Lowland League | Armstrong aims to be architect in good fortune over the Braves

Posted on Saturday, January 28th, 2023

Its back to league action for Dougie Samuel’s side after a weekend frozen out in the January frost. The Gaffer, who recently collected his MBE at Holyrood Palace for services to football and the community, leads his side into a crucial clash against Caledonian Braves, looking to build on an eight match unbeaten run.

One of the key architects behind just one defeat in the last fifteen outings is midfield playmaker Rhys Armstrong.   Armstrong, who made the move to Ainslie Park in the summer 2021 from Alliance Park has no time for sentimentality as he gets set to face his former club.

“I don’t think about the game as being up against a former team, it’s just another game of football where I’ll go out onto the park and do my best to get the three points.  Obviously I’m up for the challenge and the lads will be too as we look to get a vital win at home.

“It wasn’t ideal having no game last week especially with the momentum we are picking up at the moment however I guess it offered any of the lads with knocks an extra week to recover before a big game like Braves.”

As the business end of the Lowland League season starts to gather pace, Armstrong knows focus is key for him and his Spartans teammates.

“It’s a bit of a cliché but we need to into every game as if it’s our last and the three points is the most important thing.”

Last time out saw a manic ending to the match against Open Goal Broomhill including a dramatic late penalty save from Blair Carswell.  Armstrong is full of praise for the never say die attitude that runs through the squad.

“No matter who the opposition is, we will never give up and we’ll push for goals right up to the final whistle.  Everyone plays their part in looking at achieving this including those coming on off the bench who can make an impact with their fresh legs at crucial moments in the game.”

“We’ve had four great training sessions since the Broomhill game and the Gaffer keeps the confidence up throughout the changing room and ensures we keep our focus and don’t get ahead of ourselves too.”

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Today’s match kicks off at 3pm. Admission prices are £9 for adults and £6 for concessions. Season tickets are valid.

ACADEMY CAFÉ / BAR

The Café will be open to home and away supporters prior to kick-off and again following the match.

PREVIOUS MATCH

Caledonian Braves 2-4 Spartans – 29/10/22.

A blustery afternoon at Alliance Park saw the epitome of a game of two halves. Bradley Whyte got Spartans off to an ideal start with the head before the ball hit off his hip to outfox the Braves defence to double the lead.  Rhys Armstrong slide home before half time to put Spartans 0-3 up at the break.  Braves came out from the sheds all guns blazing and scored two in just five hair-raising minutes before Blair Henderson swooped to head home to secure the points late on.

MASCOTS

Today’s mascots have been supplied by the Spartans Youth 2015s Carswell side.