Under 20s: Super sub Reid runs rampage as second half Spartans down Dalkeith

Posted on Sunday, September 2nd, 2018

Les Atkinson’s Under 20s made it three out of three in their Qualifying League campaign, coming back from a goal down at the break to defeat Dalkeith 1-5 on Friday night.

With the pumping tunes from the Midstock Festival at the nearby Country Park assisting the warm-up, Spartans went into their Group tie against Dalkeith keen to add to their impressive start to the campaign.

It looked like an early opener for the visitors as Olly Hetherington found the net, only to be denied by a borderline offside call by the match official.  Spartans were certainly the side making the running, with decent flowing play on the artificial surface however the final penetration didn’t always match the build up work.

Joe Tait showed his potential with some fine pace up the wing, whilst Murray Hand offered more ambition than precision with an optimistic 40 yarder.

Against the run of play, Dalkeith took the lead.  A ball over the top seemed to find Luca Crolla in an offside position however if ever the adage of ‘play the whistle’ rung true and he got enough on his effort to beat the outstretched glove of Christopher Peden.

HT: Dalkeith 1-0 Spartans

Spartans pressed for an equaliser and the opening quarter of an hour saw a frustrating period in front of goal.

On the hour mark, Spartans introduced 16 year old Nicky Reid at the expense of another of the pathway kids Matteo Crolla, a sprightly 15 year old who didn’t look out of place.  Reid’s impact was immediate.

The pacey player chased what looked like a lost cause as the ball raced towards the bye-line and from the cross that followed, Lewis Hall crashed his header off the bar.  Moments later, Mikey Allan was manhandled in the box and it was Hall who stepped up to the mark, the penalty mark, and slammed home from 12 yards.

Five minutes later, Spartans took the lead for the first time in the game.  Nicky Reid’s teasing low cross along the six yard box was turned into his own net by a despairing Dalkeith defender.

There was further light between the sides moments later when Nicky Reid deservedly netted one of his own, swooping like a seagull on chips to poke the rebound home after his initial effort was saved.

A couple of subs in quick succession saw Oran Hosey and Isaac Mackie replaced Calum O’Neill and Joe Tait.

With five minutes left on the clock, Olly Hetherington tapped home from close range from a corner to make it 1-4, then, with the still air carrying the DJ’s mix across the Mid Lothian sky, Nicky Reid nabbed his second of the night when his shot was fumbled by the keeper before trickling over the line into the net.

FT: Dalkeith 1-5 Spartans