South Challenge Cup | Spartans reign in the rain against Dunipace

Posted on Monday, February 6th, 2023

The Spartans progressed to the 5^th Round of the South Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Dunipace at a wet and wild Ainslie Park.

Ahead of kick-off, the ground fell silent to pay tribute to Tom Allison, a man devoted to East of Scotland Football with tremendous passion, who sadly passed away last week.

With the wind gusting around the North Edinburgh arena, Spartans made the unusual decision to shoot away from the Café end first half.

Spartans started the livelier of the two sides as both sets of players looked to find the best way to deal with the conditions from the off.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to stamp their authority on proceedings and from an in-swinging corner from Cammy Russell, Jamie Dishington flicked the ball on with his head.  The goalkeeper trying his valiant best to palm the ball away however the stand-side Assistant Referee had a great view of it having crossed the line first.

That lead was doubled in the 16^th minute with a whipped in cross from Cammy Russell on wing was knocked into the path of Blair Henderson who side home.

The visitors were thankfully infrequent visitors into the Spartans half however it needed a decent save from Blair Carswell to deny Dunipace an opportunity to have their deficit shortly after.

Half Time: Spartans 2-0 Dunipace

A change at the interval saw Harvey Swann replaced by Sam Jones.

The second half was merely 60 seconds old when the hosts extended their lead.  A fine move stretching to twelve passes saw Michael Herd race to the bye-line before sending the ball back into the box where Blair Henderson was waiting to do his thing.

The windy conditions were joined by the forecasted rain as the collective of supporters made their way further up the stand to shelter from the manky wintery weather.

It was raining goals on the pitch as well and midway through the half, Cammy Russell dispatched the ball beyond the Dunipace keeper from a tight angle to make it four.

A suite of substitutions followed with Alan Brown, Gregor Woods and Josh Laing entering the fray replacing Dishington, Waugh and Herd.  

It was almost the match ball for Blair Henderson when the striker got his head onto a cross however he was met with a super save from the Dunipace stopper.

A final change saw Ian McFarland come on for Cammy Russell.

Then, with just minutes left on the clock, Sean Brown sent a low drive from the edge of box skiting across the wet surface beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.

Full Time: Spartans 5 Dunipace 0