Derby day blues as Spartans suffer setback at City

Posted on Sunday, April 12th, 2015

Spartans fell to a 2-0 defeat in the Edinburgh Derby as goals from Ortega Deniran and Ross Allum sealed the points for the City at a sun-kissed Meadowbank Stadium.

Spartans headed into the 4^th game between the sides this season on the back of 1-1 draw in midweek against Vale of Leithen. Respectfully, the team formed a guard of honour for the Champions, a nice touch which was well observed by a healthy crowd inside the Commonwealth Stadium.

It was the visitors who created the better chances during the opening quarter of an hour. Donal Henretty did well just inside the box to flick a high ball into the path of Dean Horribine, but the youngster’s shot was deflected over the crossbar.

A lovely piece of trickery from Gary Cennerazzo on the left saw the ex-City man turn his marker before firing a dangerous ball across the box and the lively Horribine raced in only to sky his effort high and wide of the target.

The deadlock was eventually broken in the 27^th minute following a sustained spell of City pressure. Aaron James picked up the ball on the left before sending over a perfectly-weighted cross which was met by the unmarked Ortega Deniran to glance past the outstretched Swain. 1-0

The home side could have doubled their lead twice in a 10 minute spell which outlined why they won the league with a handful of games remaining. Grant Vanson and Ross Allum both rattled the right-hand post, before the latter struck moments later.

Alan Brown was penalised by the referee for a challenge on Deniran which earned him a yellow card that would later prove costly. The resulting spot-kick from Ross Allum was drilled high into the top right-hand corner leaving Swain with no chance. 2-0

Half-Time: Edinburgh City 2-0 Spartans

Spartans manager Dougie Samuel made a double substitution at the break with Errol Douglas and Craig Stevenson coming on to replace John Grant and Kevin Motion in an attempt to find a way back into the match.

Douglas almost made an immediate impact and came close to pulling a goal back for the Ainslie Park side. Gary Cennerazzo’s deep in swinging cross towards the back post was met by the substitute whose header cannoned back of the post before being cleared to safety.

The sun continued to shine over Edinburgh, but sadly not on Spartans and Alan Brown in particular. The winger was given his marching orders by referee Peter Reid for dissent after picking up his second yellow as frustration started to boil over.

This prompted Dougie Samuel into a formation change which saw Eddie Malone sacrificed for Jack Beesley with 15 minutes remaining.

With chances at a minimum in a lacklustre second half, City were content to soak up any Spartans pressure and comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to record their third win over their closest rivals this campaign.

Full-Time: Edinburgh City 2-0 Spartans

Man of the Match: Gary Cennerazzo

Spartans: Swain, Cennerazzo, Malone (Beesley; 76), Sivewright, MacKinnon, Motion (Douglas; 45), Horribine, Grant (Stevenson; 45), Henretty, Sludden, Brown

Unused: Beacher, Bremner, Gilpin (GK)

Edinburgh City: Stobie, James, Harrison, Allum (Torrance; 79), McKee, Vanson, McFarland, Deniran, Dunn, MacDonald, Mbu

Unused: Gair, Caddow, Paterson, Donaldson, Osborne, McConnell