Spartans v Pollok - Match Gallery

On the gallery page, click the link at the foot of the page to view an image in its original size. Many thanks to Phil Johnson and Campbell Skinner for the photos.

Sat 4th October

1st XI Scottish Cup R1 replay Spartans 1 (Nicky Walker) Pollok 0…as Mike said in a note out to the squad today a great result and as good as an SFL scalp. Not a game for the purist but we missed chances in the first 15 minutes and then when Nicky went straight through early in the second half. They had a big penalty shout for a handball with 15 minutes to go but then with five left the Pollok defence were confused by a Stewart clearance which actually stayed in the park that they colllided leaving Nicky the chance to drive home the winner. 640 paying customers, plus the Pollok committee of 30 and a few other Spartans making it a better crowd than any SFL3 game. Thanks to everyone for their help on the day…we can look forward to good day out at Annan on the 25th.

2nd XI Match postponed

3rd XI Scottish Amateur Cup R2 Spartans 0 AFC Milton 4…well beaten in the end but possession was 50:50 and we couldn’t create enough chances while Milton took theirs comfortably

Sun 5th October

Womens 1st XI League Spartans 4 (Diana Barry 2, Trish McLaughlin, Danni McLaughlin) Forfar 1…4 - 0 at half time, but foot off the pedal

Womens 2nd XI League Spartans 5 Hibernian 2nd XI 5

Under 19 League Cup Edinburgh City 4 Spartans 2 (Michael Kirkland, Keiren Robertson)…3 - 0 down before we started playing….with four qualifying from the league cup we should still be OK but losing too many goals just now

Fixtures

Tue 7th Oct

Friendly at Peffermill ko 7pm Under 19s vs 3rd XI…the 19s needing game practice before their big Scottish cup tie

Wed 8th Oct

Womens 1st XI League Cup Semi Final Spartans vs Hibernian at Linlithgow Rose FC ko 7.30

Sat 11th October

1st XI League Preston A vs Spartans at Pennypitt ko tba…scheduled for 2.30pm but maybe 1pm due to Scotland game…watch our website for details
2nd XI Scottish Amateur Cup R2 Lochgelly U vs Spartans ko 2.30
3rd XI League Spartans vs Blackridge at Peffermill ko 12.30

Sun 12th October

Under 19 Scottish Youth Cup R2 Falkirk vs Spartans at the Falkirk Stadium ko 2pm…lets see if we can get a big Spartans support along

Womens 1st XI League Hibernian vs Spartans at Tranent Juniors ko 2pm

News

1. The Norwich Union Awards

Many thanks to you for all your votes, delighted to say we won the Scottish region award of £12,500 which will really help us with our coaching budget at the Academy. We now have the chance to go for £50,000 along with nine other regional awards…its just one form we need to complete but there are a number of other very good projects. The awards dinner is on 25th October in London…they pay travel and accommodation for two…the day of the Annan Scottish Cup match!!

2. The June draw of our 1000 Club was drawn…the winners were Bill Boyes £212, Patrick Hutton £127 and Mark Palmer £84. We will catch up on the draws later this month.

3. SFA European Study trip to Sweden…as a result of us achieving SFA Quality Mark we have been invited to go on the 7 day trip in November…one place with travel and accommodation paid for! We are currently discussing with our Youth section who would be best to go given that the Quality mark was based mostly on their efforts.

4. Training space for the 1s and 2s restricted on Tuesday at Peffermill but there will be enough for some good running! Astro on Thursday with 6.45 prompt start

One apology - we had 200 programmes for sale but they sold out well before kick off…with 40 disappearing to a programme seller who was going to sell them at Tynecastle before the Hearts game!!  Please email grahamteam@aol.com for details on how to order one by mail.

A trip to Annan to look forward.  It’s a pity that one of us won’t progress a step closer to the SPL clubs but it will be great to catch up again with a great club run by great people.  They started off SFL football fantastically well although they haven’t quite got the breaks in recent weeks.

Before Annan we have a critical league game away to Preston Athletic next Saturday and a big cup game at home to Dalbeattie to look forward to.

Spartans changed to a 4-4-2 formation. Hoskins was replaced by Preston in the line up as Fowlie moved to left back, O’Donnell to right back and Archibald moved into the centre.

Nicky Walker had the first clear shot at goal in the 10th minute. He ran passed the Pollok defence and into the box however his weak shot was easily collected by the Junior Keeper.

In 15 minutes great play from Kader and Walker on the right wing saw the former Stirling Albion striker cross the ball deep into the box. As the ball bounced it was hit by Henretty who shot high over the bar.

Two minutes later Walker shot over from about 16 yards. The Ball played in from a corner to the back post. O’Donnell controlled it then over head kicked it back into the centre where it was met by Walker. The lightening quick striker chose power of placement and the ball flew up into the wind.

On 20 minutes the game ignited as Walker lay on the floor following a challenge from the Pollok midfield. The referee calmed the situation down without producing any cards. This wasn’t an attitude he was to keep for the afternoon.

Just before half time Flockhart made an excellent diving save from a corner to ensure the score was level at half time.

Within a minute of the second half Pollok had a great chance to score. A cross was only punched clear by Flockhart and the ball fell to a Pollok midfielder who blasted the ball high over the bar.

In the 49th minute Walker raced away from the Pollok defenders, rounded the keeper and shot for goal. The junior side though had enough time to clear it away with the hard working Preston only inches away from tapping in the shot.

Walker then collected the ball on the right and took it on a run which saw him pass 3 defenders only for the Keeper to foil his plans by saving his eventual shot.

In the 53rd minute the referee’s book finally opened, once it had it seemed it wasn’t going to be closed again for the afternoon. Dingwall for Pollok was booked first followed by Fowlie and King for Spartans only a few minutes later.

On 70 minutes Struan Preston, carrying a slight knock was replaced by Darryl Devlin as Lawson and Lynch looked to find the winning goal.

A few minutes later though, the away side had a shout for a penalty as the young sub, Devlin, appeared to handle the ball inside the box. The referee waved play on much to the annoyance of the visitors.

On 78 minutes Gerrard was book for a high, hard challenge as both sides were pushing for the winner.

It looked like we were heading for extra time and potential penalties until the 85th minute. A high ball was played forward and the two Pollok centre halves collided allowing the ball to break to Walker who was able to stroll forward unchallenged and place the ball perfectly into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The Spartans bench and fans went wild.

As Pollok pushed, looking for an equaliser the referee’s book was called into action again. This time the first showing of a red card to Pollok midfielder Miller for a wild, late challenge on Walker.

The Pollok Keeper was booked for dissent then Walker was book for a challenge on the keeper only seconds later.

In the final minute of the game King was shown his second yellow card and a red for a late challenge in the centre of the park after he had lost the ball. This however was the final piece of real action in the game as the referee blew the full time whistle much to the delight of the Spartans support who will be looking forward to a trip to visit old friends Annan in the next round.

Motm: Ross Archibald – Ross moved in to the centre from his usual right back position and was phenomenal at the back. He and Gerrard worked very well together to ensure Pollok had very little chances at goal to talk of. An excellent strong performance that should give the Spartans management some welcomed selection headaches in the future. Special mention to Manson too, who played the whole match despite receiving a nasty cut on his head in the opening minutes. Perhaps he will have to ensure he has a wee bald patch on his head for every Scottish cup game!!

Team: Flockhart, Gerrard, Preston (Devlin), Archibald, Fowlie, O’Donnell, King, Kader, Walker, Manson, Henretty

Att: 640

Apart from Keith McLeod we should have a full squad to choose from although skipper Stewart Fowlie is again doubtful with the same injury which caused his substitution last Saturday.  Pollok have a couple of players returning to strengthen their squad.  Indeed Jim Sinnet their manager said that could play much better than they did last week, if so we will have to be at our very best.  We are sure that they will therefore be very confident, us…well, we will do our very best.  It certainly looks like we are underdogs again.  Whatever happens we are sure it will be a cracking cup tie…if it’s a draw after 90 minutes it will go to extra time.

Admission is £5/£3 with commemorative programmes for £1 available outside the ground.  The gates on Ferry Road and Pilton Drive will both be open.

After the game we have booked the Cellar Bar at Ryans and supporters are very welcome to come along.

Ready the full story at both The Evening News and Cashback Scotland websites.

Photos from the launch can be found on the Cashback Scotland website.

View the match gallery for Pollok v Spartans.