Captain Corbett’s cracker wins Challenge Cup for Under 20s

Posted on Saturday, May 27th, 2017

A sublime first half strike from Captain Adam Corbett was enough to earn his side silverware as Spartans lifted the Under 20s Challenge Cup against East Kilbride at K-Park on Friday night.

Les Atkinson’s plans were dealt a blow ahead of selection as striker Cameron Dawson failed to recover in time from injury to make the squad however there were spots on the bench for promising youngsters Gabriel Hill, Owen Logan and Callum Wales.

It was almost a perfect start in the sunshine for Spartans as Lewis Temple broke the high offside line only to be thwarted by the hands of the home keeper.

The opening exchanges were frantic and at a pace unlikely to be maintained in the Costa Del Kilby evening heat.

Jordan Pettigrew between the Spartans sticks was next to be called upon to make a definitive save as the hosts looked to take early lead.  The goalie making his frame big to block at close range.

Then, after 20 minutes, came the decisive goal.  Matt Brady’s charged down effort fell to the talismanic Corbett who used his strength to shrug off the efforts of two East Kilbride defenders on the edge of the box before composing himself to send a powerful shot that bulged the onion bag, sending the travelling Spartan Army support wild.

The next biggest attack of the evening came in the form of the local midgies who were out in some force.  Even the pair of faux Kestrels on the roof of the stand couldn’t scare these biting bad boys away.

Spartans almost doubled their advantage when Matt Brady showed great pace and power only to see his sweetly struck drive hit the base of the post.

HT: East Kilbride 0-1 Spartans

The hairdryers could be heard in the home shed at the interval and it was a busier start to the second half from East Kilbride who had lifted the league title earlier in the week.

A sea of pressure after the break however was marshalled well with Danny Sutherland showing his experience throughout in the heart of the visitors’ defence to thwart a couple of dangerous attacks.

Ahead of the hour mark, Owen Logan replaced Matt Brady who had run himself into the ground.  It was almost an inspirational substitution from the Spartans dug out as Logan beat the keeper who had strayed the corner of his box, only for the netbound effort to be launched into the neighbouring Country Park by the boot of  defender under his own crossbar.

Murray Hand was next up to have a pop, only to see a scrambling keeper get down well to push his shot round the post for a corner.

With the game deep into injury time, East Kilbride were offered one final opportunity to take the tie into extra time.  A free-kick some 22 yards out was lined up and struck well, only for Pettigrew to pull off a fantastic fingertip save to push the ball over the bar.

FT: East Kilbride 0-1 Spartans

The sides meet again next Wednesday in the Final of the Knock-Out Cup at Ainslie Park, 7.45pm KO.

Team: Pettigrew, O’Neil, Sutherland, Allan (Hill 88), Corbett, Currie, Hand, Laing, Brady (Logan 58), Temple, Hall.  Subs (Unused) Clark, Wales.