Under 20s: Jubulant Jamie seals win in five goal Glaswegian drama

Posted on Saturday, September 17th, 2016

Jamie Clark became the unlikely Spartans U20s hero on Friday night when his injury time thunderous strike gave Les Atkinson’s side a dramatic 2-3 win over BSC Glasgow in the Qualifying League.

After an impromptu ‘Tour de Glasgow’ enforced by logistics over the booking at Benburn Juniors, the match took place under the lights at the impressive Scotstoun complex.

With the visitors already having qualified for the semi finals prior to kick-off and the hosts already out of the equation, one could be forgiven for anticipating a dead rubber of a game.  Five goals and a dramatic ending later left those on and off the pitch with plenty to discuss on the journey home.

BSC had the best of the early chances and it took Jamie Clark’s goal line headed clearance to keep the scoreline blank.  At the other end, it took a decent save from the BSC keeper down low at his post to deny Johnny Grotlin however there were muted plaudits for the shot stopper with a bye-kick awarded instead.

It was Spartans who finally took the lead just before the half hour mark.  Harry Girdwood’s inch perfect pass to the darting Brandon Archibald saw the striker outpace his defender before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the net.

A manic few minutes saw the BSC goal frame rattled by ball and man as the siege to score a second continued.

Unfortunately the second goal of the night came at the other end.  A free-kick on the edge of the box was curled round the defensive wall and despite the scrambling efforts of Cameron Rae, it was all square.

HT: BSC Glasgow u20s 1-1 Spartans u20s

Last season’s prolific Under 17s hitman Cameron Dawson was unfortunate to come up against the agile Glaswegian goalie who pulled off a fine save in the 55th minute.

With the game entering the final ten minutes and a point each the likely outcome, the supporters lined around the 3G cage were treated to a finale of frantic proportions.

The hosts looked to have put themselves in the driving seat when a move from defence to attack in a handful of moves saw Rae beaten for the second time and the home support contemplating their side’s first win of the season.

Their joys were short lived and just three minutes later, the speed of Cameron Dawson showed the striker is as effective on the ground as he is in the air, with a burst into the penalty area before despatching with aplomb.

Murray Hand saw the lights – or was it the glare off the full moon – and went on a lung-bursting drive towards the dangerzone, with his final effort drawing applause despite it finally drifting wide.

Then, with the game heading into injury time, Jamie Clark found himself in the opposition box and when the ball zoomed into his direction, the defender put his foot through it to send home a super strike that whizzed passed the packed penalty area into the goal.

FT: BSC Glasgow u20s 2-3 Spartans u20s