Lowland League: Spartans squeezed out in narrow defeat

Posted on Monday, November 6th, 2017

Spartans were edged out by the narrowest of margins in a close encounter of the K-Park kind against East Kilbride in the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League.

Youngster Adam Corbett returned to the team and make up a back three. With Wingbacks Herd and Stevenson free to roam the flanks and it was Stevenson who had the first chance for Spartans with a run and a shot which cleared the bar. Herd tried to emulate his fellow wingback but his cross went wide.

After 19 minutes Kilby took the lead when a ball into the Spartans box wasn’t cleared and Kilby’s Stevenson headed the ball across goal for McNeil to nod in at the back post.

Spartans responded with a Stevenson cross which was headed just wide by Brown and a Herd shot which stung the hands of home keeper Kean as he palmed it away to safety.

Spartans best chance of the half came just before halftime when Corbett rose in the box to meet a corner but again the ball went the wrong side of the post.

HT EK 1 Spartans 0

The second half carried on much the same as the first half with Spartans pushing forward and EK happy to try and hit on the break.

A Stevenson corner was met by Thomson and his powerful header seemed goal bound until a EK defender cleared on the line.

Spartans continued to attack down the flanks with Stevenson particularly busy. A trio of his crosses into the box were all met by Dishington but the young midfielder was unable to trouble the home keeper.

The visiting bench were on their feet when Proctor’s arm looked to have denied Brown’s cross from reaching its intended destination in the box, only for the match official to wave away their robust protestations.

Blair Atkinson came on in place of Greenhill to see if his pace and direct approach could cause the defence problems and almost immediately he picked up the ball and ran at the home defence. Rather than shoot he played in fellow striker Allum but the shot was blazed over the bar.

Spartans continued to push for an equaliser but were ultimately unable to break down the well organised home defence.

FT EK1 Spartans 0

Team: Stobie, Herd, Stevenson, Thomson, Tolmie, Greenhill (Atkinson), Brown (Khutsisvili), Corbett, Allum (Guthrie), McFarland, Dishington. Subs (Unused) Carswell (GK), Khutsisvili, Atkinson, Nixon, Guthrie, Maxwell.