Davy’s Derby delight as Spartans win ugly at Civil

Posted on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017

Ross Allum’s spot kick and a poacher poke from David Greenhill earned Spartans the bragging rights with a 1-2 win in the North Edinburgh derby at Christie Gillies Park.

It was the same starting XI from gaffer Dougie Samuel as Spartans looked to build on Saturday’s impressive win over Hawick Royal Albert and a shuffled bench served to utilise the squad in what is a jam packed period in the opening month of the campaign.

Spartans kicked off in what were pleasant conditions, a surprise considering the early downpour, traces of which glowed from the surface of the lush green surface that only the finest of Coos could hope to graze on all day long.

Back to the game…

The opening half was a frustrating one with both sides making chances akin to the surface – decidedly half cut.   Ross Allum was the closest to breaking the deadlock when he leaped above a Civil defender only to direct his header over the bar.

A lung bursting run from the pacey Alan Brown through the middle offered another opportunity for the striker however keeper Stuart Burnside was equal to the task.

HT: Civil Service Strollers 0-0 Spartans

There was just the one change at the break, with the Midgies out in force in time for the second half as the sun began to set behind the wall of trees behind the Strollers stopper.

Just eight minutes after the break, the visitors took the lead from the penalty spot.  David Greenhill was the intended recipient of a ball flighted into the six yard box however he was the Spartans salami in the Strollers sandwich and was bundled to the ground leaving the match official with an easy decision in pointing to the spot.  Up stepped Ross Allum who thundered the ball into the top corner out of the reach of the keeper to make it three in two games.

Only six minutes had lapsed and Civil were on level terms.  Stephen Froude netting for the hosts after being played in by ex-Spartan Davy Stewart following a steal in midfield.

Both sides were pressing to net would could prove to be an important winner as the season progresses.  A stramash in the box saw the ball ricochet off bodies aplenty, with various parts of anatomies preventing the leather spherical finding its final resting place.  It finally popped up into the path of David Greenhill who netted from close range for what proved to be the winning goal.

As the game slipped into its fifth minute of added time and calls for fans to switch on their smart phone lights around Christie Gillies Park moments away, the home side had one final effort.  A free-kick was awarded on the corner of Blair Carswell’s area however the dead ball attempt came to no good and with that, the final whistle sounded.

Match winner David Greenhill commented after the game, “I thought we started off well and dominated for the opening fifteen minutes however we couldn’t find the net.  Naturally Civil came back into it and it was pretty evens to half time.  It was kind of deja vu in the second to be fair and fair credit to the boys who defended well in the final ten as it’s tough when you are only a goal up, especially away from home, and the opposition are firing at you.

“I was a wee bit frustrated at not scoring at the weekend but it was ideal to be in the right place at the right time to get the winner tonight.  They don’t always have to be 40 yard screamers every time you know!”

FT: Civil Service Strollers 1-2 Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Michael Herd

Spartans: 1. Carswell 2. Herd 3. Stevenson 4. Tolmie 5. Thomson 6. Brown 7. Dishington 8. Greenhill (14. Khutsishvili 74) 9. Allum (16. Wilson 84) 10. McFarland 11. Guthrie (18. Bremner 63).  12. Atkinson 15. Nixon 17. Corbett 18. Bremner GK. Stobie