Spartans end campaign on winning note as Cloudy bags a brace

Posted on Sunday, April 19th, 2015

A Keith McLeod double helped Spartans end their Scottish Sun Lowland League campaign with a 2-1 win over Threave Rovers in glorious spring sunshine at Ainslie Park.

Ahead of the match, the North Edinburgh ground fell silent as everyone inside impeccably observed a minute silence for former Spartans Youth starlet Cammy Armstrong who sadly lost his battle against cancer earlier in the week.

Dougie Samuel’s side got off to the perfect start when Keith McLeod ‘played the whistle’ whilst the Threave defence appealed in vain for the Linesman’s flag and the legendary striker slotted home goal 285 of his Spartans career.

Dean Horribine was unlucky not to open his Spartans account when his audacious attempt caught the blustery conditions causing Vinnie Parker in the Rovers goal to scramble as the shot went wide.

Spartans doubled their lead in the 19^th minute when McLeod bagged himself a brace after rounding Parker to slide the open invitation into the empty net.

It was an early double whammy for Threave who had barely got out of first gear however, when they attacked, it posed problems at the back for the hosts.

Dean Fyfe’s shot was well saved by Ross Gilpin, but only after the Threave players remonstrated with Referee Barry Reid over an alleged earlier infringement inside the box.

Just as the players looked to be heading to the sheds with the home side 2-0 ahead, the visitors narrowed the gap.  A free-kick was awarded on the edge of the Spartans box and up popped Ian Miller who placed his dead ball attempt in between Gilpin and the post to halve the deficit.

Half Time: Spartans 2-1 Threave Rovers

Jack Beesley almost restored the two goal advantage early in the second half when his free-kick from almost the same spot that saw Miller score, forced Parker into a top drawer save.

The remainder of the second half passed by without much to write home about.  Paul Jon Sludden and Craig Stevenson both had attempts that found the net on the neighbouring 5-a-side cage roof and Blair Aitkinson was denied a goal-den opportunity to record his first senior goal by the impressive Parker.

Final Score: Spartans 2-1 Threave Rovers

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Unfortunately the seagull camped in the bottom corner in the first half wasn’t quoted in the running for the award.  The winner was Alan Brown.

League Table: