Hutchie and the Semi – Catch up on the latest from the East of Scotland camp

Posted on Saturday, March 21st, 2015

This weekend our East of Scotland side are away from home to high flying Lothian Thistle HV in a league fixture. Lothian who now have Hutchie stalwart Ramie Carr back at the helm and they are looking to reduce Leith Athletic’s advantage at the top of the league.  It all makes for an interesting encounter at Saughton Enclosure (3:00pm kick off). Ross Gilpin returns between the sticks while Kyle Hogg is unavailable due to work commitments.

We will be hoping to take last week’s form into the game as we saw off Coldstream by 4 goals to 1 in the League Cup semi-final, with Davy Stewart netting a hat trick, taking his season’s tally to 22 in all competitions.  The match report follows:

Davy Stewart Hat Trick takes Spartans OES into Cup Final

On a good day for football Spartans EOS took on Coldstream in the semi-final of the League Cup. The Streamers were bidding to reach their first cup final in 16 years the last time being in 1999 at Netherdale where they lost to Annan Athletic.

There was an interesting event prior to the kick off with referee Duncan Smith telling Jack Hay of Coldstream he could not take to the field of play unless he removed his nose ring, he was unable to do so resulting in a hasty reshuffle with Jamie Dickson having to take his place. Ex Spartan Phil Johnson was in the Coldstream line up while Kevin Swain and John Grant were in the Spartans starting eleven.

The game started with Spartans on the front foot and Mark Walters made a number of important saves to keep the Streamers in the game, one of which was exceptional from a Davy Stewart close range effort. The midfield battle was being won with Cunningham, Clapperton and Grant in good form along with Stewart and Raiker providing the width. Barry Milven was back in the starting side alongside Robbie Laird with Ian Ballanyne and Alex Brown at full back. Haydn Crane again started up front.

Despite creating a number of very good chances Spartans were unable to take the lead in the early stages, then Crawford saw his shot deflected of Laird with Swain had to look lively to stop the effort. The breakthrough for Spartans eventually came on the half hour mark when Haydn Crane played a good pass between two defenders to put Davy Stewart in one on one with Walters and he finished well placing the ball low into the corner of the net, Walters was finally breached.

Within a few minutes of the restart, a head flick on by Crane was picked up by Matty Cunningham and he sped past the Coldstream defence before delivering a superb cross which was dispatched into the Coldstream net by an equally impressive header from Davy Stewart.

Half Time Spartans 2-0 Coldstream

Coldstream came out in the second with more purpose and made a change to the personnel at half time with recent French signing Arnaud Gauthier replacing Regan Graham in the midfield.

Just after the hour, Coldstream pulled one back.  A short corner kick caught the home defence napping and Crawford netted his 30^th goal of the season.

Andy Howatt missed a golden opportunity to increase the lead but somehow managed to miss the target, then in the 86^th minute Spartans again broke up field and when McLeod was penalised for a late tackle in the box, Referee Duncan Smith pointed to the spot.  Up stepped Davy Stewart to send Walters the wrong way claiming his hat-trick and putting the tie beyond doubt.

Deep into injury time, Andy Howatt made up for his earlier miss by slotting home the rebound after Walters had made a good save.

Overall a deserved win for Spartans who now take on the in-form Leith Athletic in the Cup Final as they ran out 2-0 victors against Easthouses in the other semi-final.