Mike Lawson’s thoughts:-

Omar Kader praises the Spartans defence and talks about the experience of playing at Tynecastle:-

“I had mixed emotions going into yesterday’s game. I was well aware of the clock change and even phoned Dean Hoskins to make sure he did then I turned up an hour early to pick Jack Beesley and his mum up. An hour later I met Jack and his mum at the right time and headed to St Mark’s Park not sure exactly what to route to take. On the way down I took a right turn I shouldn’t have (without knowing of course) and the Police stopped me and lightened my wallet of £30. What next I thought.

It was a strange start to the day and it was a strange game. First of all we knew how difficult it was going to be. Tynecastle have had some terrific results recently and we knew they would be well up for the game. St Mark’s Park was 100 times better than Saughton Enclosure, it was flat for a start, but the lack of rain made it a bit fiery. Both teams gave it everything in a high paced, nothing given game and it was always going to be about who took their chances. Over the piece I thought we had more attempts on goal than Tynecastle but on the day we’d forgotten our collective shooting boots.

As for the goals and non goal. We ball watched for the Tynie goal but from their perspective what a good goal it was and a great finish. Now every time a ball is about to be delivered from wide at either end experience has taught me to take a quick glance at the assistant referee. The flag went up as the ball sailed into the box and Wayne MacIntosh’s header was in vain. I was in no position to debate the call but was glad it was made. It was similar for our equaliser where we were in no position to see if Keith McLeod’s header had crossed the line but I looked at the far Assistant right away and he was heading for the half-way line. For the winning goal our players looked like they thought they were offside as Alex King half stopped and Ross Archibald appeared to just clip the ball back to the keeper (he probably tried to chip him). I knew the flag had never been raised and was berating Archie when I saw the keeper lay the ball down and retreat from it to give himself a run up. The rest they say is history but my overwhelming thoughts were “this isn’t the best way to win a cup final”.

We have more experience that Tynecastle and it helped us through. We had a lot of quality AND experience on the bench and that helped us through. On another day we might have scored 5 but as a team we weren’t at our best in front of goal. Our passing could have been better and the players know it. Now Tynecastle didn’t allow us time on the ball which didn’t help the flow to our game but the number of times when in position we didn’t hit the target on the day was poor.

In a competition where we won after extra-time at Gala in the first round, then after extra-time against Edinburgh University in the third round it was probably written that we would win our fifth game (and the final) after extra-time. We are relieved and delighted in equal measures to have won the Image Printers East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.”

Mike

Club stalwart and Spartans legend Stewart Fowlie also looked back on his 250 appearances for the club.

“I thought it was a good advert for East of Scotland football last night with Selkirk contributing greatly to an entertaining  game played for 90 minutes at a fast and furious pace. Selkirk have good players and gave it their all in what was their second visit to the Academy in a few days. They are playing catch up having been told to replay two league games but I think they will pick up enough points to see them easily finish in the top half of the table.

We started very well as we did on Saturday and as the game unfolded I was left wondering how long we will be able to keep up that pace and spark about our play given the fixture pile up we face.  Once again John Dodds made numerous great saves during the game but we found the net four time through four different players and could have scored a few more.

A special mention to young Jordan for his first “senior” goal. Not the most athletic of players it’s all the more surprising that at 17 years old he doesn’t look out of place on the big stage. The young man has two good feet, plays with his head up and has a football brain way beyond his years. He shows you don’t need to run around like a headless chicken to play the game. Well done young Scholesy.

Before I turn to Saturday and beyond I received a text from Robbie Manson last night unhappy that his 45 yard lob which bounced back off the bar for Beezer to cushion a header back to the keeper was given to Cloudie by both Craig I presume (Oops! Craig’s been on - it was Cameron) on this website and Grim on P&B. In the technical area we weren’t sure if it was meant or just another misplaced pass from our sitting midfield player but believe me Robbie, the players and management know it was your audacious chip – don’t worry yourself about it.

We have a very important league game with Preston on Saturday followed by a midweek King Cup game against Ormiston which is scheduled for next Wednesday . This is puzzling as we played last night (Tuesday) and play Whitehill in two weeks time also on a Tuesday. They are all at the Academy and we prefer midweek games on a Tuesday to give ourselves more time to prepare for the Saturday fixture. Jimmy Murray is querying the date for next week with the League secretary today and will try to get it changed to the same night as Barca v Arsenal. We all know what will be the better game that night.

We have Preston Athletic first this weekend and that is all we are concerning ourselves with for now. Omar will available and I’ll give an update on the game on Friday morning.”

Mike

“Sam and I went through to Garscube at the weekend more concerned about tomorrows game against Preston than Glasgow University and the South of Scotland Challenge Cup. That is no lack of respect to the Glasgow students or the most important Cup we play for at our level (and one we hold) it just confirms that Sam and see our primary aim as retaining the Premier league trophy.

We left Omar (Kader) out as he’s unavailable tomorrow and took Towner (Chris Townsley), Gavin (Malin) and Cloudie (Keith McLeod) off as a precaution but also to keep them as fresh as possible. Despite our team selection and substitutions the team didn’t hit the standards they have set themselves over our last few games. The facts are we have lost  our last 45 minutes of football 2-0 and we’ll have to do a lot better tomorrow.

Preston have lost their last three home games and maybe the bad weather and postponements will have let them re-group and come back fighting in the second half of the season. We never have it easy at the Pennypitt and expect another hard examination of our skills tomorrow evening. Stevie has more experience that any other EOS Premier divison manager outside  this Spartans pensioner and he knows the game inside out. He and his team know there are still an awful lot of points to play for and they’ll be aiming to pick three up at our expense.

It’s a very big night for both clubs so let’s hope the rain stays off and a game of  football is played.”

Mike

“First of all a “well done” to the players and management of the Junior side. I know they had a difficult week and were struggling to field a side so to get a 3-0 result is fantastic. Keep up the good work.

For our part my quote to Keith for the Evening News right after yesterday’s game was “Glasgow Uni take the plaudits and we progress to the semi final” and that about sums our afternoon up.  Sam and I took some wry comments from the committee after the game about our half-time team talk as we never played after the break. I actually reminded the players that the last time we played Glasgow Uni at Garscube we were also 3-0 up and half-time and scraped a 4-2 win. The Glasgow students wouldn’t lie down and would fight for the entire 90 minute. We would have to keep the tempo to the game up and to keep the ball to see the game out. It seems more that our sponge man are a little hard of hearing.

Chris Townsley, Keith McLeod and Gavin Malin coming off didn’t help our rhythm but Chris was feeling an injury and Sam and I had Preston on Tuesday on our minds. Omar Kader has been playing really well for us considering he’s been commuting from London every weekend but with him being unavailable for the Preston game Danny O’Donnell came back into the side and turned out a “man of the match” performance. Danny’s fitness was never in doubt but he needed some game time before such an important game as Tuesday will be.

Cloudie (Keith McLeod) and Gav (Mailn) will be fit and we’ll just have to wheel big Towner (Chris Townsley) onto the park such a big influence on the side he has become this season. Final thoughts on Saturday – as Archie (captain “two goal” Ross Archibald) said on the M8 coming home – “it might just be the kick up the backside we need”.

Time will tell.”

Mike

“The snow caused major disruptions to training and playing games over the festive season and this week it’s been the turn of driving rain and gale force winds. There was little structured Mike could do with the players at training last night so Sam was sent home early while the rest of us, players, management and coaches alike had over an hour of football. Well football of sorts as the wind caused havoc and will do should any games go ahead tomorrow.

I was at Ferguson Park, Rosewell last week and as the thaw had fully taken the park got very heavy indeed over the 90 minutes. I watched Whitehill edge out a very organised and competitive Edinburgh University side in a game that was a very good advert for East of Scotland football. Whitehill know should they beat us tomorrow that they are right up there as our main challengers for the Premier Division title and we expect a full examination of our footballing capabilities.

Whitehill were the top dogs in EOS football for more than a decade and our recent successes would suggest we have a chance of taking over that mantle as the team to beat should we maintain our consistency over another few years. That means every time the two teams meet, in any competition, you can expect a feisty affair.  I don’t mean that sparks will fly tomorrow but there is an extra competitive edge to games between Whitehill and Spartans you don’t get in any other East of Scotland game. Football fans at our level know that and we expect a good turn out and a terrific atmosphere tomorrow.

For our part Stewart Fowlie still has a back strain, David Etale is still on commando training and Dr Seeley will be on duty saving lives this weekend. Two other players are carrying injuries but such is the importance of the game that they want to grin and bare it and who are Sam and I to deny them the opportunity to play.

Lets all hope the wind and rain abate and the game we are all looking forward to takes place.”

Mike

“It goes without saying that everyone in East of Scotland football is desperate to get back to playing competitively. A couple of teams have even given up home advantage in this the first round of the King Cup just to get a game. As a precaution I sounded out playing Gala on our Field Turf after the Junior game should the rain that’s forecast for tomorrow cause us problems. The jury is still out on that but it hasn’t been discounted that’s for sure. Let’s just hope Colin and his team beat the weather and get us back playing and running about on grass for the first time since last November.

We’ve played Gala twice this season winning narrowly on both occasions with the first cup game going to extra time.  Our boys have nothing but respect for Fraser Lothian’s team and we know it’ll take a very good performance to progress to the second round. Gala scored against us in both previous games and are the only team to score twice against us in 90 minutes this season so we know that defensively we will have to be on our toes.

Over the last couple of months the weather and the festive period has curtailed every teams training schedules so in some ways it’s going into the unknown for players and managers alike. The start of the season is preceded by a number of friendly games played on grass but no-one tomorrow goes into their cup-tie with that luxury behind them. It’ll be interesting to see which teams get back into their stride the quickest.

Apart from David Etale, Stewart Fowlie who’s back is giving him problems, and Dr Seeley who’s busy with his day job this month we have a clean bill of health. Training has been sharp and competitive this week as everyone senses that we are nearly back playing in earnest. The boys know they will have to be at the top of their game tomorrow and everybody is really looking forward to that first blow of the referee’s whistle.

I hope you can get down to watch the action.”

Mike