League Cup: Spartans reach Semis after doubles down Students

Posted on Sunday, May 5th, 2019

Doubles from Blair Atkinson and Scott Maxwell saw Spartans book a League Cup Semi Final showdown against East Stirlingshire with a 4-0 victory over Edinburgh University at Ainslie Park.

After last week’s penalty shoot-out win over Kelty Hearts, Dougie Samuel shuffled his pack for the Students who really watched their fellow Scholars scoop the ultimate prize on the BBC’s University Challenge.

Spartans took the game to the visitors from Peffermill and there was an early opportunity when Gary Cennerazzo dashed down the line to whip in a cross, only for Uni keeper Davidson swoop and punch not only the ball to safety but his colleague Mark Gair in the process and the defender required a shot of the magic sponge before he could continue.

The early dominance was rewarded with a goal on the quarter hour mark. Blair Atkinson striding onto a lay off following a bit of a pinball-esque moment that saw the ball ricochet off a plethora legs and despatched it home without delay from 15 yards.

A sweeping move from defence to attack ended with Aaron Scott being afforded a chance to extend the lead however his effort couldn’t be kept under the bar.

Frustration got the better of Uni Manager Dorian Ogunro shortly before the break and Referee George Calder recommended he remove himself from the dug-out and watch the game from the stand.

The half-time team-talks perhaps took a different tact five minutes before the oranges when Spartans made it 2-0. Blair Atkinson hurdling a challenge out on the wing from No.5, who was subsequently booked, before he squared to Scott Maxwell who hammered home.

HT: Spartans 2-0 Edinburgh University.

Just seven minutes after the interval, Spartans effectively ended the contest and booked their spot in the last four.

Scott Maxwell pushing the ball behind the defence for Blair Atkinson to run on to. The striker still had some work to do as he shook off his defender before hitting the ball across the keeper low into the bottom corner.

Then, with minutes remaining, substitute Murray Hand injected some pace to skip down the line before sending in a perfectly weighted cross for Scott Maxwell to bullet his header home from close range.

FT: Spartans 4-0 Edinburgh University

There was one final piece of action and it came after the final whistle. The Stag, Jack Weeks, lined up a penalty against Blair Carswell, the hat-trick spot-kick stopper. Up he stepped and The Stag sent The Cat the wrong way – queue absolute scenes as several of the Spartans lads joined in the celebrations!

Malt and Hops Man of the Match: Scott Maxwell