GeoSonic Lowland League: Spartans pick up the points in North Edinburgh derby win

Posted on Saturday, March 30th, 2019

Spartans earned the North Edinburgh bragging rights following a comfortable 0-2 victory at a sun soaked Christie Gillies Park over hosts Civil Service Strollers.

Blair Atkinson’s strike before the break was enough to separate the sides ahead of heading to the sheds whilst an unfortunate Own Goal ensured three points were banked.

After a disappointing late defeat at East Kilbride in midweek, Spartans gaffer shuffled his deck ahead of the second North Edinburgh derby of the season.  Michael Herd once again with the armband whilst Adam Corbett was rested following a wee niggle received during the game.  Alan Brown was unavailable however he kept a watchful eye throughout via Twitter.

Watching football in March wearing sunglasses is as rare as hen’s teeth and even the relaxation of a three layer top combo meant spectating for all saw a busy arena as the game got underway.

An early counter attack saw Blair Atkinson and Jack Smith combine however the latter could only look on as his on target effort was well saved.  At the other end, a Strollers shot was hooked wide with a robust representation offered to the match official in the middle for a corner kick – alas, nothing was forthcoming.

Spartans were forced into an early change when Jack Smith tweaked his hamstring whilst racing in on goal and he was replaced by Stephen MacDonald.

With the half time pies nearing munching temperature, Spartans took the lead.  Stephen MacDonald rising like a fresh water salmon heading upstream to knock the ball into the path of Blair Atkinson who kept his composure before sliding the ball home.

HT: Civil Service Strollers 0-1 The Spartans

It was a frustrating opening quarter of the half for many inside the ground as neither side could make significant inroads in troubling either goalie whilst the low setting sunshine offered an extra threat for the Spartans defence.

Ian McFarland was once again in the thick of things and his shot saving challenge midway in the second spell was as timely as it was effective.  Not only preventing an exceedingly lucrative attempt to draw level but the no-nonsense player earning himself a free-kick in the process.

Then, with fifteen minutes on the clock, further light was put between the sides in the most unfortunate of circumstances for the hosts.  A long ball into the danger area saw the keeper come and the defender too, who had one eye on the ball, another on an in-coming Stephen MacDonald and in the aerial interaction that followed, it was the unlucky Strollers player who looked on in suspended animation as the ball trickled into the net after it hit him on the chops.

Blair Atkinson rattled the crossbar as he looked to bag a brace before he was replaced by Jason Stevens.  The sub almost making the most impressive impact with a header from a corner than only just cleared the crossbar.

FT: Civil Service Strollers 0-2 The Spartans