Spartans win seven goal thriller

Posted on Saturday, October 6th, 2012

Jack Beesley went from sinner to saint, from missing a first half penalty to scoring the winning goal with a fantastic freekick away to Preston today.

We returned to the Pennypit just a few weeks after our hard fought 3-1 victory in the South Challenge Cup and knew we’d face another tough test. This proved to be the case as the home side took the lead in just the 5th minute. Preston jumped onto a poor pass from Beesley and forced a corner. The resulting kick found Kevin Morrison on the edge of the box and he curl a ball into the net.

Ali MacKinnon had the ball in the net in the 10th minute but was ruled offside. Donal Henretty went on a mazy run and was taken out inside the box for a clear penalty. Beesley stepped up to take it however it was an easy save for Gilbertson in the Preston goal. Beesley however made amends just a few minutes later when his freekick was met at the back post by Ali MacKinnon who volleyed it home.

Donal Henretty then put us ahead in the 31st minute with the sort of sensational goal we’ve come to expect from him (well from time to time anyway). Ross Gilpin launched forward a clearance which Donal managed to pluck out the air with his foot. He took a touch to compose himself then blasted a brilliant shot over the head of Gilbertson and into the net!

Chris Anderson put us further ahead in the 34th minute. With the ball at his feet he seemed to trip over, was tackled, the ball hit off the defender and Ando found himself in the box, ball at feet, with time to place it into the far corner!

We looked in control of the game until the 78th minute when Danny O’Donnell was shown red for a last man foul inside the box. Sean Martin placed the ball on the spot and fired home.

Barry Nwanze then made the most as our defense seemed to switch off and headed home over Gilpin to bring the game level in the 84th minute.

Preston pushed forward looking for a winner as we tried to use the pace of second half subs Willie Bremner and Sean Wringe and try and create a chance up front. As the game looked like it would end as a draw we were awarded a freekick just outside the box. Jack Beesley stepped up and curl a wonderful kick into the net to secure a brilliant victory.

That was to be the last kick of the game as the referee blew for full time much to the delight of the traveling Spartan Army.

Man of the Match: Donal Henretty. When Donal is on form, there is nobody better and today he was on form. Overhead kicks, ambitious passes, mazy runs, they all worked. He played like a man half his age today, surrounded by players that could well be half his age! His goal was sensational and was described by one fan as Di Stefano like.

Team: Gilpin, O’Donnell, Cennerrazzo, Sivewright, MacKinnon, Grant, Whatley, Manson, Henretty (Bremner), Beesley, Anderson (Wringe) Unused: Flockhart, Hawkins, Laird