Last stop Broch shock as Spartans crash out of Scottish Cup

Posted on Sunday, November 19th, 2017

A last gasp goal saw Spartans crash out the William Hill Scottish Cup in a topsy-turvy tussle against Highland League outfit Fraserburgh at Ainslie Park.

Spartans welcomed the Broch to the capital as the match kicked off under a blanket of blue sky with the temperature turned off.

It was the hosts who largely dominated the first half and they set out to get their noses in front from the outset.  Jack Nixon’s torpedo throw into the box saw the ball land at the feet of Jamie Dishington who scooped over the bar.

The 20 year old wasn’t to be denied shortly after when he beat the offside trap before bringing down the ball and slide low into the net past Peter Tait in the Broch goal.   The strike was Spartans 100th in their 39 year Scottish Cup history.

Mikey Herd then came close when the warmed the fingers of Tait who pushed his 20 yard thunderous shot over the bar.

A free header from Jamie Beagrie following Lewis Davidson’s cross in the 34th minute saw the first opportunity for the visitors but it was the hosts who went into the changing rooms at the break a goal to the good.

HT: Spartans 1-0 Fraserburgh

The game was turned on its head just two minutes into the half when Craig Stevenson was adjudged to have impeded a Broch player just inside the box.  As soft penalties go, it was right up there, however the officials decided enough contact was made to award the spot kick.  Paul Campbell stepped up and nestled the ball home out of the reach of Andrew Stobie.

Spartans rallied and both Craig Stevenson and Ross Allum looked dangerous as they attacked the Fraserburgh defence as they looked to regain the lead.

Just as the 335 fans who braved the cold were considering a replay next week, a ball into the Spartans box finally arrived at Bryan Hay who hit home to send the travelling support into raptures and his side into the next round.

FT: Spartans 1-2 Fraserburgh

Teams: Stobie, Thomson, Stevenson, Nixon, Tolmie, Greenhill (Atkinson 75), Dishington, Herd, Allum, McFarland, Brown.  Unused: Guthrie, Khutsisvilli, Maxwell, Corbett, Hard, Carswell.