South Challenge Cup: Tynie win big as Spartans bow out of Challenge Cup

Posted on Sunday, November 13th, 2016

Spartans bowed out of the South Challenge Cup after a single goal defeat against Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon.

A Louis Swanson first half free-kick was enough to separate the sides despite several Spartans chances being denied by some last ditch defending from the East of Scotland team.

Scottish Cup opponents St Mirren were at Saughton, manager Jack Ross in amongst the hardy perennials watching the tie.

Chris Townsley’s 25 minute header from a Jack Beesley cross was the first of a handful of efforts cleared off the line by the home defence.  Jack Hay had the ball in the net shortly after but his joy was short lived as he was flagged offside.

The hosts took the lead shortly before the interval.  Swanson doing just enough to evade the leaping wall and tuck the ball past the despairing dive of Blair Carswell to find the net.

Spartans looked for a quick response.  Herd seeing his effort tipped over the bar followed by Comrie who had his attempt cleared off that fragile whitewash.

HT: Tynecastle 1-0 Spartans

Goalscorer Swanson was booked in the 53rd minute as Spartans pressed for an equaliser early in the second half.

Another clearance from under the crossbar this time denied Jamie Dishington as the game entered it’s final quarter.

With twenty minutes left, Swanson turned saint to sinner when he received his jotters from the Ref for a second yellow of the afternoon.

As the game entered its dying stages, Broque Watson had an opportunity to set up a grand finale only for his shot to be saved by the Tynecastle keeper.

FT: Tynecastle 1-0 Spartans