Stalemate with the Students: No thrills at Peffermill in goalless draw

Posted on Saturday, February 4th, 2017

It wasn’t Peffermill for thrills on Saturday afternoon as Spartans were held to a goalless draw against Edinburgh University in a frustrating afternoon in the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League.

On a chilly afternoon under the gaze of Arthur’s Seat, the supporters gathered inside the Alan Chainey Stand were left shielding their eyes from the low setting sun behind the Pentlands however this didn’t prevent them from watching untold goalmouth action in a first half decidedly devoid of notable incident.

Well, perhaps other than a goal from the home side that was flagged early for offside by the far-side Referee’s Assistant.  It was a decision that earned their Head Coach Dorian Ogunro an audience with whistler Calder.

HT: Edinburgh Uni 0-0 Spartans

After much needed hot beverages and cheeky home made scones from the MacKinnon household (parents of Ally our injured man in rehab), the second half got underway with Dan Ward replacing Craig Comrie at the break.

There was almost a breakthrough early in the half when Ross Allum looked to have capitalized on a defensive faux-pas however the seasoned campaigner Mark Tait came out off his line to deny the new recruit.

On the hour mark, it was the same flag on the far side that Spartans fall foul of as Jack Hay found the back of the net only to look over and see his efforts were in vain.

Keith Murray then replaced Hay as Spartans continued to press for a goal.

It was the home woodwork that came to the Students rescue with a quarter of an hour to go.  A sterling gallop by Michael Herd sent Allum on his way, only for the ball to strike the top of the post.

As the game entered it’s final 10 minutes, Jack Beesley was introduced at the expense of Mair and it was almost a dynamic change as he whipped in a cross that Murray could only direct over the bar.

Both teams huffed and puffed in the latter stages, but akin to the Big Bad Wolf, neither house could be blown down and a point a piece was the reward after 90 minutes of football for the purists.

FT: Edinburgh Uni 0-0 Spartans

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson, Tolmie (Ward 45), Thomson, Mair (Beesley 80), Brown, Greenhill, Allum, Dishington, Hay (Murray 64).  Subs (Unused) Maxwell, Comrie, Gilpin.

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Michael Herd