Spartans are dilly at Lily to progress in Challenge Cup

Posted on Sunday, October 17th, 2021

The Spartans progressed into the next round of the East of Scotland Challenge Cup with a 1-4 win over Easthouses Lily, however they were made to work hard by the Conference B side who took the lead and were later reduced to 10 men.

With Jack Newman recalled by his parent club Dundee United for the bench at Easter Road, Under 20s keeper Miko Komocki took over between the sticks whilst there was a place on the bench for new signing Calum Burns from Stirling Uni.

It’s been a decade since the sides last met and the travelling committee were impressed by the set-up the hosts have in place and enjoyed reminiscing about encounters from yesteryear ahead of kick-off.

Kick-off itself was slightly delayed itself as Spartans goalie coach got a leg-up by Komocki to help fix the net in order to allow the game to start.

It was of course hoped that the net wouldn’t be troubled during the first half and the match started largely at the other end with a brace of corners in the opening couple of minutes for the visitors.

However, with their first venture into the Spartans half, a bit of individual trickery by Cammy McBeth saw him squeeze a shot into the inside post to give the hosts the lead.

It took just four minutes for the scores to be levelled. Jamie Dishington working the ball to the corner before sending back inside to Cammy Russell who sent the ball across the face of the keeper into the opposite end of the net.

Mikey Allan was denied by a defender on the post when he outjumped the posse of players on the six yard box but the header was hoofed to safety.

A Cammy Russell corner almost made it a double for the striker as his inswinging effort almost outfoxed the keeper who had to react quickly to push over the bar.

HT: Easthouses Lily 1-1 The Spartans

Gregor Woods replaced the previously cautioned Ian McFarland at the interval.

Youngster Komocki was called upon to take a flighted ball inside his area and he done well under significant pressure to keep the scores level.

With twenty minutes left on the clock, Spartans took the lead for the first time in the game – and one that they weren’t to surrender.

A corner came into the front post which was flicked on by Blair Henderson who found the face of the crossbar and it dropped down onto the head of Kevin Waugh who won’t score an easier goal in his career.

Sam Newman then came on for Sam Jones who provided the set-piece delivery for Waugh’s goal.

The hosts were then reduced to ten men after Jai Whyte didn’t even hang about to see the Ref reach for a second yellow card after he scythed down Cammy Russell on the touchline.

New signing Calum Burns was introduced with ten minutes left on the clock when he replaced Alan Brown.

As the hosts tired and the clock ticked on, a clever move involving Newman and Dishington was finished off by Blair Henderson who neatly sent the ball low into the net despite the efforts of the Lily keeper.

Then, with moments left on the clock, Sam Newman showed his pace to race towards goal before selflessly squaring the ball to the unmarked Jamie Dishington who made it 1-4.

FT: Easthouses Lily 1-4 The Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Jamie Dishington