Lowland League: Atkinson nets double as Spartans deliver Deja Edu with late winner once again

Posted on Sunday, February 18th, 2018

It was more of a sense of Deja Edu for Dougie Samuel and his Spartans charged as they left it til late for the second week in a row to record yet another vital three Lowland League championship points as they edged of Edusport Academy 2-1 at Ainslie Park courtesy of a Blair Atkinson double.

With all the other teams in the title chase securing victories in their respective fixtures, Spartans looked to be heading for a draw as the game drifted deeper into added on time.

Then Atkinson popped up to break French hearts, just like Scotland’s Rugby Union side done across town last weekend, to ensure parity was restored at the business end of the table.

The first half offered no goals however it did see the hosts with the bulk of possession and attempts on target. The opening half hour saw the Edusport net come under attack with relative regularity however the ball just wouldn’t find its way into the onion bag.

David Greenhill, last weekends hero, came close with a free-kick as Spartans laid siege upon the Annan-based side’s penalty box.

After soaking up the pressure and preserving their rearguard, the Students came back into the game and it took a sterling show in the back division to hold them at bay.

HT Spartans 0-0 Edusport Academy

The half time oranges done, team talks taken, both sides came out for a second forty five and shortly after, Spartans had the opportunity to take the lead. Ross Allum was upended in the box leaving the match official with an easy decision to make. Allum dusted himself down only to see his attempt saved and Ian McFarland’s headed rebound go wide.

Allum however atoned for his miss when the delivered a telling ball that found Atkinson who opened the scoring in the 63rd minute.

A grandstand finish was set-up when Edusport levelled proceedings with just eight minutes left on the clock.

Then there were loud appeals from the home support for a penalty kick when a cross appeared to hit the arm of a defender inside the area. Play raged on as claims for a spot kick were brushed aside by the man in the middle.

The spoils looked certain to be being shared as the sands of time moved on grain by grain, by not before Atkinson popped up to net the winner. Cue absolute scenes and a jubilant / relieved Dougie Samuel ‘doing a Mourinho’ down the touchline.

Elation for the Ainslie Park men and utter deflation for Edusport who must have thought they’d done enough to pick up a point in the capital.

FT Spartans 2-1 Edusport Academy

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson (Dishington 68), Corbett, Tolmie, Greenhill (Lamarca 87), Atkinson, McFarland, Allum (Stevens), Brown, Maxwell.  Subs: Bremner, Thomson, Guthrie, Stobie.

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Blair Atkinson


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 09/11/24
Opponent: Forfar Athletic
Venue:Station Park
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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