Doubles Up! Allum and Townsley bag braces in Sunday success

Posted on Sunday, January 29th, 2017

Ross Allum opened up his Spartans account with a debut double whilst former East Stirlingshire man Chris Townsley netted a headed brace in a 1-4 Ferrari Packaging Lowland League win at Ochilview.

It was the hosts who took the lead courtesy of Jamie Glasgow in the 14th minute after he capitalised on a defensive frailty to guide the ball past Carswell.

Spartans drew level on the half hour mark when Jamie Dishington’s cross found Chris Townsley who towered above the home defence to bullet a header past Jamie Barclay .

New signing Ross Allum made it a goalscoring debut on the stroke of half time when he scooped Dishington’s cross beyond the home keeper to take the lead on the stroke of half time.

HT: East Stirling 1-2 Spartans

Shortly after the interval, David Greenhill had Barclay scrambling with a glancing header as Spartans looked to put light between the sides.

That elusive third goal came in the 62nd minute from another set-piece with Townsley once again offering the same outcome with a powerful nod past a defender on the line.

Shire’s task was made more difficult when former Spartan Paul Sludden was shown a straight red in the 70th minute.

It was a fascinating duel between Barclay and Allum throughout the game and the Shire keeper was in fine form to turn a rasper onto the post as Spartans looked to turn their numerical advantage into further goals.

Shire looked to narrow the deficit to set up a grandstand finish and it took a top class save by Blair Carswell at full stretch to deny a thunderous strike from Andy Rodgers.

With three minutes left on the clock, Allum added a fourth with a sublime turn and finish on the edge of the box sending the ball home via the inside of the post to round off a solid start at his new club.

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Brown, Tolmie, Thomson, Greenhill (Gabiola), Dishington, Maxwell (Stevenson 61) Allum, Townsley, Mair. Subs (unused): Beesley, Hay, Comrie, Gilpin

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Chris Townsley