipped in with the head to nudge home a corner to reduce the deficit for the Students but it was too little too late and the ten-man Spartans held on for all three points.

Full Time: Edinburgh University 3-4 Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Jamie Dishington