Mike Lawson’s thoughts:-

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

On fire skipper Ross Archibald uncharacteristically missed a penalty later in the game when the game was already beyond City.

A full match report will follow.

The Spartans 3, Edinburgh University 0

“It was a day full of 200s as the Spartans maintained their position at the top of the East of Scotland Premier League with a convincing 3-0 victory over Edinburgh University.  Omar Kader made his 200th appearance and was named captain for the top of the table clash, he made a big impact down on the right wing, providing the cross in which Keith McLeod converted for his 200th goal for Spartans.

Spartans dominated the game and were two up within 20 minutes of play. The first came in five minutes when a corner was whipped in from the right and Ross Archibald’s deflected header beat Mark Tait in the University goal. Spartans continued to look dangerous when attacking on both flanks through Jack Beesley and Omar Kader. The home side doubled their advantage after 20 minutes when a thunderous drive from Gavin Malin flew past Tait into his bottom right corner after the ball broke from another home corner.

Malin was eager to get on the scoresheet again on the 24th minute but his 25 yard strike was saved well by Tait, and Malin was driving his side on superbly. Edinburgh Uni did not threaten Chris Flockhart in the Spartans goal as their long balls up to the no.9 Beck Friis failed to trouble Spartans.

Five minutes after the break Spartans no.10 McLeod notched his 200^th goal in a white shirt by stroking home from close range a cutback from Kader. It was a special moment for McLeod, describing it after the game as feeling: “Good, really really good. 200 goals in 273 games is not bad.” He was replaced 13 minutes later by Donal Henretty after putting in a good shift up front.

Edinburgh Uni’s best chance came in the 83^rd minute when, on the volley, Jamie Craigan fired wide of the post from just inside the area.

On reflection of the game, it was midfield trio of King, Malin and Manson that steered the Spartans to victory. With the two wide men on both flanks, Beesley and Kader, proving a constant threat when called upon. Spartans were worthy winners.

Coming into the fixture unbeaten, it was a poor game for the University side, with no.5 Alistair McKinnon being the only player to gain pass marks. Uni failed to get the ball on the deck and pass it around effectively, which the home side did do with confidence. Spartans dominated the midfield and terrorised the Uni full-backs down the wings, and were able to rely on the miserly defence in times of trouble.

A late booking for captain Omar Kader did not take the shine off a crucial win for the lads, as they went eight points clear of third-placed Edinburgh Uni.

Spartans co-manager Mike Lawson was understandably delighted with the display, and insisted it was the best his side had played all season.”

hugh.cullen@spartansfc.com

Spartans took the lead after 35 minutes through Omar Kader who, after great work by Keith McLeod, struck it past the Tynecastle keeper to a huge cheer from the Ainslie Park faithful. Spartans retained their lead going into the break as manager Mike Lawson looked to consolidate Spartans position with a quick goal in the second half.

This wasn’t to be however and Tyncastle dominated large sections of play in the first 20 minutes of the 2nd half. Fortunately for Spartans, despite this pressure, very little in the way of solid chances materialised. Spartans came close when Gavin Malin shot over the bar from close range and later in the second half when Keith McLeod seemed to take just one touch too many in front of an open goal, having left the Tynie keeper stranded. Gavin Malin continued the ‘nearly’ theme with a header which he put inches wide when perhaps it would have been easier to score.

Eventually the second goal came, and it was Man of the Match Omar Kader who played a great ball through for Gavin Malin, who made no mistake this time and secured the win with only 4 minutes of the 90 remaining.

Not a classic by any means, but three hard won points which may come in handy at the business end of the season.

Team: Flockhart, O’Donnell, Sievewright, Townsley, Hoskins, Beesley (Etale), Manson, Malin, Kader, Henretty, McLeod.

Man of the Match: Omar Kader, for once again striking fear into an opposition defence. Even more scared are Spartans fans who are panicking about how we will manage without him once he departs for London at the end of the month.

Spartans Juniors defeated City rivals Edinburgh United 9-3 today at Ainslie Park. The result is a record high for the Junior side as the most goals scored in a game and the highest overall scoring game we have been involved in.

Edinburgh had the first chance early on with a shot from outside the box. Mark Cowan then scored at the other end after only 8 minutes, firing the ball home from 2 yards out after the United keeper failed to deal with a Gary Shanks freekick.

Cowan extended the lead 4 minutes later. He ran onto a through ball from midfield, rounded the advancing United keeper and slotted home.

On 17 minutes Mark completed his hat trick. Gary Shanks took on and beat 3 United players before squaring the ball for Cowan to fire home his 3rd of the day and 6th of the season.

United were reduced to ten men when one of their defenders was sent off for a foul on Kenny Young. Young picked up the ball, placed it on the spot and fired into the left hand corner to make it 4-0.

Gary Shanks completed the scoring for the first half. Nice link up play between him and Mark Cowan allowed the midfielder space in the box to fire us further in front.

Spartans then had a disasterous first ten miuntes of the second half. Dawid Paterek didn’t deal with a cross and the ball fell for the United attack to fire home. Just two minutes later United brought it back to 5-2, then 60 seconds later, 5-3 as it looked like an impressive come back could be on the cards.

Manager David Cowan changed the formation as we looked to regain control of the game, pushing into a 3-5-2 formation and it had an immediate positive effect.

Mark Cowan played a fantastic pass to Michael Moffat. He ran onto the ball and fired it into the opposite corner of the goal to make it 6-3. The goal allowed Spartans some breathing space again.

2nd half sub Nick Reid scored two cracking goals, and could have secured a hat trick himself as Spartans started to totally dominate the tiring ten man United team.

Rees Smith completed the scoring  with the ninth at the back post as Spartans secured an impressive victory.

Team: Paterk, Cruickshank, Smith, Steele, McKibben, Bannon (Campbell), Moffat (Roberts), Antoni, Cowan (Reid), Young, Shanks Unused subs: Harkness, Middlemass, Scott, Boyes

The draw for the 3rd round takes place on Wednesday.

And the second goal, the last ever at City Park.

Spartans started brightly but lost a goal against the run of play in the 24th minute.  Dan fouled Gormely in our right back area and Ellis put a great free kick into the far post area where Johnston out jumped Donal to score. That sparked Spartans into some prolong pressure and the equaliser came in the 30th minute when Struan powered home a header from Nicky’s right wing cross. Whitehill were reeling and 6 minutes later another run and cross from the right (this time from Omar) was knocked onto the back post by Donal but Gavin reacted quickest to score with the rebound.

Gav - keeps banging in the goals

Whitehill pushed for the equaliser in the second half which left space for us to exploit down both flanks. Because we didn’t turn any of our many opportunities into goals it was a nervous last 15 minutes. That was until the 87th minute when Omar challenged the keeper for yet another right wing cross and the ball broke to David who scored from 6 yards.

An excellent result and an excellent performance.

There are still 9 league games to go so talk of winning the league are far too premature. Let’s just concentrate on Vale in the Cup next week and the league will take care of itself. Team: Flockhart, Archibald, Gerrard, Fowlie, Hoskins, Kader, Malin, Manson, Henretty (Etale 65), Preston (Devlin 70), Walker Subs not used: Smart, Opilka, Hair

“Everyone involved with Spartans is looking forward to our “big” cup day on Sunday at Meadowbank.

We are well aware the University side we line up against will have a different look and more importantly a different outlook from that we faced a couple of Saturdays ago.

When two teams meet twice in a short space of time the second result can be influenced by the mental attitude of both sets of players to the first game.

Our players will hear the “Celtic and St Mirren” parable a few times in the run up to the final.  We are also well aware that the last time the two teams met in a cup final the attending students came out on top.

I watched a resilient performance from an under strength University side against Edinburgh City on Wednesday and I’m sure the 4-1 score line to the students surprised a few. City are a good side and the Uni had to defend stoutly before picking the Meadowbank side off on the break.Another lesson for our players.

As for the availability, David Etale played in an Army side which went down 2-1 to the Navy at Fratton Park on Thursday and has another game before heading back to Edinburgh, unfortunately ruling him out of Sunday’s game. Dean Hoskins and Struan Preston are both doubtful and another first team player hopes to recover from a knock taken on Tuesday against the Seconds. We hope all three will be there and available at kick off time.

Whatever the outcome of the final, we know the game will be played in the right spirit between two kindred clubs.”

The game kicks off at 2pm.

Will Mike be celebrating on Sunday?

The match was replayed due to Elgin fielding an ineligible player. Despite the fact Spartans also played long serving Dean Hoskins as a sub when he hadn’t fully resigned all the correct paperwork, the SFA decided the game would still go ahead.

The victory means Spartans will travel to Airdrie United on January 10th.

Full Match Report – The Scotsman
Full Match Report – Daily Record