Derby day drama sees Strollers and Spartans share the spoils

Posted on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016

Four goals, two red cards and a point each saw the inaugural Lowland League North Edinburgh Derby against Civil Service Strollers offer supporters plenty to discuss on the way home from Christie Gillies Park on Saturday afternoon.

After dominating the opening forty five minutes, Spartans went in at the break with just a solitary strike from Michael Herd to show for their efforts.  Then, in a bizarre two minute spell just after the interval, the pendulum swung in favour of the hosts with Stewart and Turnbull both heading home to put Strollers ahead.

Strollers had their dander up and it took two first class saves from Blair Carswell to keep his side in the game firstly to deny Boyle then push Cunningham’s effort over the bar.

There were loud appeals from the visitors in the 74th minute when Keith Murray collided with Burnside on the edge of the Civil penalty area as both players went for the ball.  Both came down with an almighty clatter with the Spartans man looking to have been taken out in the air.  Unfortunately the man in the middle pointed the other way for a free-kick to the home side.

Then, with the game edging into added time, Milligan was shown a straight red after an unhelpful challenge on Alan Brown.   Moments later, Brown was upended in the box to allow David Greenhill to step up and slot his spot-kick home to earn a share of the spoils.

The drama wasn’t over however and Brown was to join Milligan for an early shower after an off the ball incident that saw the Ref reach for his back pocket for the second time.

FT: Civil Service Strollers 2-2 Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Blair Carswell

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Raiker (Murray), Tolmie, Townsley, Malone, Greenhill, Brown, Watson, Dishington, Maxwell.  Unused Subs: Gabiola, Thomson, Corbett, Girdwood, Gilpin.