Seventh heaven for Spartans who reign in the rain at Preston

Posted on Saturday, November 28th, 2015

Spartans were in seventh heaven in the horrendous conditions at Pennypitt, scoring seven without reply against Preston Athletic.

After two pre-match pitch inspections, the game was given the green light and after just 11 minutes, Spartans went a goal ahead.

Preston duo Cochrane and Thomson collided on the touchline allowing Alan Brown to win the ball before setting up Conner Duthie who played in Aaron Murrell for the youngster to drill low past ex Spartan Chris Flockhart to give the Ainslie Park side the lead.

Duthie then turned from provider to goalscorer in the 38th minute when he netted his first in Spartans colours with a sweetly struck drive from 15 yards to put Spartans two ahead at the break.

Half Time: Preston Athletic 0-2 Spartans

The second half was barely two minutes old when Spartans further extended their lead.

Keith Murray was left to sweat over the outcome of his strike that nestled in the net as Referee and his far-side Assistant deliberated over how the ball fell to the Spartans hitman. After a short debate, the whistler pointed to the centre spot, much to the frustration of the home side.

The goal was to be the first of four in ten second half minutes where the inclement conditions made conditions under foot trickier as the game went on.

Two minutes after Murray’s effort, Aaron Murrell tucked the ball home from a yard after fine enterprising play from Duthie whilst the latter then doubled his tally for the day, sending David Greenhill’s cross beyond Flockhart at the first time of asking.

It was to be Duthie’s final contribution to the game as he was replaced by Dean Horribine. The Substitute’s first involvement was to whip in a fierce low cross that found the outstretched foot of the unlucky Cochrane who popped it across his own goal line.

A double substitution in the 62nd minute saw Murrell and Malone withdrawn with Ewan Saunderson and Sean Stewart – making his first team debut – entering the fray.

With three minutes left on the clock, David Greenhill rounded off a solid performance on a sticky surface, clinically executing another fine Spartans move.

Full Time: Preston Athletic 0-7 Spartans

Spartans XI v Preston Athletic: Carswell, Herd, Cennerazzo, Malone (Saunderson), Thomson, Greenhill, Brown, Stevenson, Murrell (Stewart), Murray, Duthie (Horribine). Subs Not Used: Dishington, Gilpin (GK).

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Conner Duthie