Scottish Youth Cup: Spartans earn plaudits but can’t curtail Killie

Posted on Monday, October 30th, 2017

Les Atkinson’s Under 20s side earned the plaudits however it was Kilmarnock’s ball that will feature in the proverbial hat for the next round of the Scottish Youth Cup following Sunday’s 0-3 reversal at Ainslie Park.

Cameron Dawson returned to the Spartans line-up following his month-long loan spell at Tranent Juniors and it was the striker who came close to breaking the deadlock early in the game when he found space just inside the box to let fly, only for the Killie keeper to smother.

Jordan Smith was unfortunate not to open the account with a powerful drive from some 25 yards only to see the shot just rise enough to clear the frame.

Meanwhile at the other end, the visitors almost benefitted from confusion between defender and goalkeeper as a back-pass went astray.  Thankfully the blushes were spared when Cameron could only send the ball wide with an inviting open net at his mercy.

Just before the half hour mark, the Rugby Park side took the lead, somewhat against the run of play and in controversial circumstances.  A spot kick was awarded by the match official after a coming together of bodies in the box was adjudged to have incurred the wrath of the Ref.  Samizadeh stepped up to send Jordan Pettigrew the wrong way.

Samizadeh almost made it two from open play, only to find Pettigrew in fine form.  Unfortunately the respite from conceding a second was brief and the Premiership side’s Development Team were two up at the interval when Scally diverted the cross home.  Quite with what part of the anatomy was the question on the home players’ lips as the remonstrated with the officials, albeit in vain.

Mikey Allan was unlucky not to halve the deficit on the stroke of half time when his curling free-kick skimmed the top of Killie crossbar.

HT: Spartans u20s 0-2 Kilmarnock

The second half saw the previously pleasant blue Pilton sky replaced rather sharply by the chilly autumnal air from the nearby Forth as the Academy Café recorded sizeable sales in half time brews.

There was little to heat the hands of the fans in the stand in the early exchanges, perhaps with the exception of some fine defending by Danny Sutherland who used his strength to fend off a probing attack in the corner to shepherd the ball out of danger’s way.

Jordan Smith was equally as close as he was in the opening forty five when his effort from identical range was unlucky not to find the target, drawing applause from the home support.

Spartans interests in the competition were all but ended for another year when Samizadeh bagged his brace with a very well taken goal.

As the game entered its final stages, Spartans pressed for a consolation strike that no-one would have begrudged them for their efforts.  Cameron Dawson linking up well with Arron Singh who launched a cheeky effort towards the top corner, only to find the gloves of the Killie shot stopper to deny.

Then, with the mercury plummeting and the warmth of the showers moments away, Jordan Pettigrew pulled off a tremendous save from McDonald to ensure the scoreline remained 0-3.

FT: Spartans 0-3 Kilmarnock