Lowland League: Spartans grab the points at Gretna

Posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2017

Spartans overcome ten-man Gretna 2008 to record a comfortable 0-3 victory on the road at a wet Raydale Park.

The opening exchanges offered little for both sets of fans to shout about however, with a quarter of an hour on the clock, Armstrong drew strong applause from the home support with a fine point-blank save from Dishington.

It was to be the last of the Gretna keeper’s hurrahs as the shot-stopper made it back to the home showers in the 24th minute when he was shown a straight red after being adjudged to have stopped a through ball with his arm outside his penalty area.  Ballantine taking over between the sticks and the hosts numerically disadvantaged for the rest of the game.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Spartans took the lead.  Brown turned on the gas with a run towards the Gretna danger area before crossing to Greenhill who slid the ball past the replacement keeper.

HT: Gretna 2008 0-1 Spartans

The 10 men of Gretna looked to respond.  Ten minutes into the second spell a Studholme effort went wide, with Carswell looking on.

On the hour mark, Spartans made a double substitution with Beesley and Maxwell coming on at the expense of Mair and Comrie.

Beesley’s trickery certainly caused the home side problems, with Smith and Hunter both going in the Ref’s notebook for agricultural challenges on the Spartans playmaker.

Spartans extended their lead in the 83rd minute when Beesley went on a run before passing to Hay who provided a pin-point cross for Allum to double his side’s advantage.

Then, with seconds left on the clock, Beesley’s corner found Townsley who powered home Spartans’ third with the head.

FT: Gretna 2008 0-3 Spartans

Spartans: Carswell, Herd (Hay 76), Brown, Thomson, Townsley, Comrie (Maxwell 61), Dishington, Greenhill, Allum, Murray, Mair (Beesley 61).  Subs: Stevenson, Gabiola, Tolmie, Gilpin.

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Blair Carswell