What’s for the weekend ahead?  Weather permitting, we’ve got a trio of top ties for our Spartans Senior sides on the chilly horizon.

Coming up on Friday, there’s a trip west for our Under 20s who take on Caledonian Braves in a Development League Cup Quarter Final at Alliance Park.

Spartans go into the game on the back of a tough Challenge Cup tie against Armadale last week which ended in a narrow 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Max Williamson and Archie Wylie.

Hosts Braves also made progress in the same tournament with a win against Edinburgh United which came on the back of a 13 goal extravaganza in their last league outing against Kelty Hearts.

Kick-off at Alliance Park is 8.00pm

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Douglas Samuel’s SPFL 2 side will be looking to build on two positive clean sheet performances when they welcome Stranraer to Ainslie Park on Saturday afternoon.

Last season’s fixtures between the clubs – the first between the sides – featured some epic encounters, included the late comeback show from Ayrton Sonkur.  Earlier this season, a double from Paul Watson saw Spartans salvage a point at Stair Park after a sub-optimal opening half.

The visitors make the trip to North Edinburgh minus striker Ryan Edgar who received a red card to go with his birthday cards across the last seven days during a last gasp loss at home to Bonnyrigg.

Spartans will need to be wary of a Stranraer backlash and your support on the sidelines will certainly be the 12^th man for Sammy and the lads!

You can purchase tickets in advance via Fanbase: https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=6062

League 2 Fixtures: Bonnyrigg v Stirling Albion, Edinburgh City v East Fife, Elgin v Clyde and Forfar v Peterhead.

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Hannah Jordan’s star billing following last weekend’s hat-trick exploits have offered Jack Beesley’s Spartans Women’s side a welcome boost as they head across the M8 where they face league leaders Glasgow City in SWPL 1.

Spartans head into the game in 8^th place with a decent run of form in recent weeks bumping the side up the league table as they wrestle for points to see who finishes in their highest position outside the Top 5.

The game at Petershill Park kicks-off at 1.00pm.  Tickets can be purchased online here: https://glasgowcityfc.co.uk/products/season-ticket-24-25-november-24-2024

A Cammy Russell double and a goal from Blair Henderson saw Spartans secure their second 3-0 victory in as many Saturdays with a win over Stirling Albion at Ainslie Park.

Manager Douglas Samuel kept the faith in the same starting XI that defeated Forfar last time out with the addition of Archie Wylie to the match day squad.

As the bitter wind-chill factor cut through the 501 in attendance across the Pilton arena, Spartans looked on fire from the off with Blair Henderson’s effort inside the box being blocked and sent behind for a corner within the opening minute of the game.

Whilst Kevin Waugh was resigned to a spot on the home bench, his brother Ricky was keen to grab the bragging rights at the next family gathering however his effort from outside Blair Carswell’s box would only trouble the observing Bino’s support standing on the embankment behind the Spartans goal.

Brogan Walls was putting in another impressive shift and his eyes lit up when Blair Henderson offloaded to him 25 yards out however the shot would only drift wide and behind as the hopes of a deadlock breaker looked to be decidedly elusive.

HT: The Spartans 0-0 Stirling Albion

Whilst the temperature dropped, the tempo increased as Spartans took the game to the visitors after the break.

Cammy Russell sprung the offside trap, ventured into the Albion box but his square ball seeking Blair Henderson was cut out, then the same player found Brogan Walls who sent his shot wide.

Finally, in the 56^th minute, persistence finally paid off.  James Craigen’s free-kick to the back post was knocked back into the melting pot by Brogan Walls.  An unlikely miss-kick by Cammy Russell fortuitously fell into the path of Blair Henderson who, at the second bite of the proverbial cherry, poked the ball into the net to open the scoring.

That advantage doubled just five minutes later.  Again, Henderson and Walls were at the heart of the build up play, the letter launching Cammy Russell who won the footrace against Erik Sula to despatch the ball across Derek Gaston and into the bottom corner.

Douglas Samuel freshened some legs, with Jamie Dishington and Lewis Hunter replacing the industrious duo of Walls and Scott.

Meanwhile, there was an almighty kerfuffle off the pitch as a photo of a burnt pie was circulated on X (yes, folk are still on the platform despite newspapers and suspension bridges alike publicly announcing their decisions to leave earlier in the week).  Thankfully, calm was restored in the sad tale of the sorry looking savoury and the frustrated Bino’s fan involved was rewarded with a second half replacement in the shape of a brand new bridie.

Back to the game and Mark Stowe came off the bench with a quarter of an hour left on the clock, replacing scorer Henderson.

James Craigen’s afternoon was cut short after a collision tight on the touchline and he was replaced by Kevin Waugh.

Then, with the scoreboard, sponsored by Village Hotels, showing 89 minutes played, Albion looked to launch a late ball in order to set up a grandstand finale.  Sadly for the visitors, that effort was to bounce off a fellow Bino and Cammy Russell was played in to finish off with aplomb.

FT: The Spartans 3-0 Stirling Albion

If Frankie was a football fan, he’d likely be going to North Edinburgh and not Holywood this weekend with sibling rivalry making it a special occasion for the Waugh family, with Spartans skipper Kevin hoping that a point is not all that you can score.

Stirling Albion offer the latest test for the Ainslie Park side on Saturday, with the game coming on the back of a moral boosting win last week at Forfar which offered a performance that pleased the Spartans Captain.

“Hopefully last week’s win is the turning point in the season for us.  We had to start somewhere and that’s us hopefully out that rut now.  There’s been games recently where we’ve been playing well and maybe not quite getting the results to reflect this.  Alternatively, we’ve not been scoring at the times when we were on top then we lose a goal and struggle to get back into it which is also frustrating.

“But last Saturday was one where we started well, we scored when we were on top and we defended well, countered and managed to kill the game off at the end.  We’re hoping it’s the catalyst to some degree where we can kick-on.  We scored three goals away from home, played well and earned a clean sheet which has given the boys a wee spring in their step at training this week.”

Sibling rivalry offers an extra twist to the game, with brother Ricky in the Binos midfield.  It offers an added incentive – if one was actually needed, for Spartans defender Kevin.

“To be honest, the most important thing is to secure three points to close the gap on Stirling Albion and get closer to the play-offs.  But yeah, it’s got that wee added extra of me up against my little brother which will be interesting.  It’ll be a spectacle for my family obviously, but nothing else other than the win is the most important thing for me.”

Brothers in opposite camps is not necessarily a new phenomenon in the SPFL, but what does it mean for the Waugh family?  Kevin replied with laughter, “You’d probably have to ask my Mum!”

He continued, “I imagine there will be a massive sense of pride obviously.  It happens I guess throughout the game and you probably don’t think it’ll happen to your family but that comes part and parcel with having so many brothers and all of them play football as well.  Two of them are bound to good enough! 

“Ricky is doing really well for himself and I’m proud of everything he does and I’m hoping he does well all the time.  I’ve been to watch him a few times but hey, on Saturday I’m hoping he has a bit of a nightmare if I’m honest!”

Will the Waugh sibling bragging rights be Spartans or Stirling Albion shaped?  Come to Ainslie Park on Saturday at 3.00pm to find out.

Dougie Samuel’s side take their second bus trip in as many weeks, this time its off to Station Park for the SPFL 2 encounter against Forfar Athletic.

The journey offers the Spartans side an opportunity to turn their fortunes around after a narrow loss on the road last week against Peterhead and pick up three valuable points in what is shaping out to be a typically tight league.

It’s the third meeting between the clubs so far this season, having met each other twice at Ainslie Park in Premier Sports Cup and League action, Spartans coming out on top on both occasions by the same solitary goal outcome that has separated each of the five games played since the 2-2 draw in the first fixture between the teams since Spartans promotion through the pyramid play-offs.

Blair Henderson has scored in four out of the six games and the striker will undoubtedly be keen to add to his 94 goal tally in Spartans colours.

Kick-off is 3pm.

Stand admission: Adults £16, 65 & over £10, Under 17’s £5

Terracing admission: Adults £15, 65& over £10, Under 17’s £5

Payment on the day by cash at turnstile or in advance at https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_the_spartans 

Please note that anyone purchasing a concession or u17 ticket online may on the day be asked to produce proof of their age by Forfar turnstile officals and entitlement to a concession ticket, failing which entry to the ground with their online ticket may be refused.