Hay is the straw that breaks East Kibride’s back in top of the table clash

Posted on Sunday, November 20th, 2016

A 38th minute goal by Jack Hay earned Spartans a hard fought 1-0 win over East Kilbride, bringing the league leaders much publicised unbeaten run to a halt in an at times frantic and fractious affair at Ainslie Park.

Dougie Samuel takes his side into their Scottish Cup 3rd Round tie away to St Mirren boosted by the win against Kilby who played out the final 15 minutes with 10 men after Kieran Gibbons earned a straight red card for a crude two-footed lunge on Craig Stevenson.

Spartans looked to make it back-to-back wins at home in the space of five days as they entertained Martin Lauchlan’s side in a bitterly cold North Edinburgh.  They almost got of the perfect start when Andrew Mair found himself in the box however his shot was comfortably saved by Jacob Kean.

Previous games between the sides have offered goals and incident-packed encounters and this was to be no different.  An early meeting of two players in front of the stand giving both sets of fans something to warm their vocal chords about and see both benches exchange pleasantries.

Blair Tolmie’s effort in the 37th minute from an Eddie Malone corner was headed narrowly wide as Spartans pressed for an opening goal.  That was to come moments later when Jack Hay received the ball inside the box before outfoxing Craig Howie to ram the all home through a bevvy of bodies.

HT: Spartans 1-0 East Kilbride

Adam Strachan’s free-kick from outside the box set up an ideal opportunity for the visitors to equalise however his effort could only find the roof of the net – on the adjoining five-a-side enclosure.

Blair Tolmie’s timely tackle inside the box denied Joao Victoria as East Kilbride’s 30 match unbeaten run started to look precariously close to coming to an end.

Their task was made harder when Kieran Gibbons was sent for an early shower by Referee Scott Millar much to the bemusement of the visitors bench.

They were even less enamoured when Alan Brown tangled with Victoria in the box with Smith waving away appeals as the bench raced onto the pitch in a fit of rage.

FT: Spartans 1-o East Kilbride

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Malone (Watson 87), Tolmie, Thomson, Mair, Brown, Dishington, Townsley, Hay (Ward 85), Stevenson.   Subs Unused: Beesley, Comrie, Gabiola, Maxwell, Gilpin

East Kilbride: Kean, Capuano, Russell, McLaren (Coll 56), Howie, Gibbons, Winter, Hughes (Marenghi 67), Smith (Hardie 56), Strachan, Victoria.  Unused Subs: McNeil, Stevenson, Millar, McGinley