Lowland League: Sammy’s Spartans Star turn sets up Saturday showdown against Shire

Posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2018

Spartans go into the final day of the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League season in pole position following a 0-4 win on the road against Dalbeattie Star at Islecroft Stadium.

At the fifth time of asking due to the recent extended spell of inclement weather, the long await return encounter got underway on a paddock that the horse racing fraternity would best describe as ‘good to soft’.

Spartans looked to avoid a potential banana skin excursion against a Star side who were keen to pick up something from the game as they battle it out at the foot of the table.

The tourist’s nerves were put at ease as early as the 8th minute when Ian McFarland finished off a fine midfield move, sending his exquisitely executed curled strike from 18 yards beyond a diving Vinnie Parker into the net.

Spartans dominated as they looked to edge their noses further in front, playing much of the game in the home half of the field that had begun to cut up early doors and saw some players slip about like they were participating in their slippers.

The home side’s task of drawing level was invariably made a lot harder when in the 23rd minute, McKenna was offered exclusive use of the showers after he was shown a straight red following an unhelpful over the ball challenge on Spartans skipper Michael Herd.

Despite the healing comforts of Craig Samuel’s magic sponge, Herd’s involvement lasted a further five minutes before he succumbed to further foul play and was replaced by Alan Brown.

With the game heading into the final minutes before the oranges, tenacious play by Willie Bremner saw him work the ball into the path of Jason Stevens who didn’t need a written invitation before slotting home from close range.

HT: Dalbeattie Star 0-2 Spartans

After the interval, it was Bremner once again troubling the Star defence and his snapshot inside the box had Parker scrambling down low to keep the Spartans striker at bay.

There was little he could do on the hour mark however when Scott Maxwell’s run saw him have the have the freedom of Islecroft before he set up Gavin Malin who dinked home his side’s third of the evening.

Spartans made a couple of substitutions, with a heavy pitch and player recovery in equal consideration.  Guillermo Lamarca replacing Jamie Dishington followed by Blair Atkinson swapping with goal scorer Malin.

It was to take just three minutes for Atkinson to make his mark when the Spartans Pathway Graduate hammered home into the roof of the net following Bremner’s fine work in the build up play.

The final fifteen minutes were largely spent in conserve energy mode, with the ball probably the most appreciative of the Referee’s final whistle, such was it’s involvement in being knocked around the park with regularity within that quarter of an hour.

FT: Dalbeattie Star 0-4 Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Scott Maxwell

Spartans: Carswell, Malin (Atkinson), Stevenson, Herd (Brown), Nixon, Tolmie, Dishington (Lamarca), McFarland, Stevens, Bremner, Maxwell.  Subs (Unused): Greenhill, Khutsishvili, Cennerazzo, Stobie.