Under 20s: Spartans notch up tenth win on the bounce to remain top

Posted on Saturday, December 2nd, 2017

Spartans under 20s notched up their tenth league win in a row with a comfortable 1-5 victory on the road at Mid Annandale to remain top of the Development League.

A Friday night minibus ride to Lockerbie and early departure time combo saw just 13 players available for a match against the basement side still looking for their first win.

Spartans started the livelier of the sides with Cameron Dawson rattling the bar from twenty yards after Arron Singh dug deep to retrieve what looked like a lost cause near the byeline.

It was perhaps more a case of when rather than if the deadlock would be broken and it finally came about in the 20th minute. A top quality ping by Singh stung the keepers cold digits, who couldn’t prevent the ball from flying into the net.

That lead was doubled just nine minutes later when Oran Hosey scooped his foot round the ball to thunder it beyond the goalie from a Singh corner kick.

As a contest, the game was effectively over when Spartans extended their advantage ahead of the interval.

A terrific turn of pace by Calum O’Neil saw him reach the bye-line before delivering a textbook whipped in cross that is bulleted home by the head of Cameron Dawson to make it three.

HT: Mid Annandale 0-3 Spartans

Spartans almost made it four when Mikey Allan hit the outside of the post when delivering a cross into the home danger area. Perhaps not what he was intending but it had the keeper scrambling.

Frustration started to kick in, literally, and Les Atkinson’s youngsters had to look light on their loafers to avoid some agricultural challenges as the game progressed.

Danny Sutherland continued to command the midfield, with a well timed tackle to thwart a Mid Annandale attack drawing applause for the small band of travelling Spartan Army faithful in attendance.

A change in personnel saw Olly Hetherington replace Cinar, as Spartans looked to add to their first half lead.

Spartans probably a greater danger to themselves than the hosts at the back. It took a brave piece of goalkeeping by Jordan Pettigrew who collided with a stray boot whilst protecting his side’s fine run of clean sheets. The shot stopper’s nods offering enough spilt claret to see him retire and Robbie Urquhart take over between the sticks.

Midway through the second spell, that somewhere elusive fourth goal finally came. Singh nabbing his brace with an elegant finish after rounding the keeper to slide home into the welcoming arms of the empty net.

Fifteen minutes left on the clock and a breakaway goal narrowed the gulf in the scoreline however parity was restored shortly after when Olly Hetherington drove into the danger area before unleashing an unstoppable low drive that was only going to have one outcome.

Spare a thought though for poor Dougie Crowe. On a bitterly cold evening, the Spartans lad was just too close when fielding a clearance, leaving the lad not sure whether to rub them or count them…

FT: Mid Annandale 1-5 Spartans

Spartans 20s team: 1. Pettigrew (Urquhart), 2. Sutherland, 3. Allan, 4. Wishart, 5. Hosey, 6. Crowe, 7. O’Neil, 8. Hand, 9. Dawson, 10. Cinar (Hetherington), 11. Singh