Under 20s: Dawson at the four as Spartans go nap in season opener

Posted on Saturday, August 19th, 2017

Spartans Under 20s got their Development League campaign off to a flying start, scoring nine goals without reply against newcomers Bonnyton Thistle at Ainslie Park.

Cameron Dawson started the season where he carried off last season with a personal haul of four goals, whilst Jordan Smith netting a hat-trick in what turned out to be a tough baptism of fire for the Kilmarnock side.

After finishing pre-season with a polished performance against Berwick Rangers, Les Atkinson’s side, including a handful of new signings, took less than 5 minutes to break the deadlock.  Summer signing Jordan Smith was on hand to open his account, poking the ball under the keeper to set the pace for the goal hungry Spartans side.

The visitors found themselves further behind in the 10^th minute when Olly Hetherington delivered a cross of pin-point accuracy for Cameron Dawson who headed home.

It was an early double whammy that Bonnyton failed to recover from however it took until a minute before half time until Spartans found the net again.  Calum O’Neil the provider for Dawson who netted at the second attempt after his initial effort hit the woodwork.

HT: Spartans 3-0 Bonnyton Thistle

Just two minutes after the break, Hetherington became the second of the incoming players to find the net following a neat one-two with Dawson and a top strike that found the roof of the net.

On the hour mark it was five when Hetherington and Gabriel Hill combined to allow Smith to bag his brace from a header.

Dawson secured his first proverbial match ball of the season when he enjoyed the freedom of Ainslie Park courtesy of a defence splitting pass from Hetherington to grab his hat-trick.

That hat-trick was extended with twenty minutes left on the clock when prolific striker Dawson got onto the end of a Danny Sutherland cross to nod home.

Two goals in the final three minutes finished off the goal spree and it was Smith who collected his own hat-trick ball moment with a powerful drive.  With almost the final play of the game, Smith turned provider for Rowan Fife who finished off a fine night with his new side’s ninth goal of the evening.

FT: Spartans 9-0 Bonnyton Thistle

Spartans: Pettigrew, O’Neil, Hill, Wishart, Laing, Crowe, Singh, Hand, Dawson, Smith, Hetherington. Bench: Sutherland, Urquhart, Cinar, Hosey, Fife.