Wet Wet Watt! Soggy Spartans see off late Student salvo in Under 20s win

Posted on Saturday, November 12th, 2016

Spartans survived a late Student salvo to defeat Heriot Watt University 2-4 in the Under 20s League on Friday evening.

Despite the relative comfort of footballing events live on the telly from elsewhere, a hardy bunch of umbrella carrying Spartan Army faithful made their way to a rainy Riccarton and they didn’t have to wait long for the deadlock to be broken.

Just two minutes had elapsed on Referee Hoggan’s watch when Lewis Hall used his pace to race down the flank before cutting back into the path of his namesake Temple who needed no invitation to thrash the ball high into the Watt net.

Johnny Grotlin was up next and it took a fine save from the Uni keeper Reid to deny the Spartans striker from doubling the lead.

Frustration ensued as both sides battled against not only each other but the conditions that were far from conducive in accommodating elegant fast-flowing football.

Cameron Dawson was next to be thwarted by the agile Student between the home sticks after tenacious play to win the ball in the middle of the park.

Dawson wasn’t to be outdone though and in the 25th minute, the big fellow was in the middle of the box to execute first time after Grotlin’s perfectly timed cross found the trusty boot of the in-form goal scorer.  It was the ninth game in a row Dawson has scored, a fantastic strike rate since his progression from the Under 17s last year.

Cameron Rae could have been forgiven for being caught cold after having little to do, but the Canadian keeper found himself pulling off a top stop to deny Breen.

Then, shortly before the break, further light was put between the sides with a goal of slick perfection.  Dawson and Grotlin showing their partnership potential as they carved upon the home defence with the latter delivering the final touch to put the visitors 0-3 to the good at the half time interval.

HT: Heriot Watt Uni 0-3 Spartans

It took until the hour mark before the second half found its purpose and it was Grotlin who provided the finish to Temple’s pass to put even further light between the teams.

The remainder of the period was a frustrating affair with the ball finding it’s way beyond the parameter fence on a handful of occasions, much to the delight of the big dog out for it’s night time exercises.

With seven minutes to go, Watt skipper Imrey looked to have scored nothing more than a consolation when he scooped home from inside the area.  That single strike became two for the hosts deep into injury time when Dawirs was on hand with the head to nod into the net.

FT: Heriot Watt Uni 2-4 Spartans