GeoSonic Lowland League | Blair flair breaks Kelty hearts with winner

Posted on Saturday, March 9th, 2019

A top drawer winner from Blair Atkinson Spartans complete a late comeback to defeat Kelty Hearts in the Geosonic Lowland League on Friday night as Barry Ferguson’s Ainslie Park hoodoo continued.

Lead out by mascots from the 2006 and 2009 Spartans Youth teams, Dougie Samuel’s side went into the game knowing only a victory would do as they strive to finish in as lofty a position as possible come the end of the campaign.

The April showers arrived early in March as it joined the wind to make it a challenging evening under the lights for players and supporters alike.

Opportunities in the early exchanges were as rare as hen’s teeth and it took until the half hour mark before a noteworthy effort troubled the Twitter feed.  Brian Ritchie perhaps thinking he should have done better for the visitors however he couldn’t dig the ball out from under his shoelaces to put enough purchase on his shot and it was saved by Blair Carswell.

At the other end, a telling run by Gary Cennerazzo saw a ball whipped in to the six yard area and the incoming Jack Smith could only look on as he turned his shot round the wrong side of the woodwork.

A double save by Scott Christie between the Kelty sticks foiled Blair Atkinson’s attempt to break the deadlock as the time ticked towards the break.

HT: Spartans 0-0 Kelty Hearts

Five minutes after the restart, it was the Fifers who struck first and it was former Spartan Errol Douglas who capitalised at the edge of the box when he pounced to send a low strike into the bottom corner.

Just five minutes later, it was all level.  Persistent play by Aaron Scott in midfield saw the robust operator work an opening and it finally fell to Scott Maxwell who left Christie with only one job – picking the ball out of the net.

With the match finely balanced, Aaron Scott sent a ball out wide to the pacey Blair Atkinson.  The Academy Graduate still had lots of work to do and a cross looked the likeliest of outcomes as teammates made their way into the area.  However, the speedy striker turned on his Road Runner style wheels and scooted past Errol Douglas before side-footing the ball round Christie.  Cue scenes.

Whilst Atkinson may have nipped the winner, it could have been a different outcome but for the super save by Blair Carswell who used his boot to keep the narrowest of margins in tact and allow his side to hold on for a key win.

FT: Spartans 2-1 Kelty Hearts

Malt and Hops Man of the Match : Blair Atkinson