Lowland League | The Cat has sights set on title winning feline

Posted on Wednesday, April 12th, 2023

After securing their Pyramid Play-Off spot in last weekend’s win at Tranent, The Spartans will be looking to seal the Lowland League title this Saturday when they entertain Cowdenbeath at Ainslie Park.

In the penultimate game of the campaign, that begun in earnest last July, Dougie Samuel’s side head into the game against the Blue Brazil looking to top off a tremendous season with a victory that would see them lift the Lowland League trophy for a record third time.

Leading the side out onto the park on Saturday will be our Spartans Youth 2012s & 2013s who will be mascots for the game.

The work in strengthening the bond between Senior and Youth Section this season has been a terrific success and the club will continue to build on this to ensure we see more of the stars of tomorrow watch their heroes of today and play an integral part in the match day experience.

A number of the current squad have come through the Academy Player Pathway including Goalkeeper Blair Carswell. 

Carswell, who has been a mainstay between the sticks over the last decade for the Under 20s then the Senior side.

“I’ve been with the club for around ten years now including eight with the first team, although I was first involved with Spartans when I was about 5 years old!  Been there, through it all, the ups and the downs. Hopefully I’ll continue to be part of the club’s success for some time to come too.”

That ambition to be at the helm of the Spartans journey to bigger things is part of Carswell’s DNA.  The top shot stopper has been an architect of the club’s successes over the years and his presence between the sticks has seen him make 253 appearances and clock up 91 clean sheets in the process.  The last one being a week a ago in Tranent which saw the team secure a Pyramid Play-off spot.

Blair noted, “People might look at it as a stat for myself, but it’s not just me who keeps the ball out the net.  Last Saturday Tappy (Jordan Tapping) made a great challenge to keep it at one nil to us and obviously it’s a collective effort.  It’s not just myself, but obviously I’ll take the credit for it!

Winning ugly some weeks and scoring with gusto others has seen Dougie Samuel’s side rise to the top of the Lowland League over the course of the 10 month campaign.

The Cat added, “Winning by one goal or five is pretty much the same as you only pick up three points at the end of the day.  As long as we can keep the ball out the net and continue to put it in at the other end it makes a massive difference.  We’ve seen ourselves edging a good few games by a single goal this season which has been crucial in climbing the table and now seeing us sitting at the top of it.

“I would happily take another one-nil on Saturday, three points and ensure we secure the title – I’d be over the moon.”

Assuming the side can overcome Cowdenbeath at Ainslie Park on Saturday, it would be Carswell’s hat-trick of league champion medals and another shot at a chance to reach SPFL 2.

“Ideally we’d love to be successful in the play-offs this time around.  Obviously first time there wasn’t the option to do so and the next was a tough two games against Cove Rangers however hopefully we can continue with the momentum we have built over the season and take that into the play-off games and seek to gain promotion.”

Last time out:

In their first trip to Central Park since 1991 Spartans came away with three points when Sean Brown scored the only goal of the game shortly after the interval in a game mainly for the purists.

Match Day Sponsor:

We are delighted to welcome Hart Lifts as match day sponsor this Saturday.

Hart Lifts are Scotland’s independent lift specialists who have been providing expert, flexible and smart-thinking lift maintenance and refurbishment solutions since 1989.

Servicing sites throughout Central Scotland from the West coast to the East, from Dundee to the Scottish Borders, you can trust Hart Lifts team of expert local engineers to take care of your properties and your people: 24/7, 365 days per year.

Kick off is at 3.00pm. Admission £9 Adults / £6 Concessions