Deadly Dawson returns to net hat-trick in Under 20s win

Posted on Saturday, January 14th, 2017

Cameron Dawson marked his return to the Under 20s side in some style on Friday evening as his hat-trick downed Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale at a particularly chilly Ainslie Park.

The striker notched up his 21st goal of the season so far in a win that sees Spartans move up to 3rd place in the league table, just two points behind leaders Tynecastle but with a game in hand.

It was all change from the line-up that took on Stirling Albion in a friendly seven days previously as Les Atkinson looked to kick-off 2017 with maximum points against their mid-table opposition.

Spartans were offered an early opportunity to break the deadlock after the match official rightly called a pass back deep inside the visitors’ penalty box.  Perhaps it was just too close to the frame to allow Johnny Grotlin enough leverage with his strike and the shot rattled off the crossbar from just outside the six yard area.

The home fans who braved the elements didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal of the night.  Lewis Hall’s 10th minute determination took him towards the bye-line before whipping in a pin-point precision cross that Dawson despatched net-bound with a deft header.

Despite their dominance, it took more than twenty minutes for that lead to double – and it came from the same deadly duo.  Hall’s pass saw Dawson tuck in behind the back line and spotting a dithering visiting keeper, he won the race to the ball before slotting it into the empty net.

Harry Girdwood was unlucky not to add to the first half haul shortly before the break when his run and shot appeared to have been well saved by the visiting goalie only to see the whistler point for a goal kick.

After celebrating his 18th birthday midweek, Liam Currie had one final card to collect, unfortunately it was a yellow one for a slightly mis-timed tackle in midfield.

HT: Spartans u20s 2-0 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

An early second half scare came within minutes of the re-start as the team with two names hit the base of Cameron Rae’s post – a timely warning that they certainly weren’t giving up the ghost without a fight.

Cometh the hour however and Dawson showed little rustiness on his return to outpace the last man and race into the box to glide the ball into the net and claim his third hat-trick of the campaign.

Even with the outcome of the contest settled, the persistent LTHV lads continued to push for what would be a consolation goal.  Captain Adam Corbett put his armband on the line to take one for the team with a point-blank stop to thwart a fierce effort.  Shouts of ‘rub them’ were met by ‘count them’ as the skipper took a moment to regain his composure before carrying on.

FT: Spartans u20s 3-0 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale