Beefy bags a hat-trick as Spartans put Selkirk to the sword

Posted on Sunday, December 11th, 2016

Keith Murray put Selkirk to the sword with a hat-trick as Spartans put six past the Borders side at Yarrow Park.

On a heavy surface, both teams struggled initially to enter into a fast flowing passing game, but in the 15th minute a free-kick from Jack Beesley was driven home by Murray.

Beesley was unlucky not to double the lead shortly after when a trademark deadball attempt from 20 yards crashed off the Selkirk crossbar with the keeper a mere bystander in the proceedings.

A double whammy in a two minute spell ahead of half time put the outcome to bed.  Jamie Dishington forged open an opportunity for Alan Brown who finished with consummate ease from twelve yards.

Brown was the architect for Spartans third of the day when he took on his man out wide before whipping in a pinpoint pass to Murray who didn’t need an invitation to send it home with gusto.

HT: Selkirk FC 0-3 Spartans

Eleven minutes after the interval and it was the easiest goal Scott Maxwell is likely to score in his career following Beesley’s well-weighted low cross along the six-yard box to find the unmarked Spartan at the back post for a simple tap-in.

Just after the hour mark, Murray – who unsurprisingly earned the Malt and Hops Man of the Match Award – notched up his hat-trick courtesy of a tremendous cross by Mikey Herd.

A triple substitution followed with Jack Hay, Dan Ward and Craig Comrie replacing Maxwell, Herd and Brown.

It was substitute Ward who put the icing on the festive cake with neat feet and inside the box to open up the chance to drill past Amos to round off a decent afternoon under the watchful eye of the sheep on the neighbouring hills.

FT: Selkirk 0-6 Spartans

Spartans: Carswell, Herd (Ward 67), Maxwell (Comrie 67), Mair, Tolmie, Stevenson, Beesley, Dishington, Murray, Brown (Hay 67), Townsley.  Subs (Unused) Malone, Gabiola, Watson, Gilpin (GK)

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Keith Murray