Border control : Spartans second half salvo secures win

Posted on Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

Spartans netted four goals for the second time in four days and Blair Carswell earned back to back clean sheets as Dougie Samuel’s side’s second half show swept aside Gala at Netherdale.

With the forecast for monsoon conditions across Scotland, it was raining goals after the break as the Edinburgh side moved up to sixth spot in the Lowland League table.

Despite the breath catching muggy weather, both teams went at it full pelt from the off with the visitors having the better of the opening exchanges. 

It could well have been an early opener for Spartans but for a tremendous double save from Gala goalkeeper Dean Beveridge.  He palmed away a powerful Blair Henderson header and then recovered to deny Sam Newman before Calum Hall cleared from his own goal line.

Daryl Healy then called Blair Carswell into action despite appearing to be in an offside position however The Goalie ‘played to the whistle’ and pulled off a fine stop.

A Jamie Dishington was perhaps the pick of the chances in the opening quarter of an hour but he could only put his header over the bar.

It was fairly ebb and flow as the half progressed with both sides enjoying periods of possession however when it came to turning this into creating an advantage, the final finish was to be found wanting at either end. 

Dishington then turned provider for Blair Henderson who got in between the defender and keeper but headed narrowly wide as the first half came to a close.

Half time: Gala Fairydean Rovers 0-0 The Spartans

Seven minutes after the interval, Spartans broke the deadlock. 

A cross into the box was only half cleared by a Gala defender.  It fell to Michael Bolochowechyj who’s audacious overhead kick was blocked, only for the ball to land at the feet of Michael Allan who drilled it home.

Gala looked to respond immediately however from a well earned corner, a counter attack saw Spartans on the move.  Jamie Dishington launched the ball towards the box, a mix up between Lewis Grant and Dean Beveridge, who had progressed off his line, saw the ball evade the keeper and Sam Newman was on hand to send the spillage into the back of the net.

Blair Carswell denied Daryl Healy for the second time midway through the second half with a super save as he palmed the Gala striker’s header over the bar.

Jamie Dishington was provider once again as Spartans put further light between the sides in the 71st minute as he popped the ball into the box for Scott Maxwell who was lurking at the back post and his thumping strike saw the net bulge as he hammered home.

Despite being three goals down, Gala kept plugging away and it was a case of what should have been for Calum Hall who passed up a glorious chance to get on the scoresheet as the game entered its final ten minutes.

With just three minutes left on the clock, a sweeping Spartans move saw Aaron Murrell send a cross into the box for Scott Maxwell who knocked the ball back inside for Blair Henderson who sent a looping header over the outstretched aerobic frame of Beveridge into the top corner.

Full Time: Gala Fairydean Rovers 0-4 The Spartans

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