Dawson hat-trick helps guide Spartans to Knock-Out Cup success.

Posted on Monday, June 3rd, 2019

Spartans secured their third piece of silverware of the season with a 4-0 win over Bonnyton Thistle at Oriam despite playing the bulk of the second half with 10 men.

With the Conference B title and League Cup sitting in the Spartans cabinet, Les Atkinson’s side made it a hat-trick of trophies with an emphatic victory against the Ayrshire side.

The teams had already met earlier in the season and it took an Ollie Hetherington double to see off the challenge at Ainslie Park in the Knock-Out Cup quarters.

As the rain fell at the Heriot Watt University sports campus, both sides exchanged early opportunities however it didn’t take long before the opening goal of the match.

Fine play by the motoring Calum O’Neil down the right flank saw him whip in a telling cross that was headed home by Cameron Dawson from 10 yards, leaving the keeper no chance.

That lead doubled just seven minutes later.  Another telling cross was launched into the Bonnyton box by Lewis Hall.  The trajectory of the ball caught keeper McSorley in three minds and he could only palm it into the path of Ollie Hetherington who pigeon chested it into the back of the net.

Spartans were forced into an early and enforced substitution after Oran Hosey failed to recover following treatment after a challenge.  He was replaced by Henderson.

Chris Peden was certainly the quieter of the two keepers however he had technical area hearts collectively in mouths as he nonchalantly watched a Sivewright shot whizz past the post.  The goalie later to have noted he had it well covered.

Half Time: Spartans 2-0 Bonnyton Thistle

Just three minutes after the interval and Spartans were awarded a spot kick.  Hetherington’s shot was blocked, Murray Hand picked up the rebound only to the fouled by Bonnyton keeper McSorley.  The keeper’s next action was the collect the ball from the back of the net after Cameron Dawson suitably despatched.

Drama shortly afterward however after Jonny Jarron was shown a straight red after an off-the-ball incident involving Frew.  This saw Gaffer Atkinson make a change with Mikey Allan coming on for Hetherington by way of tactical exchange.

Spartans looked to have another good penalty shout waved aside as Dawson was axed in the box under the weight of a challenge however the man in the middle waved play on.

Peden secured a cup final clean sheet near the end of the ninety minutes when he saved well from Tremble.

The scoring finished in frantic fashion.  Cameron Dawson saw his net bound shot saved on the line by Cameron.  Readers following the report will note that the keeper is of course McSorley and the outfield man was sent to the sheds for an early shower.   Cameron – of the Dawson vintage – stepped up and duly despatched home to grab his hat-trick.

Full Time: Spartans 4-0 Bonnyton Thistle