2nd XI Latest News
2nd XI Back to League Business
Friday, November 21st, 2008 Spartans return to league duty tomorrow in Cumbernauld after a run of various cup games and are looking to bounce back from a disappointing Cinema Cup defeat last weekend.Spartans play Eastfield at Ravenswood in Cumbernauld and a win could put the 2’s back at the top of the league with a number of games in hand. Eastfield are a team that could provide a stern test following their recent arrival to the Central Scottish AFL. After an impressive debut season, Eastfield also reached the final of the West of Scotland cup losing to Central Premier champions Drumchapel Amateurs.
The squad from last saturday has been boosted by the return of veteran Jim Rae and Nick Reid could also feature following his recent injury. Adam Perry has not trained all week and Lucas Zuk resorted to swimming rather than training on Tuesday as the big Pole struggles with the Scottish winter.
Manager Lamb returns following his second holiday of the year during the playing season - a statistic higher than any of the players and one that will be closely monitored. Lamb, sporting an impressive tan from his most recent holiday returns to the dug out and hopes to continue with Spartans impressive early league form.
Spartans crash out of Cinema Cup
Sunday, November 16th, 2008 Spartans 1 - St Pats 2Spartans lost only their second game of the season to a strong St Pats side at a blustery Peffermill yesterday. In a game that Spartans have been looking forward to for a number of weeks, too many players did not perform.
The referee set the tone for the game booking Andy Mitchell after only 30 seconds for shouting in his ear! Spartans had the wind in the first half but failed to take any worthwhile advantage. In a very uneventful first half it took until the 38th minute for Spartans to take a well deserved lead. A kind bounce found Gary Bannon 25 yards out, who carried the ball to edge of the box to dispatch a left foot drive low into the corner of the net. The St Pats keeper managed to get a hand to the shot but it was not enough to keep theball out. Bannon more than making up for his powder puff left foot effort the previous week.
St Pats came out much the stronger side in the econd half and with the wind dominated he game. Steele thought he was a silky ball player and tried to take on the St Pats striker and lost the ball. The St Pats striker strolled in on goal but could not find a way past the excellent Paterek in goal. St Pats scored two quick goals to take the lead. The first a long ball over the top and their midfielder rifled a fine dive past Paterek. The same player gave St Pats the lead when he was unmarked in the box and slammed another fine strike into the same corner of the net.
Paterek pulled off a superb one handed save minutes later from a long range free kick to keep Spartans in the game. A glimmer of hope came with when Danny Forbes chested down and cross and hit and excellent volley just over the ball in Spartans only real chance of the second half.
Overall, a poor display by Spartans with St Pats the deserved winners. This is the second time Spartans have faced quality opposition this season and have come up short both times. The test will be how they bounce back next week.
Team: Paterek, Young, Hoskins, Sutherland, Steele, Bannon, Mitchell (Zuk), Burns, Boyes, Forbes (Harris), Moffat. Subs not used: Perry, Scott, Fleming
MOM: Paterek
Spartans Capture Signing of Young ahead of Cinema Cup Clash
Friday, November 14th, 2008Spartans are delighted to announce the signing of Gary Young from Leith Athletic this week. Gary had been the captain of our biggest rivals for 8 seasons and has been involved in many battles with Spartans over the years.
Gary is part of a strong squad to face last season’s Scottish Cup Semi Finalists St Patrick’s FC at Peffermill (Kick Off 1.30pm). The game will be a welcome challenge to Spartans who have won 10 out of their first 11 games this season.
Top scorer Nick Reid is still out with a chipped ankle bone and Jim Rae has a cracked eye socket. The only other absentee is Sam Scott who returned to training this week following an operation on his knee and is still a few weeks away from full fitness. Ali Fleming should also return following a knee problem.
Manager Mark lamb misses the tie as he is on holiday in Cyprus, so Craig Graham and former Dundee Utd player Kenny MacDonald take charge.
Vintage Mitchell Strike seals Cup win
Sunday, November 9th, 2008Newcraighall Leith Victoria 0 - Spartans 2
East of Scotland Cup Round 1
A trademark Andy Mitchell free kick with only minutes to go in the first round of the East of Scotland cup was arguably the only highlight of a close cup tie with local rivals Newcraighall Leith Victoria. The home side switched the game from their usual pitch to a tight, muddy alternative in an effort to gain an advantage over a much fitter and better footballing Spartans side.
Manager Mark Lamb opted for a 4-3-3 formation in an attack minded strategy to take the game to Newcraighall and kill the game off early with a front three of Zuk, Bannon and Perry. However, due to heavy conditions and a schoolboy sized pitch the game resorted to a frenzied blood and guts local cup tie. Spartans created few chances in a tense first half with most of the danger coming from the ageing left boot of Jim Rae who sent in countless cross field balls for Gary Bannon to attack at the back post.
The opening goal came from a a Mitchell corner which was drilled low to the front post. Zuk managed to get his toe on the ball to direct passed the Newcraighall keeper in a crowded box. Paul Sutherland tried hard to level the game by inexplicably falling over his own feet to let the Newcraighall centre forward in on goal. Quick thinking by Burns and Steele however snuffed out the attack and averted danger. Spartans returned to to a 4-4-2 formation with Moffat partnering Zuk up front and Perry and Bannon reverting to wide positions in the midfield.
The second half was equally as uneventful with Spartans comfortably holding onto the one goal advantage. Spartans keeper Paterek having little to do in goal and the centre back pairing of Steele and Sutherland holding firm. Newcraighall did have a penalty appeal turned down after Steele tangled with their centre forward but the referee waived play on. Newcraighall had a small period of good pressure resulting in a few corners but no real efforts on goal to test the Spartans rearguard.
Adam Perry (Asbo) hobbled off with a sore hip to be replaced by Danny Forbes who has been in superb form this season and was unluckly to be on the bench to start with. However, Forbes in a truly professional display had left his shirt in the dressing room and spent 5 minutes trying to find the groundsman! Spartans played with 10 men during this time until Forbes eventually took to the field. The big man quickly made a nuisance of himself and succeeded in winding up the Newcraighall back four with an outrageous dive that he copied from Sutherland in the first half.
Forbes won a free kick wide on the left with five minutes to go and Mitchell curled a superb ‘cross-cum-shot’ into the far top corner with the keeper routed to the spot. Spartans finally started to play some football and had two guilt edge chances to kill the game off, neither of which were taken. First, a fluid move saw the ball squared to Gary Bannon 3 yards out on his left foot. Gary caught the ball sweetly with his left foot and with a the power he could muster it managed to trickle one yard, hit a defender who had time to stop and tie his lace before deflecting the powerful strike out for a corner. In the last minute a back post cross was headed against the post by Forbes from a full 4 yards as well, the players looked around to see who was injured as Danny sportingly put the ball out for a bye kick.
Team: Paterek, Burns, Rae, Sutherland, Steele, Moffat, Mitchell, Boyes, Perry (Forbes), Bannon, Zuk (Harris), Sub not used: Fleming
After the game manager Lamb was delighted with the result and battling peformance. Lamb said he would ‘never forget’ Mitchell’s strike, he was glad that the team showed ‘patience’ and he would ‘Take That’ performance. Lamb feels that the team has great ‘promise’ and if we can continue to ‘let it shine’ on the park ‘could it be magic’ this season.
More good news followed with Sam Scott announcing that he will be back at training on Tuesday following his knee surgery.
Spartans to strong for Links
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 Spartans 3 Links Utd 2Spartans secured a place in the 4th round of the Scottish Amateur Cup following a comfortable win over East of Scotland Cup holders Links Utd. On a perfect day for football and on a perfect playing surface, Spartans struggled to play at the level of performance they have seen over the last few weeks.
Spartans controlled this, the third meeting between the teams in as many years from the outset and quickly established a lead. A superb free kick from Andy Mitchell was met by Nick Reid only for his header to be turned over the bar. Mitchell’s corner was flicked on at the fron post by Reid and met by Paul Sutherland to nod the ball into the net - straight from the training ground.
The remainder of the first half ebbed and flowed with Links having a number of corners but no note worthy efforts on goal as the experience Spartans defence held firm. A few reckless challenges did fly in and a number of Links players picked up yellow cards.
Another Mitchell corner early in the second half was thundered home by Joe Steele, who would nomally only have been arriving for the game about this time. Spartans looked comfortable at 2-0 and then the Links left back saw red for arguably his fifteen foul.With 20 minutes to go Reid was carried from the pitch following an innocous collision with the Links centre back - a chipped ankle bone the result. Spartans soon looked to have killed off the game with an excellent 3rd goal from Keith Boyes following a flowing passing move.
With less than five minutes to go some poor defending allowed Links to score a consolation goal. However, with almost the last kick of the game Links scored again to make it 3-2 and set up a nervy last minute. Spartans however saw out the game and progressed to the 4th round draw.
For 85 minutes Spartans were superb in defence with Joe Steele a rock at the back against the lively Links strikeforce. Mitchell pulled the strings in midfield and Forbes and Perry looked dangerous in attack.
Spartans have now dismissed high flyers from the Stirling Premier league, Fife Premier league and the reigning East of Scotland Champions.
Team:
Patenek, Burns, Rae, Steele, Sutherland, Bannon, Boyes, Mitchell, Reid (Zuk 70), Perry, Forbes
Subs: Fleming, Harris, Kellacher,
Strong start to the season
Thursday, October 30th, 2008 The 2nd XI have had a strong start to the season despite the weather conditions early in the year. Under new manager Mark Lamb a new look side has been quickly assembled and has set high standards which they hope to continue in their quest for silverware.In all competitions the 2nd XI have won 8 out of 9 games scoring 43 goals conceeding only 9 goals.
New signings have arrived in:
Lucas Zuk (SC United)
David Patenek (Leith Athletic)
Michael Moffat (Peebles FC)
Ritchie Harris (Peebles FC)
Danny Forbes (Spartans U-19’s)
David Cran (Spartans U-19’s)
Steve Bunyan (Spartans U-19’s)
The 2nd XI have a couple tough fixtures coming up with:
Scottish Cup Rnd 3 Vs Links United
East of Scotland Cup Rnd 1 Vs Newcraighall Leith Victoria
Spartans 0 Rain 2
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 The torrential rain has postponed both tonights 2nd XI game away to Cumbernauld and our Women’s SWPL game at City Park against Hamilton Accies!Lamb oversees first game
Sunday, July 13th, 2008 Spartans reserves lost 1-0 to East of Scotland League side Civil Service Strollers at Muirhouse on Saturday in Mark Lamb’s first game in charge.The team’s first pre-season friendly was played on a wet Saturday afternoon, with chances coming at both ends. The game’s only goal came midway through the second half.
“There were a lot of positives to take from the game,” said Lamb, who introduced a handful of new faces from his previous club, Peebles. “There is plenty for us to work on, but even though we’ve only had a couple of training sessions it was a useful excercise.”
Lamb appointed reserve team coach
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 Spartans are delighted to announce that Mark Lamb has been appointed reserve team coach. He joins the club from Peebles along with his assistant, Stuart Robertson.Mark and Stuart took Peebles up to the East of Scotland League Premier Division last season after finishing second in the First Division. Mark played for Peebles for many years and is now a qualified coach. Stuart is very experienced in East of Scotland football having managed home town team Vale of Leithen three times. He has also managed Kelso United, Coldstream, Hawick Royal Albert and Gala Fairydean.
Craig Graham, the Spartans chairman, said: “Mark has his B Licence and continues to work on further badges so I’m sure he will make the same positive impact as made by Mike Irving when he joined last season. This is a really positive move for the club, irrespective of which league we will play in this season.”