Lowland League | Spartans reign in the rain at Peffermill

Posted on Monday, February 3rd, 2020

Scott Maxwell and Jack Smith bagged braces as Spartans recorded the league double against Edinburgh University with a 2-5 win in awful conditions at Peffermill.

From the off, Spartans attacked the railway line end with gusto. Jack Smith first up with a snapshot, followed by Scott Maxwell then Blair Atkinson as Dougie Samuel’s side looked to gain an early upper hand in decidedly inclement weather.

The travelling support didn’t have long to wait for the early pressure to turn into goals. A long clearance from Blair Carswell found his namesake Atkinson who broke the deadlock from 18 yards.

Atkinson looked to extend the lead when the raced into the box, but he was upended by the keeper. Scott Maxwell kept his composure to slot the spot kick home.

A lengthy break in play saw Mark Watters require assistance before his part in the game was curtailed due to a concussion injury following a collision with Jack Smith. The club wish him a speedy, but cautious, recovery.

On the half hour mark, Spartans made it three. Aaron Scott’s pinpoint pass found its way to Jack Smith who didn’t need an invitation to do what he does best – score.

Five minutes before the interval, the Students grabbed themselves a possible lifeline when Baird finished well to make it 1-3 at the break.

HT: Edinburgh University 1-3 The Spartans

Ten minutes after the break, the outcome of the match looked to have been put beyond reasonable doubt.

Aaron Scott’s corner kick found the head of Scott Maxwell and the Malt and Hops Man of the Match nodded the ball into the net.

Facing a deficit of three goal in the rain, it got worse for the Students shortly after when they were reduced to 10 men as McFarlane was sent packing for a challenge on Maxwell.

Nicky Reid came on for Captain Corbett as Spartans began to ring the changes.

Moments later however, the stubborn Students refused to give up the ghost without a fight and Baird answered the call to send a cracking 25 yarder into the net.

The goalscoring was complete midway through the soggy second half when a corner was cleared to Gregor Woods who saw his shot deflected home by Jack Smith.

Cameron Dawson and Dale Baxter were introduced with a quarter of an hour left to play replacing Atkinson and Woods.

FT: Edinburgh University 2-5 The Spartans