Grinchy’s grand goal grabs win at Gala

Posted on Sunday, August 6th, 2017

Spartans continued their winning start in the Lowland League with a 0-1 victory on the road at Gala courtesy of a superlative strike by Craig Stevenson.

The opening spell was played in a frantic fashion with Spartans dominating the early play with Lewis Muir the busier of the two keepers.

Several passages of play, in front of the crowd inside the iconic listed Netherdale stand, were aborted by niggly fouls and offside traps in the early exchanges in what turned out a pleasant day for football.

The reward for their positive start to the game came for Spartans in the 21st minute.  Quick thinking by David Greenhill saw a short corner played to Craig Stevenson who then sent a delightfully curled effort beyond Lewis Muir into the corner of the net from out on the corner of the box. It’ll be one he’ll be telling Grinchy Jnr for many years to come!

There was almost a second shortly after following fine link-up play between Jamie Dishington and Ross Allum.  The latter whipping in a cross that was just hooked wide by David Greenhill.

Despite their dominance, Spartans were almost pegged back to level terms shortly after.  Despite what looked to be a foul on Michael Herd in the build up, Blair Carswell had to look sharp to pull off a fine save to deny Gala skipper Billy Miller as the Borders side pressed for an equaliser.

Loud appeals for a spot kick were waved aside by Referee MacLean ten minutes before the break when David Greenhill was bundled in the box by George Windram as he raced in on goal.

HT: Gala Fairydean Rovers 0-1 Spartans

Shortly after the break, the whistler once again was asked the question when Willie Bremner appeared to be clattered in the box as he looked to weave an opportunity to test Muir.

Ross Allum was then denied by Muir as the Spartans striker latched on to a through ball before thumping the ball off the torso of the Borders keeper.

There was more than a hint of squeekybumtime midway through the second stanza as Scott Main’s downward header came back off the astro to evade Carswell but only to hit the bar before being launched to safety.

With the game heading towards its latter stages, the home side were left incandescent with rage with the Ref who made it a hat-trick of non-awards after Rhys Craigie took a tumble after Carswell came off his line to stop the Gala sub.  The youngster fell to the ground and shouts fell on deaf ears, much to the relief of the visitors.

After a full five additional minutes of play, the final shrill of the whistle was sounded.  Spartans held on to gain three valuable points on the road, a place where we lost last year, to go top of the table after the third round of matches.

FT: Gala Fairydean Rovers 0-1 Spartans

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Craig Stevenson

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Stevenson, Tolmie, Corbett, Greenhill, Dishington, McFarland, Allum (Khutsishvili 86), Bremner (Wilson 67), Guthrie (Archibald 67).  Unused Subs: Atkinson, Nixon, Stobie


Next Fixture

                     
Date: 16/11/24
Opponent: Stirling Albion
Venue:Ainslie Park
Competition: SPFL 2
Kick off: 3.00pm

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