Lowland League | Tait breaks duck as Spartans hit Vale for six

Posted on Friday, November 13th, 2020

Joe Tait scored his first senior Spartans goal as his side hit Vale of Leithen for six in the Lowland League.

Another midweek outing in a jam-packed earlier quarter of the season saw Dougie Samuel lock horns with a former Ainslie Park favourite in the shape of Chris Anderson, with the Spartans gaffer looking to put a halt to recent losses whilst the latter seeking his side’s first points of the campaign.

Sky Sports presenter Charles Paterson joined Cameron Hobbs in the commentary box as the club’s live feed saw fans across the globe tune in for the feast of goals they were about to receive.

The opening goal came in the 11th minute following fine play in midfield to find Jamie Watson who sent in a peach of a delivery to find Cameron Dawson who powered his header beyond the outstretched arm of Ben McGinley and it had enough still to breach the whitewash.

It was almost a second moments later when Mikey Allan swept a cross along the six yard box however Cameron Dawson was, if such a thing is possible, too close to the goal and he managed to hit the back of the net whilst the ball clattered the post and moved off to safety.

However, he didn’t have long to wait to get another. In almost a carbon copy of the opener, with Mikey Allan launching the ball into the penalty area and there was Cameron Dawson to send a looping header over McGinley and into the onion bag.

With the game heading to half time, Spartans put the game beyond the Borders side’s reach when Meekison crossed into the near post for Adam Corbett who bravely dived between defender and post to nod home.

Half Time: Spartans 3-0 Vale of Leithen

Spartans continued to take the game to the visitors after the interval and in the 62nd minute, Joe Tait was on hand to head home Jamie Watson’s delightfully weighted cross to notch up his first senior goal.

Tait clearly enjoyed the moment and almost made it a double shortly after when the turned his defender inside out before smashing his effort of the post.

Midway through the half, former Spartans Under 20s player and now wearing the Vale’s skipper’s armband was put into space by another ex Academy lad Jonny Grotlin only to watch his shot beat Harry Stone but not the crossbar.

Gregor Woods was next to have a pop, this time from long range and his shot went narrowly past the post.

With five minutes left on the clock, ‘Stop the Count’ may have been the call from the visiting dug out. Aaron Murrell had other things on his mind and within that narrow timeframe, he still had time to bag a brace.

First up saw him exchange a neat one-two with Scott McCrory-Irving and whilst his low ball across the face of the six yard box evaded Joe Tait, it was gathered by Gregor Woods who whipped it back from where it came and Aaron Murrell was on hand to tap home.

Then, two minutes later, Archie Meekison turned on the gas against the tattooed trialist of Vale marking him before he had his legs taken away from him rather crudely leaving Referee Brent Falconer with the easiest of decision.

Aaron Murrell stepped up and sent McGinley the wrong way to make it six and also hand Harry Stone his first clean sheet since signing on loan from Hearts.

FT: Spartans 6-0 Vale of Leithen

Spartans: Stone, Watson, Allan, Corbett (Russell 70), Bolochoweckyj, Brown (Woods 70), McCrory-Irving, Jones (Caddow 70), Dawson (Tait 57), Maxwell (Murrell 45), Meekison. Subs (Not Used: Grant, Trialist)

Match highlights available to view via our You Tube channel

Picture gallery on our Facebook page here and here plus SW Photography over on Flickr